What would you do?

[jenluckenbach]

For those of you who know, I had a problem with 2 of my 14 cats spraying. We are assuming their behavior was due to having 1 too many cats in the house. Either Bonnie, my newest adoptee, or the foster kittens were the most likely source of their stress. The two bad boys are now taking kitty prozac to calm their stress and allow them to feel non threatened and therefore (hopefully) having no need to mark territory. The medicine, combined with keeping the fosters separate, seems to be working. (no accidents for 2 weeks).
What I wonder is, is it the medicine OR is it the fact that they do not need to deal with the kittens? In theory, the medicine SHOULD work even with the kittens in their territory. But do I take a chance?
I want the kittens to have a home, a WHOLE home, not just the top floor. They are getting older and are attracting less attention at adoption days because people always go toward the younger kittens. They may be here in my home for as long as a year, or longer if I choose not to send them to the shelter building after their first birthday.
I do not want to upset MY kitties, of course, but I want to do what is best for ALL. If the medicine does NOT prevent spraying under stressful situations (like the kittens running around) then WHY am I giving it in the first place? If keeping the cats separate is ALL I need to do to stop the spraying then why give the medicine? But as long as I AM giving the medicine then why keep the fosters separate? See the dilemma?
What would YOU do if you had to choose between
1)giving it a trial run and risking some accidents
and
2)simply keeping the fosters separate forever and risking giving a medicine that is not really necessary?

[PayItForward]

As you are willing to clean up after accidents, I'd say go for a trial.

If it doesn't work nothing has been lost.

[jenluckenbach]

Let me play "devils' advocate": What if more accidents mean going through confinement again?

(by the way, I am not trying to change anyone's answer, just tyring to see ALL possible sides and then weigh them against each another)

[ChrisH]

Jen, I would let them mingle.

1)giving it a trial run and risking some accidents
and
2)simply keeping the fosters separate forever and risking giving a medicine that is not really necessary? The second option doesn`t bear thinking about, I would just have to know!

Chris

[bisi.cat]

I would gradually try to put Sterling and Jim off their medication and see how they react then, for my main concern would be to have them on medication on the long run...

I wouldn't let the kittens interact with them (Sterling and Jim) tough...you've posted that they have enough space in your home and they aren't alone in there...instead I would try to install a cat door to their foster room(s) with a four way system that allows other cats to come in, but the kittens cannot go out...so the kittens can interact with the cats who want to come in on their own choice...

Just my two cents...

[jazzcat]

Very hard decision.

Here's my personal feeling and two cents, take it for what it's worth. If there was no health issure causing the spraying I think Jim and Sterling were trying to tell you there are too many cats for their liking and I'd hate to see the fosters cause them stress (when it isn't absolutely neccessary) and they have to be confined again.

I think if you are truly torn between this you should decided who is more important, Jim and Sterling or the foster kittens. It sounds to me like your fosters have adequete space, especially considering the alternative of a cage. Since Jim and Sterling are your cats you owe it to them to do what is in their best interest. On that note, I don't think the kitty Prozac is the answer to everything and personally I would try to wean them off of it and keep the kittens away. If they start spraying again without the meds then you know something besides the kittens is bothering them.

As for the kittens, could you let some of your other cats in to see them off and on?

[jenluckenbach]

I think if you are truly torn between this you should decided who is more important, Jim and Sterling or the foster kittens
First I'd like to say that I will not put one group ABOVE the other group. Of course, my cats are MY responsibility, but I agreed to take on the fosters and they TOO are my responsibility. EQUALLY.

with that said......


I don't think the kitty Prozac is the answer to everything and personally I would try to wean them off of it and keep the kittens away. If they start spraying again without the meds then you know something besides the kittens is bothering them.
The words in the above quote "WEAN THEM OFF IT" made me realize that this IS hopefully what will exentually happen. But what I forgot to add into the equation is that someday there will be more and/or different fosters. And then we have the same problem all over again.

This is why I asked for all different points of view. Even though I try hard to look at all the angles, sometimes there is something I forget to think about.

[Kirsten]

This is really hard to answer! I have voted for "let them mingle", at least I think you should give it another try!

But I can see very well the dilemma you're in, especially since you cannot have them on kitty prozac for the rest of their lives!

Kirsten