Do I ever need help!

[Medusa]

Hi Everybody,
I'm really having a problem w/one of my male cats, Specs. He's a rescue, as are all my cats, but he's the worst behaved of all of them. I've had him for a little over 2 years now and, although he's always been a discipline problem, it's increasing daily now. The problem: peeing. No, he doesn't have a UTI. He gets great enjoyment out of doing it in front of me. When I come home from work, he pees. When there's seemingly no reason, he pees. And he loves peeing in the same place over and over again. He's ruined my buffet. Yes, he loves peeing on wood. I have 6 other cats, one of them male, whom Specs hates. Boo is the elder, he's 14 now, Specs is only about 5 or so. I've been willing til now to watch for his behavior, scold him and clean it up. But he's doing it so much now, especially when I'm gone, that my house is smelling awful, no matter how much I clean, he's ruining my furniture and he's causing such an uproar in this house, it's unbelievable. He's such a lovable cat otherwise. I should've named him Romeo. He's very possessive of me and I don't like the way I'm feeling about this cat right now.

Can anyone help w/ideas, etc?

Thanx and blessings,
M

[jazzcat]

I can feel your pain a little. My oldest cat, Ripley, who is 12 years old, is spraying in the house. He does it because he hates change and in the past 6 weeks we've had new flooring installed, painted in some rooms and we've added two kittens to the family. Just this morning before hubby left for work he caught Ripley backing up to the living room wall and spraying.:mad:

Anyway, the only thing I have found to help is Feliway spray and the Feliway Comfort Zone Plug-Ins. I think one reason Ripley sprayed again is because I haven't replaced the Plug-In for over 30 days and I've been slack on using the spray daily. You may want to check into those products which can be bought at petstores. I get mine online because it's cheaper.

Also, maybe ask your vet for suggestions.

For trying to get the smell out of your carpet try Nature's Miracle. I've used it and it does help but I don't think it's perfect.

[Medusa]

Thanx a mil! I'm willing to try anything at this point. I've got 7 indoor of my own and I'm currently feeding and housing 14 outdoor cats, another one of which I took in today to be neutered. Only 11 more to go! :-) I'll keep you posted.

Blessings,
M

[cruisetime]

OK - this may sound nuts and I haven't tried it - hope not to have too - but maybe if you catch him spraying and clean it up right away try using "club soda". It gets out red wine and everything else. It is awesome and cheap. It may get that out too. It is better than the OXI clean stuff... May be worth a try and won't hurt anything as it is only oxigenated water.... Just an idea.. Debbie

[Medusa]

ANY idea is worth trying. Catching him in the act is the easy part. I've used white vinegar on a suggestion from someone else and it really works. But, as you say, if I see him doing it. But he goes on a pee fest when I'm at work. Fabric I can deal with. But wood? He's warped the wood so badly that I can't even close the doors on my buffet now. Anyhow, no sense in gritchin'. I'll try every suggestion that's passed on to me.

Thanx so much for your help and for taking the time to respond.

Blessings,
M

[Medusa]

Btw, Jazzcat, good luck w/your new kittens and Ripley. I didn't mean to brush you off. I'm just so stressed over this spraying situation w/Specs that I'm rather one pointed at the moment. Hope you understand.

Blessings,
M

[jenluckenbach]

Have you tried drugs for him? I have 2 cats who started to spray and the vet put them on Amitrpitylin (kitty procaz). It helps a LOT. I am not sure it is 100% effective (as I have 15 cats and still find the occasional accident) but it certainly calms it to a manageable level.

[Medusa]

Y'know, I haven't but, now that you mention it, I think I'm going to ask my vet about it. Years ago my other male cat sprayed I think because he was upset over a move. My vet at that time put him on buspar, which didn't work, then something else which I'm hard pressed to remember right now. It didn't work either. But you may have hit on something here. It's worth a shot. I'm house hunting and when I get a new house, I sure don't want to have to put up with that.

Thanx so much for your feedback. I'm encouraged now.

Blessings,
M

[stephanie0122]

I don't think that you mentioned wether you cat was neutered or not? this could be your problem!

[Medusa]

Oh yes, he's neutered. That's one of the first things I tend to. On the suggestion of Jenluckenbach I started him on amitriptylene and it's really made a big difference. The vet started him on 10 mg. once a day but I think that's too high a dosage, so I cut it in half and give it to him twice a day. That way he isn't a little stuffed animal. He's retained his lovable nature but the peeing has stopped. (w/the exception of one time in the beginning) I'm going to keep him on it for a while, esp. once I move house because I can only imagine what he'd do w/new surroundings. Plus I don't want my other cats to follow suit, as they were beginning to do. But that has stopped also.

I can't tell you what a difference this has made in my household and in how I feel about Specs. I was angry w/him so much of the time. I hated feeling that way but he was ruining my house and furniture and terrorizing my Boo cat. Anyhow...life is good again. Thanx for all your feedback, friends. Now...on to finding homes for these 7 beautiful babies that were born on my front porch 3 months ago. LOL

Blessings,
M

[jenluckenbach]

I am glad you are having success.

[Medusa]

Yes, Jen, I am having success, thanx to you. I should've posted, I know, but I had computer issues yet again and everything was fixed only yesterday. Had to have my hard drive reformatted, then had to have it fixed one more time. Aaaaaargh! But all is well now. Thank you again.

Blessings,
M