Training Cats to NOT pee all over the house
:eek:
What to do. Horrible Habit!!
There is a fantastic mag out that comes from England-it's called "Your Cat". They also have "Your Dog", "Your Bird", "Your Horse", and that's all I've seen. They mentioned that cats that pee all over are marking their territory, as they don't feel they have one. It could be a cat living with a thousand other pets, it could be a solitary cat in the house. There is also a great show that comes from England (can't remember the name! Sorry) that I can get on the Animal Planet now and then. They have solutions for serious behavioural problems with ALL animals, even barnyard pets. It is an excellent show, if you get it.
What was recommended, was to take a slightly damp facecloth and constantly wipe down the cat. Down its back. The sides of the face near the mouth are good areas, as they use this for "scenting" or "marking" territories also. (they rub their "side mouth", where the scent glands are, against us-the couch, the corner of the walls, our legs, trees, etc., followed by the rest of their body. Think of it, and it'll come to you how much they do this!- especially when you are holding their full food dish up in the air above them).
Now, take the facecloth, and rub it EVERYWHERE they have been peeing. On a wall close to the pee spot; their fave spot to sit and watch the outdoors; their bed; the area around the food dish; everywhere where THEY ARE ALLOWED to walk and lie down.
You must do it constantly; over and over. It takes awhile to "untrain" this habit, as the cat starts to recognize his "territory" smell that has already been "marked", so he/she doesn't have to do it himself.
Do not let him in to your secret! You must ignore the cat when he goes and smells around. Pretend you are still the stupid human that has not caught on to them. The cat may still pee for awhile, trying to figure out where he still feels uncomfortable in the house, and feels the need to "mark". Don't scream at the cat, or even react when they pee. Quietly clean it up and "un-scent" the area with a product from the pet store, something else natural that you can find on the web, but NOTHING with ammonia in it. Cats naturally have ammonia in their pee so if you use something like this they will keep peeing there, as you are helping them marking it also! Be cautious, some cleaning products have ammonia in them- it may be called a different name. Usually these products have "warning, dangerous" labels on them.
This may take weeks. It may take months to get all the spots the cat usually marks. BE PATIENT! IT WORKS!
The only reason:confused: it may not work, is if the cat has a bladder infection, or stones, or something else that makes them pee everywhere out of relief of pain. (They are usually going into the empty bathtub and leaving little drops of pee all over, another hint something is wrong).
DON"T YELL, PUNISH, FREAK OUT, OR REACT TO THE CAT IF HE STILL PEES! We all didn't toilet train our first day!! The cat has to figure out that HE/SHE IS SAFE, IS IN THEIR TERRITORY ALREADY, AND DOESN'T NEED TO KEEP PEEING TO MARK ITS TERRITORY AS IT IS ALREADY SCENTED by the facecloth you keep rubbing down the cat with, then rubbing on the walls/spots the cat is allowed to go to.
:cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:
There is usually some reaction in the first week. You must be diligent in doing this. Remember, your cat is not peeing all over to make you mad. The cat is peeing to scent the house. The cat might have been very feral before, or insecure. :confused: Before you owned him. The cat could have been beaten for this, so they may try marking where you can't see it, or where you can't see them doing it. Keep "scenting" areas for them. They do come around, as they "take over the house" with the scenting.;) ;)
Please be patient, and give this a month. It is free to do, takes little of your time, and your cat might actually like the rubdown with the facecloth!
PLEASE LET ME KNOW HOW THIS WORKS.
Snowyowlcat
