My brown cat is up for a good home, who can break this habit

[zippy-kat]

"Dot Org," I don't have any suggestions but I wanted to comment that I visited your website and Sox is absolutetly stunning!

While I can't speak for Columbine, I think s/he viewed one of your lasts comments as a "threat" (ie "someone take him or he's being pts"). Sadly, it's happened here quite a few times and it gets old. I'm not implying that's what you meant, merely that's what I interpreted.

Best of luck with Sox, it's a hard decision for anyone to make.

[columbine]

While I can't speak for Columbine, I think s/he viewed one of your lasts comments as a "threat" (ie "someone take him or he's being pts"). Sadly, it's happened here quite a few times and it gets old. I'm not implying that's what you meant, merely that's what I interpreted.

Yes, that's exactly what happened. And as it turns out, now that I've read your full explanation of what yu've done for your cat, I was COMPLETELY wrong. I'm sorry. Yours is probably the first message of that kind that I've seen posted by someone who had really tried - I've read way too many of the "threats" that zippy-kat described above, and gotten jaded. I offer, but don't automatically assume that you'll accept, my apology, and hope some of the suggestions people here have offered prove helpful.

Love, Columbine

[doolittleky]

Rob,
I know you have spent alot of money to help your cat. I have one suggestion that no one has offered yet and I know you don't have anymore money to spend on your cat but it might help you understand why your cat is peeing everywhere. There is a pet psyhic( that just doesn't look right sp) that several people on the board have used. She charges 30.00 for a reading. She is very good and she might be able to help you with this behavior so that you won't have to give your baby away or worse. I mean what have you got to lose with it? At worst nothing will change... at best you might solve your problem. I would also try the other things people have already suggested, like retraining your cat. Put it in a small space like a bathroom and keep it in there and retrain it to use the litter box. If it doesn't work, at least you will contain where it is peeing to one room.
Good luck
Melissa

[Venita]

Rob,

First I would like to commend you on what you have done for Sox so far. PU surgery is not only expensive but difficult for the surgeon and a difficult recovery for you and your kitty.

I have operated a limited intake cat shelter for the past 22 years plus I work for vets (mainly in surgery). Peeing, pooping and spraying are the number 1 reason cats are relinquished either in open intake facilities or limited intake facilities. As you know, open intake facilities would not work with Sox..he would just go to the death ward. Depending on resources, a limited intake facility may or may not take Sox. IF he make a lateral move, he will continue to spray and possibly act out even more because his world will be turned upside down. Like you, I am concerned with him becoming an outside kitty. Not only is it dangerous (especially for a kitty who has never lived outside) but he could eat things that will upset his urinary tract and he will get into trouble with FLUTD. If I had room in my shelter or home I would be more than happy to take him on but as every other shelter in the US, I am overflowing. Not only is my shelter full but my living room has once again become the kitten nursery.

IF you want to continue to provide a home for Sox just know that Prozac is very cheap BUT it could take 6 weeks for it to "kick" in plus you will have to work on behavior modification. Another drug that helps but is not widely used is Paxil. I had 3 male cats in a spraying "war" and like you, I had tried everything I knew to do with no luck. The vet put them on Paxil for 6 months and they stopped the spraying. After 6 months on the drug, we gradually took them off and to this day they have not sprayed. Like you, I had to replace every surface in my home...tile floors, painted walls in semi gloss paint, removed base boards..scrubbed..and replaced base boards. I made sure that ALL surfaces were able to be scrubbed. I kept enzyme cleaners on hand and used cat repellent spray daily. I placed food and water dishes in the places they were spraying. I kept air cans to spray at them when I saw them begin to spray. I also kept a tin can with rocks in them to rattle if I could not get to the air can. Yes, all of this was a lot of work and took 6 months to resolve but it DID work and they are very happy boys today and do not spray.

You have done great by making sure there are no underlying medical reason for his behavior. Something has upset Sox. It could be anything from someone new coming around, a new cat he is seeing through the window to rearranging of furniture. Cats are MAJOR creatures of habit and HATE changes.

Believe me, I know how frustrating this is for you not to mention the cost of replacing things. I also understand the embarrassment with your new girlfriend and her parents. The only suggestion I have is explain what is going on and what you are doing to resolve the situation. Express your love for the cat to them and what you and the kitty have been through together. I bet they will understand.

If you find a home for Sox, be very upfront with the new owners about his "habit" and what it may take to get his behavior under control. If you hold the facts back, his outlook may be far worse than euthanasia.

I wish you all the luck in the world and hope you might consider trying a few more things before you give up on him. You two have been through so much together that I would hate to see your "family" have to break up.

Good luck and keep us informed.

Venita

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear that you're having peeing problems with your cat. My oldest cat also had the PU surgery and he's on Royal Canin Urinary S/O dry and wet food. He and Starr started peeing on my carpet in the dining room and entry way area. I put Storm on clomicalm for a while and it stopped his peeing but Starr was still peeing. Both cats were checked out and both were fine.

My vet recommended that I put more litterboxes out and to also start using cat attract litter. You can buy it at Petsmart or online and if it doesn't work then Petsmart will refund your money. I just added it on top of the old litter that I was using. It's worked wonders and now I don't have peeing problems any more. The litter also comes with a booklet that tells you what to do about cat spraying and peeing problems. I've also been using 2 feliway plugins and I use the spray before I go to bed at night.

I hope that something will work for you. I'd hate to hear that you had to rehome your beloved cat. Good luck.

[sasvermont]

http://www.martinscages.com/



P. S. There is a big difference between letting a cat outside and making a cat an outside kitty. Big difference. I was not suggesting he make the cat stay outside, but instead let the cat out. I have an inside cat that goes out with me every day. She stays inside when I am not around. That is what I had in mind when I suggested "outside"......I have friends who have farms with cats, and their cats come in each night. They are fine. They are loved.

[carole]

I can only commend you for all you have done and are continuing to do for Sox, you sure have my empathy, i can only imagine how it is living with the strong odour of cats urine and how fustrated you must feel, hopefully some of the great suggestions you have had on here will help you through this time and a resolution maybe just around the corner, i understand you worry about Sox becoming an outdoor kitty, but just wanted to let you know 95 per cent of kitties in NZ are outdoor and they seem to do pretty ok,mine included, but it would be an ajustment, but i am sure kitty will love it just fine, better than having to PTS Sox, it might be a risk as you see it, but one you just might have to take, good luck.

p.s Columbine has always been a very nice person on PT to my knowledge, i am sure she meant well, and I hope you accept her apology.

[RobLynn]

Feliway plugins? Is this some sort of like a "glade" plugin, meant for cat urine?

I'm going to check into a bag of that cat attract.

See, with Sox, it's not everyday he's doing this, but it's more frequent.

Back in March, I was re-doing the back bedroom. Just paint, and retexturing the ceiling, but I had to move everything around. He didn't care for that I guess, and he showed it by urinating on the carpet. He went in the same spot a few times, but still used the litter box. It turned into just paint and ceiling work, into ripping up the carpet, baseboard, floorboards, and to a disaster.

A little before that, maybe, January? he peed in my "office" of sorts, basically just a bedroom with computers and musical equipment. I've tried every cleaner, and instead of it being a "pee" smell, it's a "musk/musty" smell. It's so strong, that the door has to be closed, and on a hot day, you can still smell it in the hall way. Since it's not really in a living area, I've not pulled the carpet yet...also, because it's a decent amount of square footage, and I simply and out of capitol to under-go another room make over.

Okay, that brings me to the kitchen. I had just changed over the kitchen, new cabinets and things of that nature (I had a pipe break, and the insurance covered nearly all of the cabinets, recycled the counter top, I did all of the labor myself, and did my kitchen for the cost of paint). I put a floor mat infront of where the sink was. One day, I thought the pipe had broke, because it's wet there...I washed the mat, and didn't think of it. THen it was wet again, and I smelled it. A very faint odor of urine.

Then the back room downstairs. I use it as a "tool" room, and a "storage" room, if that makes sense. It's like 60 square foot, and I guess you could think of it as more of a walk in closet or something, I'm not sure. He peed on the carpet in there! After I cleaned the spot, and went to work...he did it again! I ripped up all of the carpet, and I had laminate left from the bedroom I did, just enough to do this room.

So this week, I went to take a shower, and he was trying to squat over the bath mat. I got him away from it, and took away the bath mat. I put a towel on the floor after I got out of the shower, to dry the water. I came back, and it smelled like pee.

His pee isn't "too" strong, like spray, it's just like, pee. You'll be like...do I smell cat pee, or is it my imagination? then you have to be like freakin' detective so and so, to investigate it.

The cat seems to be in no pain, all tests came back that he's a healthy cat. I check his heart rate, and breathing often, and his temp usually every month or so (was told after the PU the chance of infection is always higher).

I've applied "slight" pressure to the "bladder" and "kidney" areas, (before anyone jumps the gun here, I don't beat my cat) to see if he was in any discomfort, and there was none. His bladder is of a normal size, and he obviously has no problem peeing, since he's in a box and in the rest of the house doing it.

I'll call the vet today and see if they write any kitty anti-depressants. Maybe I'll just go to a shrink and get them filled, since I'm depressed my house smells like wee wee! (that's a joke there, about me, not about me calling the vet.)

[Medusa]

Boy, can I relate to that. Yodie had a thing about the rug that I had in front of the sink in my downstairs bath. She peed on it seconds after I would take it out of the dryer. And it's the same rug except a different color that I had in the upstairs bath! Go figure! The Clomicalm really works for me, though, and it's inexpensive. If the time should come when that would stop working, I'll check into Prozac. Obviously, it would be a low dose but I refuse to allow my house to be used as my cats' personal litter box and/or scratching post. I love all my cats but this is my house and they have to abide by the rules just like everyone else. As for the odor, you might want to give Urine Gone a try. It's an enzyme spray and it really works for me. You can find it just about everywhere now but if not, Bed Bath and Beyond carries it for sure. You have to soak up the pee first, then completely saturate the area w/Urine Gone, wipe it w/a damp cloth and repeat. It not only takes the smell out, it takes the appearance of the stain out, too.

Don't lose heart. We've all been there and I'm speaking for myself when I say that the thought did cross my mind on more than one occasion to rehome Yodie and Specs, the two worst offenders. But after I calm down, I realize that I love them for better or worse and besides, I'd have to tell their new family that they're pee cats or my conscience would bother me. Now, who is going to willingly take a pee cat unless the cat lives outdoors? And if I wouldn't tell them and the cat peed, the new family might toss them out on the street. And that I really couldn't live with. Whatever you decide, I'm sure you'll do whatever is beneficial for Sox and you.

[catnapper]

Sounds like my Pouncer. He gets stressed.... then gets sick and pees. I try to keep things as normal as possible in order to keep him healthy. I will never change his prescription diet. I feed 5 cats HIS food but he remains healthy on it so its worth it. Anyway, I digress...... I had 3 solid years of Pouncer being sick. He's only 4. It was the same stuff you described. I even felt pressure and had no discomfort... took him to the vet to find out if I waited another hour my cat would have died.

I didn't read everyone's replies because I have a screaming headache just read your responses that clarified everyone's questions. Here si what I did that FINALLY made a difference:
1) Enzyme cleaner to thoroughly clean up any and all urine spots. Don't get Nature's Miracle. They changed their formula last year when they sold the formula but neglected to tell the public. Their formula's not the same and doesn't work as well. I like Simple Solution.
2) Dr. Elsey's litter. I think Petsmart is the only place to buy this. They make two kinds. Buy the "Cat Attract" first. It really works. Its more expensive but it WORKS. Then once he's using the box again, move on to the Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat litter. Again, a bit more pricey but 100% worth it because it works so well.
3) About a 100 rounds of Clavimox. A dozen rounds of Baytril til I read that too much Baytril can lead to blindness. I tried natural antibiotics. I tried everything. In the end, it took 28 days straight of Clavimox without missing a dose to do the trick. He apparently had one heck of an infection that the typical 14 day dose wasn't touching. Its been a few months and he's back to normal. I can't tell you the difference in this cat since the infection's gone away. I forgot what he was like!!!
4) LOTS of water. Water available in every room. Apparently water is VERY important to cats susceptible to cystitis. I have water available in different forms hoping one would interest him over any others.... he took to drinking from the betta's bowl. We now have two separate bettas because thats what he preferred. My vet got a laugh out of that and agreed it was what I needed to do in order to get him more water.

I swear it was a combination of more water, better litter, and an extra two weeks of Clavimox that saved Pouncer. In all, the reality of the financial burden of the whole 3 years is too much for me to add up. I don't want to know. Please give what I did a try. It can't hurt and just might make things better! If you go to Dr. Elsey's website you can download a voucher for a free bag of Cat Attract litter. I could send you some Clavimox and samples of Simple Solution cleaner and laundry detergent additive. You can get a betta fish and bowl on your own Would you please try it?

[Pawla]

I went through this for just shy of seventeen years with Ellie. We tried EVERYTHING!!! There was nothing medically wrong with him, he just had behavioral issues. When we first got him I lived with my Mom, she actually got him for me after a bad break-up. He RUINED her house! All the white carpet had to be replaced. It smelled awful! I took him with me when I got married. Same thing. My husband hated this behavior, but really liked El. When I got divorced I took El to my own place. He started this peeing thing again. I don't have a lot of money either, and sometimes I feel as if I don't have any money, so I came up with something else to try. I confined him to the kitchen with a baby gate. I gave him his food, water, green blanket, a few toys, and a litter box. This worked GREAT! Any time he would "relapse" he had to go back to the kitchen. He would go a good month out of confinement before he would pee in the floor. I don't know if you've tried this approach or not, but it may be worth a shot. I don't think your a bad person. Like you said, you are trying to find him a loving home here on PT. I personally feel like when I got Ellie I made a commitment to him for life. If Mom , or the Ex had had it their way, he would've been gone a long time ago! I hope you can come to a resolution without having to have him PTS. I know this is a VERY frustrating problem. I also know how offensive cat pee is, and it is embarrassing to have someone over. If you have not tried confinement, give it a try. It just might work for you and Sox. I know it sure made the last three years of Ellie's life better for the both of us. GOOD LUCK! And please don't let anyone make you feel bad. We all have to do what we have to do.

[Medusa]

Y'know, Pawla's right. That's something I had entirely forgotten about. I have a friend whose cat has ruined 3 mattresses. Three! So I told her "Why are you allowing her in your bedroom? It's your bedroom, not hers. Give her a designated place where she can sleep and keep her out of areas where she doesn't belong." Problem solved. Almost. There was some revenge peeing for a while but once she saw that she wasn't allowed in that bedroom, she eventually stopped it. As for my own cats, they all sleep in the partially finished basement. All their beds, toys, food, water and litter boxes are there and when I tap on the basement door and say "Roll call!", they all head for the basement door. Usually. Boo Bear and Coco Puff are the holdouts sometimes but that's rare. So IF they're going to pee, it's done in the basement. That's unacceptable, too, don't get me wrong. But at least they're not backing their little furbutts up against my furniture and worse, on my bed.

So now that you have all of us geniuses telling you what to do, are you thoroughly confused? I would be.

[jazzcat]

Oh I so know the rug thing. I've had to take up the rugs in the bathrooms and just use a towel in front of the tub. Ripley started spraying on rubber backed rugs. Fortunately he doesn't bother the thick foam kitchen rug in front of the sink.

Sounds definitely like behavior problems with Sox since it started when you changed your bedroom. That was how it began with Ripley, we painted and put in new carpet in the dining and living room and the very next day he backed up to the dining room wall and drenched the wall baseboard and rug right in front of me. A year later we had hardwood floors installed and immediately he peed on the wood in the corner of the hall closet. Last year he sprayed my freshly painted wall and new curtains in my bedroom - luckily I stopped him before much came out. He shows his distaste for change by peeing on it and he typically does it right in front of me! I've come so close to showing him the backyard many many times!

I use Urine Gone to clean the pee spot. The key is to use it first before any other cleaner and let it dry completely then if needed reapply. Like Medusa I buy it at Bed Bath and Beyond or Linen's N Things and I use their 20% coupons. It's not perfect but I think it's better than Nature's Miracle or the other enzyme cleaners I've tried. Also Feliway really helps. The plug-ins are similar to the Glade plug-ins - just plugs right into your outlet. A little cheaper is the Feliway spray but you have to remember to spray it regularly. When I use it I spray twice a day. Here's a link to the cheapest place I've found it online. They have affordable shipping and ship quickly too.
discount pet supplies