Update on my sprayer, Irwin *UPDATED YAY*

[JustineNYC]

I posted last month that my sprayer who I have always had a problem with, ruined my home in NY, now I live in NC in a brand new home and he is still spraying. They put him on amitriptyline, which worked for 2 weeks, and he went back to spraying. We increased his dosage twice and it did nothing.

Basically I set Irwin up in my master bath now, its pretty big as its 2 rooms, tile, easy to clean, but I felt bad because he was in there all day. I let him out and watched him, after 5 minutes he sprayed my kitchen backsplash so back into the bathroom he went.

This is unbelievably frustrating. He ruined my home in NY. Sprayed my kitchen cabinets that were wood, the wood became warped and smelly and it cost me $12,000 to redo the kitchen before I could sell the home.

Now my walls are easy to clean but the urine drips down onto either wood or carpet.

My mom thinks I should put Irwin to sleep. She said not many people would spend thousands on a cat, I did my best and its time. I have spent so much between repairs, natures miracle which I buy by the gallons, rug shampooers, vet bills because everytime I bring him in they do a sloo of tests, which always come back normal. He has normal bloodwork, CBC's, Urinalysis and his kidneys look good on the x rays.

More then one of you recommended "Clomicalm" I asked my vet about it and she said its for dogs and they wouldnt prescribe it to him.

She said if these pills didnt work, I could confine Irwin to one room. I dont have a bedroom I am ready to hand over and allow him to destroy, and I dont want him to spend the rest of his life in a bathroom either cause I dont think thats fair.

So now we are going to a different vet, my neighbor recommended them, and Im going to ask AND PLEAD! that we try this stuff Clomicalm.

Im prepared to bring him to every vet in the Charlotte area until I find someone willing to try this stuff.

I guess I just need some well wishes.

[Medusa]

If I were you, I'd find a vet who will prescribe Clomicalm. Ametryptilene isn't approved for cats either but vets prescribe it regularly for them. Thank goodness I have an open minded vet. I have my pee cats' blood work done yearly just to be sure that there are no long lasting side effects and they've been on it for several years w/no problems whatsoever. I experienced the same thing you did w/the ruined furniture and hardwood and the ametryptilene working for only a little while. When my vet prescribed Clomicalm, it was the best thing he ever did for them and me and my house. It's certainly better than having your cat PTS. There are vets who will prescribe it. Please find one.

[krazyaboutkatz]

I'm so sorry to hear that you're still having peeing issues. Hopefully you'll find a vet that will listen to you and I hope that the clomicalm will help him. Good luck.

[emily_the_spoiled]

Maybe if the Clomicalm doesn't work you can try Prozac (that is approved for kitties)...

[wolflady]

I can certainly understand how frustrated you must be. I used to have a cat that was a sprayer, and it was simply a behavioral problem that developed after he was declawed. I tell you what, my husband at the time and I had no idea what declawing was really about and it was just what everyone did when their kitties were neutered. Boy, did we ever learn from that experience! Seems like his problems were a direct result of the declaw, and we could never overcome them. We tried everything (including kitty prozac) and finally, we had to opt for keeping him confined when we couldn't watch him. I always felt so bad about leaving him in such small quarters while my husband and I were at work, but the vet said that it wasn't a problem since cats sleep at least 18 hours a day anyway. Is Irwin declawed by chance? If not, have you ever considered making him an outdoor kitty? I know that's not ideal, but it would probably be better than being PTS...depending on where you live.

[JustineNYC]

He isnt just spraying, he is very anxious, slapping dogs, slapping my other cats, etc. He definitely needs a "chill pill"


He isnt declawed but, I couldnt put him outside. We're from NYC so all my cats are indoor. I think he'd die if I put him out. I wouldnt expect him to live long or come back.

[JustineNYC]

I just got home from another vets office and TA-DA!!! Irwin is now on Clomicalm!

The dr said she didnt know why the other vet said they wouldnt prescribe it because it was for dogs, she said there is a cat dosage too. They also prescribe prozac but she said shes seen more success with dogs with prozac and with Clomicalm with cats.

She said there is a paitent there who actually is on both.

He hadnt had bloodwork done since July, so they did that and a urinalysis, but sent me home with the meds. She said we'll re check his blood in 6 months. And she explained how we needed to be patient with the Clomicalm it may take time to work, and it may not start working til week 3.

But Im so happy!! I found a vet that is experienced with this. And the staff was so nice. The secretary also has a cat on Clomicalm.

On a side note, everyone says how big Irwins head is.....the Dr said his jugular veins are terrible, they had to get blood from his back leg because his neck is ALL MUSCLE!

[Medusa]

Hey, that's great news! My vet said that it takes some time to work, too, but it started working immediately for my cats. You may have to tweak the dosage until you get it just right but it's been a godsend for me. Good for your vet!

[jenluckenbach]

I have 2 cats who are on amitriptyline AND clomicalm.

[JustineNYC]

Hey, that's great news! My vet said that it takes some time to work, too, but it started working immediately for my cats. You may have to tweak the dosage until you get it just right but it's been a godsend for me. Good for your vet!

I have to thank everyone here and you too because without you guys I wouldnt know what this stuff is. My mom called today and the first thing she said was "Did you put him to sleep"

Its very frustrating but its nice to know people have been through this before.

[JustineNYC]

Here is Irwin and myself today.....you can see his head is almost as big as mine. LOL

[phesina]

Awwwww.... how sweet! Home with Mommy and getting much better.

[lvpets2002]

WoW he looks just like my Rastus boy that I am having spraying & peeing problems with.. I will ask my Vet about those meds as well for him.. Thanks for the update..

Here is Irwin and myself today.....you can see his head is almost as big as mine. LOL