Set back with Sterling. I am very sad

[sasvermont]

Jen, I didn't know that Sterling had been with you for such a long time. I too would be heart broken to have to deal with his problem this late in his schedule. Maybe more meds would do the trick! Good luck. Keep us posted. Maybe an animal behaviorist? We are all feeling your pain! Yikes.

I hope he delivers tonight and you get a good sample for the Vet.

Poor Jen.

SAS

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
but not my Sterling! I'll make him wear diapers before I give up on him.

We changed our dry cat food recently from Hills standard to Hills Nature Best and this had an effect on little Brambles's rear end.

We have been running around after her for days cleaning her bottom. You can see where she has sat down by the slid marks...yuck.

Thank the deity of your choice, that we mainly have wooden floors and lino, except the stairs carpet which is being chucked anyway.

So I have a small idea what you are going though in part but we know it is tempory which makes the cleanup easier.
(She has been to the vets been given antibiotics and is much better)

I also feel bad about the number of cats I have introduced to our home. The kittens introduction was the most difficult and Milo slept in the living room with the kittens present for the FIRST time last evening.

Treacle is still spending too much time outside to avoid the kittens.

We did try keeping all the cats inside to bond for a couple of days but Milo opened the cat flap the wrong way and let out George, Milly & Treacle and left himself, leaving the kittens on their own. Milo is one clever kitty.

You are not alone Jen.... bet there are plenty of similar problems which don't make it to the PT board. Kirsten having a similar problem with Luna and she only has two cats, so I wouldn't assume that it is a multiply cats problem.

Don't give up hope, once Sterling has been treated medically, you can look at the remaining behavioural problem (if any) and work on that.

Sending prayers for Sterling, Jim, Jen & Charlie (With a side order of wine for Jen)

[jenluckenbach]

bet there are plenty of similar problems which don't make it to the PT board.

I am finding this to be all too true. You would be surprised at the number of people I have talked to who have this problem (and they do not know what to do either).

So anyway, at 9 p.m. last night (25 hours after I put Sterling back in the large cage with the empty litter box) he finaly gave me the all important sample. I labled the bottle and placed it in the 'fridge. It will go to the vet first thing this morning. I actually find myself hoping that they find some remaining medical problem that we can try to treat.

[HayleyRosie]

I am sending prayers for you. If it is a medical condition that is causing Sterling's problem I hope it is nothing serious and can be easily treated. Please keep us posted.

[Cataholic]

Jen,
Keep the faith. I really can't see you giving up Sterling or Jim. So, let's look at some other alternatives. Stay with the retraining, and maybe think of a permanent separation between Sterling and Jim...and, maybe once Jim reaches sexual maturity some of his testosterone will ease, and not make the two so 'male'..to one another?

Good luck.

[slick]

Jen: I'm so so sorry you've been put through this and I can't imagine how stressful this must be for you. We are all praying for you and in a very strange way, it would be good if the vet found something in the urine. Hugs to you Jen and scritches to the furbabies.

[jenluckenbach]

Sterling's urine tested GOOD. so that means trying a higher dose of the amitriptylin and possible cage confining for a MONTH.

Jim and Sterling don't seem to have a problem with one another, they have been living together now for almost 2 weeks. They NEED each other . I think it is Bonnie that bothers Sterling (or possible the kittens, but he has even had the kittens in the room with him without any incidents). Bonnie just adores Sterling and might just be making a pest of herself.

By the way, Jim is about 1 1/2 years old now.

I am afraid more of the medicine will make Sterling "goofy" and groggy, but we will give it a try. I am upping Jim's dose too because I WANT him to be a little groggier than he has been lately.

I will confine Sterling longer, but I think I will stick with the single room as I fear if he tries to jump onto those cage shelves in a groggy state, he might hurt himself.

I have Jim out for a trial run right now as we speak. I'll probably be cleaning up pee later today, but I need to know how he is doing.

Keep on praying, we aren't through this yet.

[K & L]

Poor Jen (and Sterling). I sure hope this all ends for you all soon. You've done all the right things so hang in there!

[Kirsten]

Oh no, I'm so sorry! How much easier would it have been if it was medical-related and treatable!

Did he start peeing after you have adopted Bonnie?

Kirsten

[jenluckenbach]

I believe that it is possible that fostering Bonnie (which is what I did at first) or the addition of the foster kittens, may have been too much. And I can see where Jim and Bonnie REALLY have issues with each other!!!!!!! On the other hand, Bonnie always liked Sterling, but maybe he does not like the attention.

[Kirsten]

but maybe he does not like the attention.

Yes, that could be... I can see in Luna it's bothering her sometimes having Lily around all the time. I'm a bit afraid her peeing on the sofa was a reaction to this. When you have Jim and Sterling in a room seperated from Bonnie, are there also peeing accidents?

Kirsten

[jenluckenbach]

No, there haven't been any, either in the room that Jim and Sterling have shared with Foster Annie, nor in the rest of the house with the other 12 plus 2 of the foster kittens.
Now, does that mean that it IS behavioral? (it looks that way). But on the other hand, let's just think for a minute that Sterling has a medical problem (I am sure Jim's is behavioral and the medicine will help him). While Sterling is in a single room he has many litter boxes to choose from within a close walking distance (the 2 regular ones that are always in that room and one in each of the 2 cages that are still set up but the cage doors are open now). On the other hand, when I allowed Sterling out in the whole house the other day, he had much more space to cover. Even though there are litter boxes in every room, he might still have to travel farther to one than he would have had to if he were in that single room. That is why I think there could still be an underlying medical problem that we have yet to find.

[Kirsten]

I hope it's that - and something treatable!

It's not the first time I'm saying this, I know - but I wish they could talk and tell us what's wrong!

Kirsten

[jenluckenbach]

I hate to say this, but I am begining to think it IS behavioral. But at the vet visit tomorrow, I will ask about the possibility of other medical conditions that we might test for in Sterling.
As for the other jailbird, I am possitive it is behavioral but the medicine for stress does not seem to be working. I will ask about that too tomorrow.
I guess I have to get used to the idea of cleaning up pee spots.

[HayleyRosie]

Jen, I am so sorry to hear that you have a behavioural problem and then I am also happy that it is not medical. I wish you every success in finding a solution to this. Keep us posted.