A very sad dicovery

**jenluckenbach** · 05-09-2004, 05:43 AM

As you know, Jim and Sterling have both been caught peeing in the house and are on medication to prevent it. But lately I have still been finding spots

Well, over the last couple of days I have caught Lucas peeng in a cardboard box and Mickey spraying the foot stool in the living room.

What am I going to do ?!?!?!
Lucas has just had tests for UTI and blood tests so we know he's not sick! And I'll bet you any amount that Mickey is not sick either.

People tried to warn me that taking in too many cats would eventually start this happening. And they also say once it starts the problem just grows. And sure enough that is what is happening.

On the one hand I am comforted in the fact that MANY (if not all) of the people I have talked to who do cat rescue have this same probelm and are living with it. On the other hand, can I live with it?

My biggest concern is that the urine spots will not be found in order to clean them up. If I did not actually SEE Mickey spray, I would not have noticed that spot after it dried. And YES, I know about the black light, but have you ever actually tried to search your house with one?? It needs to be done at night (i.e. in the dark), you have to deal with the stupid extension cord, it is constant bending, stretching and crawling and I have a LOT of rooms to search. Do that every day???? I don't think so!!!!!

I have feliway plug-ins. I really don't think they help (or at least they limit the behavior if not prevent it). I also use the feliway spray, but I can't spray every inch of my whole house!! That stuff is for when the bad cats prefer one spot and you can treat it. They have no preferences, they just spray all over!

So here I am, forever doomed to have a stinky, peed in house

**Pam** · 05-09-2004, 06:57 AM

Jen my heartfelt sympathy to you. I know you will do your very best to solve this problem and it is indeed a difficult one. I worked with a girl once who had ONE cat that was constantly spraying in their basement as he aged. The pee was permeating the concrete so badly that after the kitty left for the RB they actually had to break up and replace the concrete in order to get the odor out. I certainly hope you can get things under control or that you will discover one day that this has all magically just stopped.

**Laura's Babies** · 05-09-2004, 08:15 AM

Has something happened that may have upset them? I had one cat that peed on my daughters bed when ever I treated her for fleas to let me know her displeasure. Something happend that "displeased" them maybe?

**Barbara** · 05-10-2004, 05:35 AM

Jen I am so sorry for you. Knowing that one of Filou's ways of telling he has problems is also to pee where he shouldn't (I am glad he does it less than once a year

) I have an idea of how it must be if it happens more often

I hope you find a way to cope with it.

**krazyaboutkatz** · 05-11-2004, 12:56 AM

Jen, I'm so sorry to hear that you're cats are still having peeing problems.

I hope you're able to get this under control. Good luck and please keep us updated.

**Fallon** · 05-11-2004, 01:01 AM

I'm sorry the cats are having that problem. It must be pretty bad for you and some of the other cats. I know it can start to smell pretty bad too.. I used to have about 7 cats and it got pretty bad.. you have even more than that! I hope you find a way to fix it.. you wont decide to get rid of any cats though, right?

**fairlady68** · 05-11-2004, 06:50 PM

This thread only confirms my decision to stick to just one cat...I occasionally see other needy, lovable cats and get tempted to take them in. But I feel like it would break my Julie's heart if I did so; we are so bonded now for almost ten years. I have heard about problems like these, and many others, and am glad I stuck by my original commitment to Julie, and Julie only.

I can sure understand how difficult it is, though, not to succumb to just one more sweet, meowing little face {;-)

Best wishes from MARTHA and Julie ("MEEE-OW!") the Calico Princess

**jenluckenbach** · 05-11-2004, 07:05 PM

This thread only confirms my decision to stick to just one cat...

I don't want anyone to think I am suggesting NOT to adopt. I had 13 cats before I ever even had a hint at a problem betwween them. I was just feeling a little sorry for myself and possibly guilty for going overboard.

While it is true that no one WANTS this kind of problem I just felt the need to report that it can happen and maybe I could even end up with a little moral support because I know I am not alone in this problem. (and it is not always due to too many cats, either)

Sometimes our hearts are bigger than our heads

**Felicia's Mom** · 05-11-2004, 08:47 PM

Jen, I feel for you. I have never had your problem (knock on wood). If I did, I might have to move or get rid of my cats. I should mention that I rent.

The worst problem I have is sometimes when Felicia pees, she stands up and it goes on the floor.

Good luck to you.

**Christiansmommy** · 05-11-2004, 09:53 PM

I am so sorry that you are faced with this stress...i am sure it must be stressful. I suppose if it continues to happen, is there a way that you could section off the "pee-ers" to an enclosed outdoor place...i think Noah'smommy has an outside enclosure? I know it wouldnt work in winter for you, being that you live in PA...but maybe it could help somewhat...i am sorry and dont know what to say, hope things start to clear up for you...

**jenluckenbach** · 05-12-2004, 04:49 AM

I suppose if it continues to happen, is there a way that you could section off the "pee-ers" to an enclosed outdoor place...i think Noah'smommy has an outside

I would NEVER condemn my cats to an outside life even if they were "safe" in an enclosure!!! I do not think that is a suitable solution. If I would find I could not live with the problem, rehoming is the ONLY acceptible solution.

**Christiansmommy** · 05-15-2004, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
I would NEVER condemn my cats to an outside life even if they were "safe" in an enclosure!!! I do not think that is a suitable solution. If I would find I could not live with the problem, rehoming is the ONLY acceptible solution.

I dont think "CONDEMN" them is a suitable word. For instance, my in laws have a huge sun room (enclosed with windows, wood flooring, etc, that is a livable part of their house...we go out there very frequently to sit out there, it is heated/air conditioned, etc. Now they dont have cats living out there, but i would like to say, sorry, just MY opinion, that if they had a buddy out there with them (being that you have 2 cats that are spraying), it wouldn't be such a bad place to be. Not like they would be destined to be alone the rest of their life...of course they would be part of the family...just like any animal is...none the less, it was just a suggestion, since you seemed bummed about the situation, i thought i would try to offer some sort of other option..................

**carole** · 05-15-2004, 11:31 PM

I agree with you Christiansmommy.

**jenluckenbach** · 05-16-2004, 05:24 AM

Originally posted by Christiansmommy
I dont think "CONDEMN" them is a suitable word. For instance, my in laws have a huge sun room (enclosed with windows, wood flooring, etc, that is a livable part of their house...we go out there very frequently to sit out there, it is heated/air conditioned, etc. Now they dont have cats living out there, but i would like to say, sorry, just MY opinion, that if they had a buddy out there with them (being that you have 2 cats that are spraying), it wouldn't be such a bad place to be. Not like they would be destined to be alone the rest of their life...of course they would be part of the family...just like any animal is...none the less, it was just a suggestion, since you seemed bummed about the situation, i thought i would try to offer some sort of other option..................

I do not back down from MY opinion. (but trust me when I say that I was in no way angry at your suggestion. I know it was given with the best of intentions)

But let me ask you this............

If your in laws DID have a peeing cat would they REALLY want them in that beautiful sunroom???? The odds are that the answer would be NO because it is too much a part of the house. Which is exactly the reason I never even gave such a room as a consideration. the words "an outside enclosure" sounded to me too much like a remote place where they would spend a great deal of time alone. And like a dog that spends his kife in a kennel or fenced-in outdoor run, I would not want that for my cats even if they were making trouble for me.