posted
I have a boy kitty named Tyrus, and Tyrus has a girl kitty named Moxie. They are both fat, fluffy, pampered indoor cats. Tyrus is dominant and VERY vocal. Moxie is shy and timid, and has a toilet problem. When we first got her, she peed and pooped everywhere. We got her from the pound, which was probably the reason she was there in the first place.
I took her to the vet, worked with her for weeks, and finally got her to the point where I though she was over it. But we moved, and she started again, just not as much. So I bought special cat litter, and worked with her some more. I noticed that she only did it when she was under stress - she is a very nervous animal. Sometimes if we were out of town, if we had guests, etc. But I always treated the spots with an enzymatic cleanser to get rid of the odor fully, made sure her box was clean all the time, even got an extra litter box for the two of them, and gave her lots of love on top of it all.
We moved into the house that we bought in Tucson, and the closets got peed in so much that I had to take out the carpet. We were nervous about bringing her to Phoenix. I have had to give a pair of cats away and it absolutely broke my heart.
Now the house we live in up here in Phoenix is under attack by her. She is obviously trying to tell us something each time she does it (which right now is probably "stoping moving around"). We have been here almost 2 months, and I have gone through 3 gallon-jugs of enzymatic cleanser. She's pooped 4 times, and peed 7. We just came home this weekend from a trip, and she had pooped in her bed (for the second time), and peed in the hallway.
I put her out last night. I had no choice. I feel like I've been more than patient with her. She's incorrigible. It broke my heart to do it, but I don't know what else to do. I put her carrier out there and got some cat bedding to put in there, and put food and water out there for her.
Last night was her first night, and it's a little cold outside and she was meowing. I brought her in to sleep with me because I felt so guilty, and my husband was really mad. I put her back out before I left for work this morning. Then it started to rain while I was at work. I felt horrible! She was waiting for me on the porch when I got home, and was so happy to see me.
I feel heartbroken and I'm sure she does too - it's getting colder and I don't think she knows why I won't let her in. I can't punish her or spank her, but she saw how mad I got when I found the poop (she went and hid). I didn't want to take her to the pound because she'd be miserable and probably would wind up being put down. I wanted to at least give her a fighting chance.
Sorry for the long post but I really needed to vent. Am I doing the right thing? Does anyone have any ideas? I feel like a monster, but I just can't have my house being turned into a barn anymore.
Plants: 292 | From: Arizona | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 68.104.164.228
posted
Oh man..that's a tough one. I'm trying to think what I would do if it were my cat and I just don't know. I know I wouldn't get rid of him...like you, it would break my heart! What did the vet say? Did they do any tests to see if she had any elimination problems?? Perhaps she doesn't like the change...I just don't know Amber, wish I could help ya out. How long have you lived in the new house? Maybe she just needs more time to get familiar with the new surroundings. When we moved to our home in April, my cat peed right in the middle of our bed, the first night! Though that was the first and last time he did it..didn't take him long to scout out his new territory. Good Luck Amber!!!!!
posted
Cats are so prone to bladder and urinary infections, she probably needs to go to the vet pronto!!! Rule any health problems out before you turn her into an outdoor cat. Especially since she is not used to being an outdoor cat.
Also, when moving a cat to a new home, keep them confined to one room for at least a couple weeks up to 6 weeks after moving. Let them come out as they feel comfortable with it, they can have a hard time adjusting as they are such territorial creatures.
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GO DAWGS! Plants: 3479 | From: The Idaho Boonies | Registered: Apr 2005
| Seeded: 69.21.8.77
posted
Amber...bless your heart! I am wondering also if you should ask the Vet about her anxiety. If it happens not to be a kidney infection, which it probably is...but you mentioned she only does this during certain events..(company, when you are out of town etc..) So mabe she is having some panic type episodes that need to be addressed. Good luck with this and let us know how she is doing...
~V~
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Happiness, like a dessert so sweet. May life give you more than you can ever eat... *** *** Plants: 7034 | From: The Land of JOY | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 71.143.160.201
posted
I would also go for confining the cat. To a room that is easy to clean up after. Keep her there when you are out with her food water and litter. It will help her adjust to have a small and quiet space until she is used to everything.
* * * * We are all under the same stars... therefore we are never far apart. Plants: 30076 | From: Washington, the state that is... | Registered: Aug 2004
| Seeded: 66.235.45.83
posted
That's what I was thinking when I took her to the vet. But it's not that - she's pooping too, so everyone's sure it's a behavioral thing. I don't want her outside for so many reasons - even though she's a Maine Coon and her fur is thick, it gets cold here in the winter (it's not even winter yet and it's cold right now), and sooooo hot here in the summer.
Plus Tyrus (my vocal boy kitty) is freaking out big time. He has no buddy now, and he wants to go outside too, and he is screaming at the top of his lungs all day long.
I like the room confinement thing - although that's what I had been doing. It would work for a while, but then she would fall right back into the same old habits whenever she felt like it. It wasn't always only during stressful events - sometimes it was just whenever. I caught her peeing on a book once - and I was sitting right there!
I'll talk to my husband about it. But since it has failed us four times already, I'm not so sure he'll go for it.
Plants: 292 | From: Arizona | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 68.104.164.228
posted
Okay, this is just a thought Amber....Do you have a PetsMart anywhere near you? They have a ton of books on cats that might address this behaviour. Also, they hae different types of pet training classes. You might just call and see if there is someone there that can give you a few more specific thing to do. I would sure hate to put that baby outside...
~V~
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Happiness, like a dessert so sweet. May life give you more than you can ever eat... *** *** Plants: 7034 | From: The Land of JOY | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 71.143.160.201
posted
I have one cat that has had issues with this in the past. She was having territorial issues when we moved to the new house. After MUCH stress on me, and much yelling from my husband, this is what I came up with...there was a cat in this house before us, and it had marked, both with urine and the facial phermone. So my cat was smelling that and responding.
My solution was to allow her in the back yard during the day, so she has something to do with her day, and then she comes in at niight and is confined to the laundry room.
I ordered that plug-in a few days ago on the advise of my vet...hopefully it works, because I would like to be able to trust her in the whole house!
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We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are. Plants: 6287 | From: S. Lane Co., Oregon | Registered: Aug 2003
| Seeded: 209.180.233.200
Hey Sheri...that was a brilliant idea! A few hormones never hurt anybody....just look at Cindy....
~V~
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Happiness, like a dessert so sweet. May life give you more than you can ever eat... *** *** Plants: 7034 | From: The Land of JOY | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 71.143.160.201
posted
I just can't believe it. I brought her inside just for a minute, into the room I was considering confining her to - and she POOPED! What am I to do with this cat??? I like all the suggestions. I will talk to a vet tomorrow.
I had been bringing her inside for the past 2 nights to sleep with us, and letting her out in the morning. She has been so cute and affectionate, and seemingly less stressed and sketchy. When I come home from work I go outside and call her and she actually comes, which she never did. She even purrs when I pick her up, and she hates to be held! After being so sweet she makes me forget how mad I am at her. Then she goes and does something like this!
Plants: 292 | From: Arizona | Registered: Oct 2004
| Seeded: 68.104.164.228
posted
When ToDeTa, the dog we have now, was doing that the vet told me she was confused. That for some reason she thought inside was the bathroom and to confine her to an area when I first brought her in. At least then, you only have one place to clean up. It took about a year but now she goes outside. I guess you could do that with your litter box. Bring her inside and confine her for a while in the room with the litter box.
No...we have to make sure she stays on here hormones....
Cindy & NO hormones =
It's not pretty Sheri...
~V~
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Happiness, like a dessert so sweet. May life give you more than you can ever eat... *** *** Plants: 7034 | From: The Land of JOY | Registered: Apr 2004
| Seeded: 71.143.160.201
posted
Sounds to me like a definite behavioral issue. I think you're exactly right that she's telling you something. We have a cat that became a behavioral problem once we got our 5th cat. He peed all over the house and pooped right outside the litter box (next to it). As for the spraying, the only thing we could do about it was clean up after him, and also we tried spraying/throwing water on him whenever we caught him peeing. Now he doesn't really pee all over the place anymore, but he still goes right outside the litter box ALL the time. We buy remnant carpets from Carpet World, cut them up into about 1-foot or 2-foot squares, and put them all around and under the litter box in several layers so that when he goes, we can just pick up the messed up one and throw it out and replace it. Not the greatest solution, but my husband loves that cat. Good luck! PS- which enzymatic cleaner do you use, and does it work?
* * * * Plants: 1044 | From: Van Nuys, CA | Registered: Sep 2004
| Seeded: 70.36.255.185
Jiffymouse
guest
posted
when i have had a problem animal (cat or dog) i use a kennel to train them. if you get one that is just large enough for her to lay down in with a shoe box across the back, and put a plastic bag for a liner with cat litter in the shoe box, she will not go where she has to lay unless she is ill. when she gets used to using the litter in the shoe box, she will be more willing to use the big litter box, even under stress.
now, when you are home and able to supervise, etc, let her out, and let her out to eat. also, your letting her in to sleep is another good way to train her. i hope it gets better, i feel for you as i have one that has been ill and is making me crazy! but i've had her almost 10 years so i don't want to get rid of her either...
Seeded: 12.77.200.125
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