Cat - any successes re "inappropriate elimination"?

Box_Of_Frogs

Box_Of_Frogs

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I knew it would come to this, just knew it.

Almost 7 years ago, after my own cat sadly had to be pts, I adopted a little 2yr old cat from the vets. Tarquin (too posh so he's known as Squirt). He had been left there by owners unable to pay the cost of a badly shattered hind leg, following a nasty RTA caused almost certainly by the fact that the cat wasn't neutered. Vets had done surgery, everything, pro bono to mend this little lad. After I took him home I discovered he had already been to one new home but they had returned him after a week or two saying he didn't get on with their 2 kittens. I think this is significant - with hindsight I think he probably peed in THEIR house. A couple of years later, I rescued a stray cat starving to death at my old livery yard. Named him Ginger Bikky, had him neutered, brought him home. He fit in fine with Tarquin and my other old cat Spencer (sadly pts couple of years ago). A few weeks after Bikky arrived, Tarquin started peeing on beds, my clothes, carpets, you name it. Got him through it (just) and all settled down again. Then I put a new cat flap in and Tarquin started peeing on beds, clothes, carpets, you name it, all over again. Got him through it as it was self limiting (new cat flap wasn't new for long). All settled again. But now a variety of other people's bloody cats are coming in through the cat flap and eating me out of house and home and Tarquin has started peeing again.

This time, I don't know how to stop it. It's not health related, it's 100% stress. I shut him out of one room and he starts it somewhere else. It's nothing to do with litter trays, it's pure, neat stress. I don't know of anything I can do to stop the behaviour that won't actually make his stress WORSE. I'm desperate - he's turning the house into a midden and as much as I ache for him, I can't let him wreck the house, it's stinking in one room already and he's just started in a 2nd room after I've shut him out of the 1st room. It's a matter of time until he starts again in a different place. Is it legal to shoot/poison/trap/drown other bloody cats (or owners) that are causing this problem? With my 2 cats used to the freedom of the house and garden 24/7, how do I turn this around without damaging their quality of life? Anyone had any success with sedation (cat, not me)? Long term or short term? Feliway is a waste of time. Help help help, this is driving me into a direction I don't want go go x
 
Maybe swap the cat flap for one that operates on a magnet or the cats microchips or even disabling it and opening the door in a set routine instead

If you can keep the other cats out then at least Tarquin would feel safe in his own home (if not in the garden) and things may improve

Failing that shooting intruding cats with a water pistol may help them decide that youe house isnt the right place to be, you could extend that to the garden too

I found the feliway plug ins not so effective but the spray very good and it stopped my old cat messing on our duvet which she took to doing when our new cat arrived

the fact that it stops when things settle down is encouraging as it shows that its possible for it to cease in the right environment
 
Poor Squirt and you've been so patient with him.

I can only suggest a magnetic collar cat door so that only yours can gain access. Apart from restricting him to one room only there is not much you can do.

Another thing to consider is how old is he? My elderly cat started spraying and I was so annoyed with her and started restricting her places to be, then I realised that she wasn't doing it deliberately but that she was becoming incontinent with age. I felt so awful for being cross with her.

As for the smell buy a large quantity of white vinegar and mix a 50/50 solution of vinegar and water and use it on the pee stain - neutralises the odour. I've been running around after my puppy with paper towels and vinegar and water - it really works.
 
I know exactly how you are feeling! I felt totally torn between my cat and knowing that it couldn't go on as nowhere was safe! My cat is microchipped and I used the Sureflap Cat Flap which works on his existing microchip - I'm anti-collars in cats for safety reasons so didn't want a magnetic one.

I was a little sceptical but it works brilliantly and even the big thug of a tom who had been a nightly food thief is unable to break through it. But Jack, and now the new kitten can get in fine. It can 'learn' up to 9 different chips.


It would be an expensive solution - especially if he is not chipped already, but it did sort everything out for me.

Good luck
Jane
 
Bustermartin said:
I know exactly how you are feeling! I felt totally torn between my cat and knowing that it couldn't go on as nowhere was safe! My cat is microchipped and I used the Sureflap Cat Flap which works on his existing microchip - I'm anti-collars in cats for safety reasons so didn't want a magnetic one.

I was a little sceptical but it works brilliantly and even the big thug of a tom who had been a nightly food thief is unable to break through it. But Jack, and now the new kitten can get in fine. It can 'learn' up to 9 different chips.


It would be an expensive solution - especially if he is not chipped already, but it did sort everything out for me.

Good luck
Jane
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Wow - that door sounds great - I hate having a coller on my cat as once I found one hangin from a branch - collar , not cat! and another time it was obvious that the collar had been caught up before coming off the cat. I love him too much for him to be killed from choking. I'll book him in for a microchip and then get one of those doors - have friends who own a pet shop so should be able to get one.
 
You can also try a plug in called Feliway (or similar) google it. It really helped our little rescue cat, who also peed everywhere, beds, sofas etc. it emits a smell which we can't detect but helps them feel calmer and more secure.
 
Microchip cat flaps are brilliant, plus lots of feliway diffusers plugged in around the house. Pets at home sell a spray that gets rid of the smell of pee so they are less likely to repeat in the same place, its fab stuff, most household cleaners just make things worse. You may have to throw out anything that gets peed on repeatedly tho. Only skim-read your post...is this cat using a litter tray? If not, get one and put it in a quiet corner.
Finally, try to relax a little as your stress will be picked up on. You're not alone and I know how stressful it is, but my 2 neurotic rescue cats have improved a lot so all is not lost yet.
 
If you live near a safari park/zoo, you can buy lion/tiger dung to spread around the perimeter of you garden. This has the effect of keeping other cats out and your cats in - although if your little one is terribly nervous it might send him over the edge I suppose. It might be worth a try, I know a lot of people who it's worked for.
 
But now a variety of other people's bloody cats are coming in through the cat flap and eating me out of house and home and Tarquin has started peeing again.
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Micro chip cat flat all the way. You won't stop it any other way if you have other cats comming in.
 
maresmaid said:
Worth a chat with your Vet I think, he may be able to give you something to help the cat with the stress.
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It's not about stress (usually), it's about a cat displaying its normal instinct to mark its territory. A nuetered male will still do this, and if the house is invaded by imposters will do it in the house as well.

My two boys are buggers for it.
 
Another vote for Sureflap microchip cat flap. Best invention ever, can't tell you how much more relaxed and unstressed our cats are these days. I bought it in desperation but wouldn't have another now. Genius.
 
Petporte are the original and best microchip cat flaps! As said earlier the initial expense is quite big but worth it in the end.

I know it's all stress related (so I echo the feliway) but it may also be be worth seeing if there is any chance you can get a urine sample just to see if anything else is going on. Hope you get it sorted soon, I know how awful it can be.
 
Thanks all - thinking about sedation. Charm offensive under way as I understand some of the stress can be the feeling that the cat's "mum" doesn't love him any more. Every time Tarquin comes near, he gets cuddles and hugs. Also, not leaving food down from today - my 2 will have to get used to a feeding time. I'm defo going to look at the microchip thing - I wasn't sure whether the technology would stand up to 2 cats? Collars disappear in an hour so that won't work sadly. Feliway diffuser doesn't work but spray might and info on a pee patch cleaner is brilliant. Only stuff I could find on Google was American.

Thoughts: I can relatively easily trap the intruder cats, but what would I do with them? What are the ethics re handing them to local Cats Home as unloved strays?
 
Microchip cat flap ....and some patience and cuddles as you are already doing is the answer. Once your cat can feel sure in his territory he will feel no need to mark. 'Simple Solution' is an American brand of odour neutralizer that really works...its available in the UK and I highly recommend it. I bred cats and was later a foster mum for the CPL with a high multi cat household and Simple Solution was a godsend for the ex strays and unwanteds who felt insecure at first.
Some neutered cats will feel the need to mark but by far and away the most common trigger is strange cats invading their safe haven.
I wish you well, sedatives may be ok in the short term as you introduce the other method.
 
We have a pet porte microchip cat flap, and 2 neurotic cats. The cat flap wasn't cheap but was more than worth it.
I honestly think it would make a big difference to you OP. It works for multiple cats and is sturdy and reliable.
 
first magnetic cat flap which means only your cat can come through.


have you thought also of time bowls feed? http://www.amazon.co.uk/STAYWELL-Di...Y426/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1322727764&sr=8-9

the other thing if you go out what about you just letting him have the kitchen which usually is tiled floor

failing that a large cat cage when you go out with his bed toilet drink etc, only to be used when your not around .and spray cat nip in it

What about making him stay out of the house when your not around ie cat flap into the garage with a bed in it
we used to do that .

http://www.amazon.co.uk/black-Doghe..._1_5?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1322728130&sr=1-5
or the bigger one
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Black-econo..._1_1?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1322728130&sr=1-1
you can make it homely for him , trust me been there done it , with our cat Mishka she was like this so we got her a cage and at night and during day when she was in due to the cold she had to go in the cage, you could put it against the wall with wall paper stuck to it like a fish tank with flowery side so looks like he in garden get nice bed toilet water etc think this will work as it did for us,


you seen this
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dorwest-Her...?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1322728355&sr=1-5

he hasnt got a bladder infection cystitis etc??

malt vinegar helps with the smell of cat pee
My cat had at least 3 or 4 bouts of cystitis, we just put it down to her being a sensitive soul (she's small boned and slim). Changed to JWB on a whim really, as I'd read something negative about Iams, and our dog does so well on JWB.

Since then though, the cat is much calmer, though still pretty mad (she washes us all if given the chance:confused: ). Also since then not a single UTI/ bout of cystitis, and she's incredibly healthy generally. The extra cost of the food is more than made up for by the lack of stress, hassle, and vet bills.

Cystitis is painful and the inflammation takes time to go down, antibiotics cure bugs--not a painful, tightened, bladder. Hence the peeing in the night, it will stop in time. There's loads of info on Iams encouraging crystals in urine and UTIs.
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It may be worth getting him checked for bladder infections or cystitis. My male cat gets stress related cystitis due to other cats in our house and the first signs are peeing all round the house.

Feliway spray helps but he usually needs a course of antibiotics and loxicom to clear it up.

Magnetic collars are a good idea but I don't like collars on cats (my own opinion). There is a catflap that works on the microchip which could be worth looking at
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
Thoughts: I can relatively easily trap the intruder cats, but what would I do with them? What are the ethics re handing them to local Cats Home as unloved strays?
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Had a similar scenario with a local stray, who, ironically was one of my cats' Dad. I honestly didn't mind him eating the food, but coming into my house and beating up my cats was a big 'NO'. I am afraid to say he was caught one night and given a real beasting. It was more absolute fear (ok, terror) than physical, although the cat bed did come into play at one point. He hissed and screamed, and eventually shoved his way out of the blocked flap. Not pleasant, but it worked, he hasn't been back, but is happily 'burgling' someone else in the village who has more scruples than me. ;)
 
Cavalier said:
I don't like collars on cats (my own opinion).
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I see your point but a reflective collar is an exception it can save the life of your cat.

1. if a cat runs out in front of you and does not turn to look at car , you would have little chance of seeing him
2. if he does look at car it might give you a few seconds to brake not much.



BUT

if he is wearing a reflective collar you would see the collar instantly ( unless long haired) thus giving you those precious moments to brake and not be guilty of another cat death.


We couldn't( shouldn't) ride out our precious horses without HI VIZ
why make you precious cat run the risk????????????????????

GIVE YOUR CAT PRECIOUS MOMENTS THAT COULD SAVE HIS LIFE BUY A HI VIZ COLLAR
 
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