Cat house soiling, advice please!

Re: Cat house soiling, advice please!

Dove — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:28:17 GMT

Thanks for the links.

Re: Cat house soiling, advice please!

Claire Cameron — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:34:19 GMT

You may find the following links useful:

http://www.purrfectcatbehavior.com/inappropriate_urination.html

http://www.fabcats.org/behaviour/spraying/info.html

http://www.fabcats.org/behaviour/spraying/pheromonatherapy.html

Re: Cat house soiling, advice please!

Dove — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:19:18 GMT

I'll give those things a go. Teeth are great, I regularly check ( I love doing dentals!), not polydipsic.

Thanks again, I have been to Sarah Heath lectures and find them fascinating but I'm no expert, I just wanted to check if there is anything I've missed.

Re: Cat house soiling, advice please!

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:09:06 GMT

Right then I would definitely add another litter tray or two so she can get to them, maybe place one in a more secluded place with less traffic. Be sure you clean the bed and bedding well with Urine Off or Nature's Miracle. Leave to dry completely before washing in bio wash in your laundry. For the mattress I would do it one morning and leave the bed up on it's side to dry, if it's not foam then turn the bed so the soiled side is on the bottom, if it is foam be sure you rub in the product to soak it. You can use bio washing powder solution and soak the area with surgical spirit, but personally i don't think it works as well and it takes longer to dry.

Maybe offer her some other places of her own for her food too, see if it's a space issue. Don't kick her out though, just put some extra dishes elsewhere for the choice and give her lots of praise and cuddles when you offer it. Maybe one of her favorite treats or something? Is she drinking any more than usual?

Get some blood work done, have her teeth checked and see how you go. In the mean time I don't think the Zylkene would hurt so maybe try that for 10 days? I think it takes a few days to really see any effect.

Re: Cat house soiling, advice please!

Dove — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:54:00 GMT

Thanks for the congrats!

Phoebe started urinating on our bed before the change in cat litter. The litter isn't greatly different - normally used pelleted pine litter but this is a pelleted 'wood' (not pine), I didn't realise when I bought it. Litter tray lives on the landing and always has don, it is a deep, large tray. So far she has only soiled on the bed (as far as I know). Although she has access to the whole house she has always lived upstairs. Her food dish is in our room (dry cat food) an water dish is in the bathroom.

Feliway has only been on now for 2 weeks, I haven't tried Zylkene yet but am willing to give it a go. The cat just ignores the baby but is quite fond of our 4 year old.

Re: Cat house soiling, advice please!

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:41:00 GMT

Firstly congrats on the baby, i'm sure this is worrying you!

Where is she urinating?

To start I would offer a few more litter boxes just in case she's feeling a little uncomfortable about the baby. Or becoming a little incontinent. Also be sure to factor in time for her, which can sometimes be put off when a new baby has arrived. The upset of the house and hours you keep will surely factor in on her stress levels.

I would have to agree on a chk up some blood work done just to rule out anything sinister too.

The change in litter could also have cause some upset. How different is it? and did you change it over gradually, did you move some of her old soiled litter to the new? She may also feel more comfortable in a opened or covered tray, you could offer her both and let her choose. Where are you keeping her litter tray? How long have you been using Feliway? Did you use any Zylkene when the baby came? would this be an option for you if all medical issues are ruled out?

Did you introduce her to the baby? What was her response or behaviour?