Pissy cat

[Guest guest]

I need some help from the group. This may or may not be an

appropriate topic but animal related messages do appear on the list.

And someone may be able to save a kitty's life.

 

I decided to volunteer with my local shelter rather than acquire a

pet. My thinking was that I would get my cat fix without taking on

the responsibility. Well I was wrong. When I went to volunteer I was

asked to take in a cat who was destined for certain death cuz the

no-kill shelters were full and the ones that would take him would

euthanize him. His owner was moving and she could not take him with

her.

 

As poor Sydney was facing certain death I agreed to take him home.

The apt. complex where I live as yet does not know about my feline

companion!

 

However that could change very soon, because Sydney will not urinate

in the litterbox. Oh no! Sydney would prefer to pee in the dining area!!!

 

I took him to the vet and there is nothing wrong with his urine or

kidney function. In fact the brat would not give them a urine sample

so they kept him overnight. I suggested that they give him a piece of

carpet and he would readily pee. They laughed and kept him overnight.

Lo and behold by the next morning Sydney had a full bladder and they

got a pristine urine sample from him!!!

 

So here is my problem. Sydney is a beautiful cat. He is 3 to 4 years

old and I am his 3rd servant. I live in an apartment where being an

outdoor cat is not a good option. Also he does not have his front

claws.

 

Is there any advice the list members can offer?

 

My dining area is beginning to smell of cat pee. I am reluctant to

dissuade him from this area as I would like him peeing on my bed even

less than peeing under the dining table.

 

He is so sweet and gorgeous that ending his life just cannot be the

only solution to my dilemma. And of course it is only my dilemma as

Sydney seems to think that it is perfectly fine for him to pee under

the dining table.

 

Anyone have anything to suggest?

 

Cheers

Yvonne

[Guest guest]

Dear Yvonne,

 

Bless you for your kitty-kindness.

 

My hunch is that just one other communication or

gesture is needed by your fortunate feline companion,

in order to make the litterbox connection.

 

Surely this following suggestion is so obvious, you've

already tried it:

Place litterbox under dining room table.

If that works, place second box in location of choice

[bathroom?]; & /or incrementally sneaking dining table

box toward desired 'primary' box; until, majically,

they merge and are one, hopefully with kitty.

 

Also: Behaviourist consultations may be had at

various shelters and SPCA's --- by phone, so you're

not limited by availability in your particular area.

 

Please keep us posted.

Best to you both,

Lester

[Guest guest]

Normal practice is to confine the cat to a small, easy clean area with his litter tray, food and water as far away from it as they can be.  A bathroom is often ideal.  Once he has been reliably using the litter tray for some time, then you can expand his territory.  The confinement is to give him fewer options for places to pee and get him accustomed to going in the right place, it's not solitary, so you need to visit with him still.  Clean up areas where he has peed with an enzymatic cleaner such as Nature's Miracle.  Oh, if he's not already neutered, get him neutered.  If he still won't use it, then consider other things - is the litter tray big enough?  Will he be more successful with a different type of litter?  Etc.Jo

[Guest guest]

Yvonne try a different kind of litter. A few years ago we rescued three

kittens and one of them refused to use the box. She would pee and poo

right outside of the box. After we found her a home we asked the woman

if she used the box and were told that she did. The woman told us she

used " Arm & Hammer " litter. Later we rescued a cat from the Humane

Society and encountered the same problem. We were ready to take her to

a vet, to make sure she had no physical problem, when I remembered the

other cat and though I did not want to use " Arm & Hammer " litter,

for environmental reasons, we gave it a try. It was a success,

the cat has been using the box ever since.

 

Also sometimes cats will not use a box when they are upset about

something as a way of letting you know they are upset. If you notice

something has changed in your household that he might be upset about

then try to rectify it.

 

Pat