Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK
Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: NeilF on May 13, 2008, 10:56:44 AM
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We had a 14yr old cat which since our extension was built, and the rear garden landscaped, has started:-
a) Soiling on the grass in the rear garden, although after a good few weeks of telling him off, he seems to have stopped now, and is using the flower beds as expected.
b) Is periodically uninating and soiling in doors. Seems to come and go. If we ensure we put him outside first thing in the morning this seems to help.
Any suggestions...?
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has he seen the vet? it could me medical
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has he seen the vet? it could me medical
Not for a little while... Of course the moment you walk through a vets door that £40 gone! :-:
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true but it might only be something that needed antibiotics
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true but it might only be something that needed antibiotics
I'll give the vets a buzz and see what they say... Up until now the 'boot' treatment hasn't worked very well... :innocent:
ps: Just noticed your name :)
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The other thing is, when he 'makes a mistake' in the house it's virtually always first thing in the morning (8am-9am) sort of time...
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Do you have a litter box inside?
Could help if you don't.
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apart from being medical, it could be behavioual.
cats can do this to mark their territory - middening . was he upset by the extension build? I would imagine fo a cat there are los of strange smells around that he may want to put his mark on. do you have a litter tray indoors? its always best to have one down in case he gets caught short - espcially now hes a teenager.
maybe a new dominant cat is in the area and he's feeling threatened.
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I think a litter box indoors (if he hasn't already got one) would be the first step.
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I think a litter box indoors (if he hasn't already got one) would be the first step.
We've never had a litter tray in doors, and we can't really as we have a toddler.
We could put one in the garage thuogh (which he has to leave the house by) but I don't really want to get into that expense, hassle and mess of one if I can work around it. I'd simply be more tempted to start locking him out of the house during the day to force him to get used to using 'outside'.
Note: He doesn't do this every day. It seems to come and go. But he has pee'd inside a couple of times over the last week now!
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apart from being medical, it could be behavioual.
cats can do this to mark their territory - middening .
maybe a new dominant cat is in the area and he's feeling threatened.
I don't think it's either of these... It kicked off with the extension and garden being re-done which is just too much of a coincidence. He then goes through spells where all is OK, but then like this past week where's pee'd inside a couple times and even soiled once...
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I know vets are costly (believe me - low incomes and vets don't gel that well!) but it really is a good idea to establish that the problem isn't medical before you look into it being psychological.
Definitely call your vet and see if they'd have a chat.
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Make sure thre isn't a medical problem. A littr tray somewhere that he has access to in case its a matter of getting caught short. Better a litter tray in the garage than a pile of poo by the door - much more easier for a toddler to get to.
The only other thing is to ensure the areas he's soiled are thoroughly cleaned as cats care attracted to where they have been before. Try the old good scrub with biological washing powder and wip with surgical spirits if the surface will take it.
Other than that a behavoursl specialist which will cost or perhaps someone on her can advise you by pm.
If you think the cat is unhappy and you do not have time for him them really the best other option would be to try and rehome him, though at his age that will be difficult but if you are patient and speak to your local rescues I'm sure you would be able to find him another home.
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Hi Neil
i would agree with the others that just to be on the safe side and to rule out any medical probs (esp as he is 14 years old) would be to have a vet check 1st. A cat behaviour expert would also recommend this 1st. If all is ok health wise then it does look to be the garden re landscape and extention that is causing him to go indoors. Major building work is def one cause that will cause inaproprate soliing.
Cats see their home as their core territory and are very habbitual so any big changes can def cause stress for them. When cats are stressed they will want to comfort themselves and by putting thier smell about will give them security. He def isn't doing it to be naughty and any "punishment" will actually makes things worse.
For inside, it may help him to have a feliway plug in near where he has been going. Feliway is a reproduced feline "happy" scent and helps cats who are stressed calm down. The spray works for some where only the plug in works for others. I find the plug in better as some hate the spray.
Have a read here - http://www.wizz-catz.co.uk/soiling.html
and here http://www.fabcats.org/behaviour/stressed/info.html
a long read but well worth it - http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,4916.0.html
PLay theropy ie playing with him will help to take his mind off and ease the stress too. - http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,7077.0.html
Let us know how he gets on.
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I don't think it's either of these... It kicked off with the extension and garden being re-done which is just too much of a coincidence.
The disruption is likely to cause a slightly nervy cat to start behaving out of the ordinary.
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but I don't really want to get into that expense, hassle and mess of one if I can work around it.
You can get a decent hooded litter tray from around £10 these days which will be better with a toddler around. Other litter trays start from around a pound. Cat litter costs from around £1.50 a bag.
As a cat gets into its teens it needs a little extra help with things like this and with cats being so fastidious it can be very distressing for them to be caught short. If you can't afford the expense then I'd have to second Angie and say it might be kinder for him to live with someone who can.
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We could put one in the garage thuogh (which he has to leave the house by) but I don't really want to get into that expense, hassle and mess of one if I can work around it. I'd simply be more tempted to start locking him out of the house during the day to force him to get used to using 'outside'.
It makes me feel quite sad to see you write that. I can't imagine anyone would put a sick human relative who couldn't get to the loo outside all day because it was cheaper and more convenient than sorting something out for them. I'm sure even as a healthy adult (presumption on my part I know!) you wouldn't like being forcibly locked outside all day all weathers so why would your cat be any different?
Argos sell a really good hooded litter tray with accessories for £12.99 - if you want to keep the cat and have it happy with a good quality of life, it really is essential to have a litter tray somewhere for its comfort and for you to know what it's up to, and for you the garage sounds ideal. Personally I think it's part of the responsibility of being a caring pet owner, rather than just locking them out when they're being inconvenient :(
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We could put one in the garage thuogh (which he has to leave the house by) but I don't really want to get into that expense, hassle and mess of one if I can work around it. I'd simply be more tempted to start locking him out of the house during the day to force him to get used to using 'outside'.
It makes me feel quite sad to see you write that. I can't imagine anyone would put a sick human relative who couldn't get to the loo outside all day because it was cheaper and more convenient than sorting something out for them. I'm sure even as a healthy adult (presumption on my part I know!) you wouldn't like being forcibly locked outside all day all weathers so why would your cat be any different?
Argos sell a really good hooded litter tray with accessories for £12.99 - if you want to keep the cat and have it happy with a good quality of life, it really is essential to have a litter tray somewhere for its comfort and for you to know what it's up to, and for you the garage sounds ideal. Personally I think it's part of the responsibility of being a caring pet owner, rather than just locking them out when they're being inconvenient :(
Don't read 'out of the house' as 'outside'. We have catflaps in the kitchen door, into the garage which then has a catflap outside. We can lock either. If this continues I would start locking the kitchen catflap so he could only come in as far as the garage (at certain times)...
Anyway, he's booked in at the vet to check him out, and we need to grab a urine sample before then if we can... Nice :shy:
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I don't think it's either of these... It kicked off with the extension and garden being re-done which is just too much of a coincidence.
The disruption is likely to cause a slightly nervy cat to start behaving out of the ordinary.
I agree... But the disruption ended about 6+ months ago, and his 'behaviour' has come and gone since then... Very odd. I would have thought once he'd realised the new layout and realised the 'right' places to 'go' that would have been it... But it keeps slippnig back in to going indoors after spells of being fine...
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In that case a vet visit really would be the best course of action to ensure there are no underlying causes.
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Hi Neil and :welcome: to Purrs
Take a look at these litter trays, I have one myself they are great and mess is kept to a minimum:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BILL-1F-HOODED-CAT-LITTER-TRAY-ENCLOSED-TOILET-FOR-CATS_W0QQitemZ380026789792QQihZ025QQcategoryZ29853QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Good luck at the Vet, please let us know how you get on.
By the way what is the name of your cat?
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Will do thanks...
He's called Paddington. He was bought from a litter (for about £20) where he was one of only two left. All the rest of the cats were regular moggies, but he was a blond fluffly blob - which for some reason no one wanted?
His markings (& size) imply he's got a lot of Maine Coon in him from somewhere I recon? He thinks he's a dog I recon because he just follows my other half around and basically dotes on her! In his younger days he's also chase and fetch balls of paper as well as his party trick :) He's a big big softy!
(http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g111/neilfawcett/webm_cat.jpg)
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Awww, he's lovely. Good luck with the sample :evillaugh: and the vet visit.
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Hi Neil and :welcome: to Purrs
Take a look at these litter trays, I have one myself they are great and mess is kept to a minimum:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BILL-1F-HOODED-CAT-LITTER-TRAY-ENCLOSED-TOILET-FOR-CATS_W0QQitemZ380026789792QQihZ025QQcategoryZ29853QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Good luck at the Vet, please let us know how you get on.
By the way what is the name of your cat?
They look like the same ones they have at Pets At Home - I think they are £18 so no saving.
Wilkinsons have a very similar one for about £11
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he looks lovely Neil hope you get the problem sorted
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Paddington is lovely ;D
If Archie was upset about another cat being in the garden he would stand in his litter tray and spray all over the kitchen floor.
We have now bought a covered tray which has helped no end. However if Archie stands and sparays in there the wee does come out the join ,sometimes, so make sure the join between the two halfs is tight :sick:
Best of luck
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:Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2: Ahhh what a lovely looking cat.
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:Luv2: :Luv2: :Luv2: Ahhh what a lovely looking cat.
Thanks! Like I said there's almost certainly some Maine Coon in him but his mother, and the rest of the litter, we all normal moggies... So either (a) the litter had more than one father (which I believe is possible), or (b) somewhere up the tree there was a Maine Coon 'involved'...
If Archie was upset about another cat being in the garden he would stand in his litter tray and spray all over the kitchen floor.
I don't think another cat is upsetting him, but it definately seems he's making the choice to urinate inside. He comes from outside, and then within a few minutes wee on the carpet... Anyway, let's see what the vet says...
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Maybe he just "want's to break free"? Sorry! :evillaugh:
If you vet thinks that the problem lies towards behavioral issues then maybe investing in Feliway products may help.....It helps ease any stress and tension for cats through pheromones! If you use one of the links below to VETUK it is much cheaper than the vets and you will also be donating 5% to one of the cat charities on here! ;D
www.chesterfieldcats.co.uk/ - click on vetuk logo on right hand side of home page
http://www.pawsinncats.com/ - click on vetuk logo at bottom of home page
http://www.coventrycatgroup.org.uk/sections.php?id=commission - click on the words 'vetuk link'
http://www.catactiontrust1977.co.uk/ - click on 'vetuk online shop' on left hand side
Good Luck......and I do hope that is darling Freddie on your avatar! :shify: