Doesn't he just look like he's got attitude? I've introduced Roscoe to you before and gave you some insight into how we first met. Roscoe is a sweet soul but the little 6 lb bugger shows his disdain by peeing on carpet! For the past 9 years I have ripped out carpet, locked him in bathrooms while I was at work, apologized to whomever's house we stayed at when he'd pee. If there was no carpet he chose my bed. Right smack on my side by the pillow. If you have not smelled stale cat pee, you cannot imagine the lingering and immortal scent that fills your nostrils. Then as soon as he starts it he stops. There's pee in his litter box. I am thrilled! I do a happy dance and we go on with our lives. Then BAM he's back at it.
I am renting at the moment and despite how I have fantasized about it, I can't rip up this carpet. Over the years I have spent so much money on products claiming to remove the odors that I should've taken stocks out in their companies. I have not found ONE product that works as it claims until I read a review on http://www.petco.com/ . This is called Stink Free, the photo, is courtesy of petco.com
I am in looooove. It does exactly as it says it does, it removes the odor instantly! I am in no way affiliated with petco or this product, but if I can point another cat owner in the right direction I am happy to. Anyway, this product works so good, that he's taken to peeing outside of his one little "area". I have smelt pee in front of the couch, under my computer desk. We don't even let him in our room for fear he'll pee in there. You should know that he's on a special food called CD which is for cats that are prone to crystals. We just took him to the vet to see if he has crystals which he doesn't but he is on meds for a urine infection. Should I change his litter? Is he not happy?
Right now I've resorted to locking him in the bathroom while we're at work and when we come home there's pee in his litter! But at night as I was watching him he'll pee on the carpet! So I wonder, am I doing right by locking him in the daytime? Is he retaliating by peeing during the night? I have never hit him or put his nose in it, but last night I sprayed him with the water container and he ran and turned his back to me. I am at my ropes end. I love this animal but don't know what else to do for him. I don't want to put him down and I know if I give him to a cat shelter he will just live out his life in a cage. Who would take in a cat that has a history of peeing outside his box?
If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them! My sanity thanks you, my carpet thanks you, my kittys happiness thanks you and my marriage thanks you!
~ Marcia
I feel so bad for you! My best friend since age 14, had a cat that did this. I somehow think that male cats are more prone to doing this than females. You do know..I suppose that males mark their territory? If he goes in the box in the bathroom..then he knows what it is for. So...I suspect he is "marking" his territory!
ReplyDeleteIt's sad, but I honestly don't know what to tell you. My friend finally had to give up on her cat..and they loved him very much. I have heard that once they begin doing it, there is no stopping them.
I do know that some cats need a very, very clean litter box, but somehow I think yours is very clean.
I have had indoor cats, and out door cats. My outdoor cats insisted on being let out to pee.
My indoor cat never in 17 years went anywhere but in her cat box. Well..I take that back. One time my husband cleaned the cat box and accidently put the open end against the wall. In the early morning of the third day..I heard an ungodly yowl...she had let go next to my hutch and was near crazy. I adored that cat and still do! :) I cried!!
How I wish I had the answer. Cat pee is horrible..
Oh gosh, this is not good. I wish I had some great advice for you. Mine will act up a bit if I don't clean their litter boxes promptly. I clean them everyday! I hope you can figure something out bc I know it makes life really hard.
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a good week. I am slowly getting back to all my blogging. Sorry I have not been around too much.
Missed you too!
Kim
Hello Marcia,
ReplyDeleteI came by way of the rooster party, but saw this post and wanted to comment. I have a cat who shows his displeasure by peeing also. He ruined a beautiful leather living room suite and a mattress. I finally discovered it was quite deliberate because I covered the furniture with other large items, ladder back chairs, boxes, etc. He still managed to find his way through and he is a large cat (16 lbs). I adopted him and his sister from a woman who had them since they were kittens. They had been very well taken care of and were very pampered.
I too could not find anything that worked to remove the odor. He was banned from my son's room because that was his second choice place to pee and sometimes poop. Banning him to a specific room when we were gone for the day only made matters worse as did any other type of “punishment.”
During the process of elimination as I tried to figure out what was wrong with him, I tried different food, different litter and different treats. I did not think it could be the litter boxes because I have four and they are cleaned twice a day. But he does prefer a clean box, so whenever possible, I clean them a third time. I spoke with several of my animal rescue colleagues as well as my veterinarian. I was astounded when a woman who works at a cat rescue facility told me she would not put up with it and would have gotten rid of him. I said who would adopt him? She said take him to a shelter (not theirs). I said there was no way I could do that because due to his age and the peeing, they would put him down. She looked at me and because of the expression on her face I knew that is why she suggested I take him to one. That was definitely NOT and option I was going to pursue! When I spoke with my long time vet and it seems there are behavior modification pills that they can give to cats. But right about that time I had noticed that he had not peed on anything in almost a week. So I kept analyzing why and I finally figured out his problem. For him, it was not being top cat and not getting enough attention (in his mind). So although all our animals get lots of attention, we make a point of giving him extra love daily and amazingly, it was just that simple. As I type this comment, he is sleeping on a large pillow next to me on the bed.
I do not know if that could possibly be what is wrong with Roscoe, but it is definitely worth trying. Since we figured it out, there have only been a couple of times where he has peed but I know exactly why he did it. My AC quit working a week ago and I have banned the cats from my room and he has taken exception to that. But I discovered that if I let him back in first thing in the morning and snuggle with him for a couple of minutes, he appears to be satisfied.
I am sorry this is such a long comment, but I hope it helps and maybe gives you some ideas. I would have sent it via email, but I did not see an email link. Good luck!
~ Tracy