My neurotic cat - Page 2

treegirl · 08-21-04, 01:41 PM

Yeh, my ex-boyfriend has an older cat who stays in the house and everytime a dog comes in she starts peeing everywhere but her box. She KNOWS she's not supposed to do that. It's totally their way of telling you something is up and they are pissed. Literally. lol

Any new changes with you or your home?

Cruciform · 08-21-04, 01:52 PM

We moved into a new home June 15th.

But his pattern has not changed. He has simply never wanted to use a litterbox since he was a kitten..

He will come up, rub against you, get petted until he gets bored, walk around the corner and let loose not 10 seconds after.

He's like a baby. They don't "have" to go to the bathroom. They just do. :P

treegirl · 08-21-04, 02:02 PM

o my gosh how FRUSTRATING. cat pee is the worst, which I'm sure you know.

Have you ever tried to put his butt outside for a few when he just pees like that? Like right after he does it so he starts to pick up that when he pees, he goes outside? I dunno. Works for dogs.

Seems like it would be hard to break if he's an older cat. yikes.

My heart goes out to you..... lol

Have you ever tried to pick him up just as he starts to pee and put him in his box. Like everytime he pees?

lisa marie · 08-21-04, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by treegirl
I knew someone a l o n g time ago who, when he was a kid, he and his friends thought it was hilarious to put rubbing alcohol on the cats butt. (I KNOW this is cruel and please don't try it) He said the cat would ~actually~ do BACK flips. It's definately mean, I know, but paints a funny mental picture.

I see absolutely NOTHING amusing about this.

HeatherK · 08-21-04, 05:15 PM

It seems that some rare cats never learn to use a litterbox. My father's cat's kitten was one, and there is an author of a pet training book, who actually had to euthanize her cat due to it incurably urinating on her stove elements.

So your cat used to use the box, and now refuses to? First thing, I agree, is definately get him checked out for health problems. I missed how old it is, but when they age they can have 'accidents'.

My cat is 13 and recently started picking the area behind the couch in the family room as her box (just for peeing)

We finally had to give in and try a second litter pan behind the couch. I know you said you've tried 'personal litterboxes', but did you try something like this - where he's already choosing to go? Is the current litterbox maybe in an area he doesn't like? So far so good for my cat. I think due to her age she does not feel the need to go all the way down the stairs to get to her box, especially her being shy, when the couch offers enough privacy

So we now have a litter pan behind the sofa. What are you gonna do..

treegirl · 08-21-04, 06:25 PM

sorry lisa marie I was relating a story from a long time ago. I know it was mean and I smacked my friend when he told me about it. Didn't mean to offend you.

Cruciform · 08-21-04, 06:27 PM

He's used the box because I'd put him in it constantly as a kitten as preventative measures, but never by his own choice really. He'll poop in it if he can't get away with pooping somewhere else, but he will pee in the middle of a concrete floor over that any time.

I'm just glad he's lazy and can't pee on top of the counters or stove like the cat above.

CamHanna · 08-21-04, 08:25 PM

I used to have a cat who wouldn't use a kitty litter with a cover over it but didn't mind one with an open top.

Where is your kitty litter? Is it far from where your cat normally goes? If your cat has never really used the litter except under your direct instruction than perhaps it doesn't realize that the litter is where you go. Perhaps it thinks that it's not supposed to go at all and that you are upset with it because it did, not because it did it in the wrong place.

Maybe try putting him in a small cage with only 2 parts, the kitty litter and a comfortable sleeping part. Put the food in water in the sleeping part to reassert that that's not where you do your business. If he goes in the sleeping part move it to the kitty litter. Hopefully he will decide that with space being so limited he should be careful not to contaminate the good part. Perhaps when he starts using the litter instead of the sleeping part you could move him into a larger area and see if the litter habit holds. This is something I just thought of now and have never tried.

Good Luck
Cam

*Edit*
Ooo, that seemed like a good idea when I posted it but rereading it almost sounds cruel.

herpslave · 08-21-04, 08:48 PM

heres an idea. how about instead of being a jerk and peeing on him. just do your business in the cat box! be an example man! Thats how we learn! Maybey he will convert to toilet like you. Or start going poop in his cat box because you are being a nice person!

Katt · 08-22-04, 09:47 AM

My cat started to pee all over, especially on clothes. One day, he attempted to pee infront of me and could not express his urine. A call to the vet, made for hysterical ride to the vets (and now the herp part comes in), I immediately put my adult female ball python up for sale, so I could afford vet bills and was actually fielding calls in the vet's office regarding inquiries on my ball python!!

They found that my cat has urinary crytals which unfortunately are a reoccuring problem, but no blockages in a year and half!

The crystals cause pain while peeing and thus the cat associates the litter box with pain and no longer uses it.

treegirl · 08-22-04, 10:07 AM

..interesting.

justinO · 08-22-04, 01:13 PM

Katt, a few years back i had to put down my cat due to the extreme crystalization. he appeared fine one day then the next he was in complete agony. It was a very sad day.

I wonder if that really bitter spray stuff would work as a negative reinforcement.. everytime it goes somewhere it shouldn't, rub its nose in it then give it a spray of the bitter stuff. I recommend Time Out. Man that stuff is terrible.

cheers,

Justin