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Written by Wendy Christensen
One thing I DO know -- your cat is miserable! Urinating over floor vents is just an attempt to find a place to "hide" the urine he finds is causing
him so much pain and discomfort.
Punishing him, such as by spraying him with water, is not only not going to work, it's rather cruel -- he's in pain! The best thing you could do for
him is:
- Take him back to the veterinarian as soon as possible and get another urine culture done. Ask your veterinarian to consider a
course of a different antibiotic. It may take a few tries before you find one that finally works. My calico, Chrysanthemum, had a similar persistent
bladder problem, and we tried four different antibiotics until one finally worked.
- Meanwhile -- and do this right away -- set up a special room for him with everything he needs: litter box, comfy bed, scratching post,
food and water, toys, etc. Confine him to this room until he's on antibiotics and feeling better. If he has free run of the house, he's likely to "hide"
small amounts of urine all over the place (in corners, closets, vents, etc.) -- NOT because he's being "naughty," but because he's hurting. The
scent of each "marked" spot will continue to attract him (and other cats) for urination long after the original problem is solved. So you want to
minimize the chances of that happening.
- Keep in mind that stress can make these kinds of problems worse. Do everything you can to minimize stress and to make your cat
feel peaceful and comfortable. It's possible that the stress of a conflict with another cat might have worsened the problem -- another reason why
confining him to his own room until he's feeling better is a good idea.
Q: I live in Jackson, MS. I recently adopted an adorable Snowshoe Siamese about 2 1/2-3 years old from a shelter. The climate here is a little
weird right now... lots of pollen. I noticed he sneezed a couple of times while bringing him home. He has continued to do so which I am not used
to, and hear that it is not normal. I've had him a little over a week now. I recently had my carpet changed and my patio door was open quite a lot.
He has continued to sneeze some & today one of his eyes was watery. Is there anything I can try as a home remedy before making a vet visit? He
has had all his shots, 12/15 pounds, eating and going to the bathroom normally, and playing.
A: Cats from shelters (and other environments with many cats) can easily pick up upper respiratory infections ("kitty colds"). No matter how
meticulous the shelter, the more cats in residence, the more germs are potentially circulating. It sounds like your new kitty may have come home
from the shelter with such an infection. Another possibility is that he is allergic to something in his environment, such as the pollen or new
carpeting you mentioned. Only a veterinarian can make an accurate diagnosis and put your cat on the proper course of treatment.
The very best thing you could do for your new kitty is to take him to the veterinarian right away! It's penny-wise but pound-foolish to try to save
a few bucks on a vet visit, when catching a problem early is much cheaper (not to mention easier on your cat) that waiting until it has gotten much
worse and harder to treat.
And congratulations on adopting a shelter cat! Shelter kitties are the best!
Q: I have a cat named George and he is a very lovable cat. He has only one problem. He marks everywhere and anytime he pleases and
nothing seems to deter this habit. We have had him to the vet, and he gave me some spray that is supposed to make the environment more
pleasing to him. All my other cats were ecstatic. We have a lot of cats, but George was brought up in a house-full of cats. I do not want to put him
on medications as we live in the country on a farm and if he is not as spirited as he is, then he might find himself in a predicament outside and his
is very funny and active. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
A: You didn't mention if George has been neutered. If he hasn't, get him neutered without delay. Intact (un-neutered) male cats naturally spray
and urine-mark frequently. Neutering completely eliminates, or at least reduces, this behavior by removing the cat's major motivation for doing
it.
If George IS neutered, ask your veterinarian about medications. "Medication" does not necessarily mean "tranquilizer!" There are a number
of potentially helpful drugs that can eliminate or reduce spraying and urine-marking. One of these is buspirone ("BuSpar"). Clinical studies have
shown it to be very effective against spraying. It does not tranquilize the cat in any way. There are also other drugs to consider. Please discuss all
the options with your veterinarian.
Herding Cats at Home - April 2004 1
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