Hey - Newbie needs help

Hey all. I'm brand spanking new to the forum thing. As my profile says, i'm a cat-mom of 2. I don't really know where to go for help. I've searched the forums and either i'm blind in one eye and can't see out of the other or my particular issue hasn't come up in a while.

A little background:
My 10-year-old Persian, Sneakers, has recently taken to peeing in front of the door leading to our screened in patio. At first, my hubby and i thought it was just a matter of him saying he wanted the door open - so we try to keep it open as much as possible (living in Florida in summer, it's a bit difficult with the A/C running). We've scrubbed the heck out of the carpet with the Resolve Pet Stain Remover product. Problem is, he keeps doing it.

Secondly, he has also decided to pooh in front of a closet if we don't open that door when he asks - by pawing the door avidly.

I've read the posts on inappropriate elimination and nothing seems to fit these circumstances.
We've not changed the litter - we've been using it for years. His litter box has been in the same location for more than a year with little problem.

Yes, there are two cats and one litter box - but the box is constantly monitored and cleaned - maybe not immediately after they do their business - but as often as we can.

I really, truly do not believe this is a medical condition because I think I can see Sneakers's reasoning for doing what he's doing. It's just weird that he pooh's in front of one door and pees in front of another. And, if I had to choose, I'd much rather have the pooh - it's not diarreah.

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Another problem I'm having - gotta love cats, right?? - is that our other kitty, 4-year-old Punkin, likes to holler at night. We've tried turning the radio on at night; we've left the tv on at night; nothing seems to work.

I've tried calling to him, and sometimes he will hop up on the bed and lay with me for a few minutes but then hops down and starts crying again.

I must say it's not nearly as bad as when we first brought him home a few months ago - he sounded like a demeanted peacock! no joke!!

Any ideas??

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I'm sorry if I've rambled too long - I'm a writer by nature and such is my curse. If anyone can help, I would be forever grateful. My hubby is starting to get perturbed with the kitties. As we have not yet started a family (aside from our fur babies) he's not sure he can handle having kids! I keep telling him that human babies eventually grow out of it.

With any luck, we'll figure out what's going on with the kitties and get them to "grow out of it" too.

Thanks again,

Deb

Hello and a warm welcome to you and your fur-family

Its great here, with lots of information, help and guidance, so I am sure you'll get some clues about whats happening with your kitties

Firstly your 10yr old Sneakers, personally I do think this is something that your vet needs to check out, older cats exhibiting this behaviour are telling you something is not as it should be especially as you mention nothing else has changed.
You mention that you dont think it is a medical condition and you understand why he is doing it, can you explain your thoughts a bit more for us

Secondly Punkin and his noisy hollering my first thought was, is he neutered, which of course if not you would have seen this sort of behaviour for much longer anyway. You know calling for the ladeez Maybe he's just attention seeking, they are more active at night and if you dont tire them with play etc during the day, they can be looking for attention through fun and games in the evening

Well love to hear my about them and if you get change please do post some photos we just love photos here.

Keep us posted and enjoy the forums

Welcome to TCS! I would definitely take Sneakers to the vet just to rule out anything serious that could be causing his problem and get treatment if it is something serious. And Punkin is probably just seeking attention. They can get lonely and since cats are nocturnal by nature, then they are more likely to be looking for attention at night.

Can you play with the noisy one for about half an hour before you go to bed? Make him chase a lazer pointer or a fishing pole toy. That will tire him out and might make him sleep more during the night.

I agree that the other one should go to the vet to rule out anything physical. You need to make sure that every cat-findable scent is out of the spot used inappropriately with an enzyme cleaner to thoroughly deodorize. He might be seeing another cat outside that upsets his territorialness.

Good luck. Cats are a constant puzzle.

Wow, i just get started with the forum and already i'm getting responses. thanks!

i'm not opposed to taking Sneakers to the vet. i just wanted to see if there was anything else i could do first.

the reason i'm so sure that it's behavioral is because he's done this type of thing before. as more background - he used to live with my parents until my fiance (now hubby) had to rescue him. you see, Sneakers had been - until nearly five years ago - been an only child.

my parents adopted a Ragamuffin, named Cooper. For the first year and a half or so, there were no problems, even though Coop was getting more attention than he was. Out of the blue, he began acting out - peeing on the bathroom floor rug.

mom took him to the vet several times - thinking it was a UTI. They gave him meds, he took the meds, he kept up using the rug - which was in the opposite side of the house from the litterbox.

my folks couldn't take it anymore and keith took Sneakers. the move didn't phaze Sneak a bit. never had any problems - aside from one (see below). even after keith moved out of one apartment and into another.

The one exception happened just after keith took in Sneak. Sneak is used to getting a tiny sliver of canned catfood in the morning - around 8 o'clock - and a sliver at night - around 4.

Well, keith didn't quite understand just how important Sneak's breakfast is, so Sneak started begging (bare in mind i was still living with my folks at the time).

Keith was eating his breakfast as Sneak was begging. Keith looked down at Sneak and said something to the effect of - you can wait, i'm eatting. Well, if that cat doesn't understand the English language! He turned around in a full circle and poohed right there on the floor beside Keith.

So, you see, i think he's p.o.ed about something. I just wish i knew what it was.

he's still using his litterbox regularly. he pees in the same spot every time and there's a _very_ healthy amount each time. i could understand there being a health issue if there were tiny drops in the box or if he were constantly stepping in and out of the box.

when he's upset about the litterbox, he limits his aggravation to the mat just outside the box - so i don't think that's it.

so, there you have it. any other ideas?

Here is my Punkin. He was adopted from a co-worker who belated discovered that one of her other kitties did not like him and had begun tormenting him.



My sleeping Sneakers - or as I like to call him "The Ol' Man" He, too, was adopted. Hubby and I rescued him from my folks after he developed behavioral issues that they couldn't deal with. He's been doing well for the last two years but has recently started up again.



The boys - Sneakers was none too happy when we brought Punkin home. Now they get along well enough with minimal hissing from Sneak. They like to chase each other around the apartment, especially in the evening.

Hi welcome to TCS!

Hello & welcome to the forum. Do they have cat behaviorists as they do for dogs? Maybe thats the go after you get him checked out at the vets to make sure something hasn't changed with his health.

you know? i hadn't thought about a cat behaviorist. i guess i could check into it.

the strange thing about the whole situation is that he's not doing this all the time. it's maybe once a week - if that. never at the same time of day, never the same day, never the same set of circumstances - far as i can tell.

Have you tried spraying Feliway where Sneaks is peeing? I'm not familiar with Resolve Pet Stain Remover. Most people use Nature's Miracle or Zero Odor to really break down the enzymes. Even if you can't see or smell it, Sneaks can. I would follow that up by spraying Feliway (you can buy it at pet stores) in the area. Something is making him mark there. Maybe there's some animal out there at night, and it's upsetting him? Who knows.

The pooping is different. Even though they've been using the same box, maybe Sneaks is trying to tell you that he would prefer separate facilities. I would try putting a second box somewhere in the vicinity of where the pooping is taking place. Some cats are very picky about things, and a second box may help.

Anyway, good luck and welcome to TCS!

Hi

Well everyone has given u such great advice But really this is a great site and well as you can see everyones so helpful and nice !

But O my what cuties u have

Well see u on the forums

Hola y bienvenido a TCS, ...Catulina

y Milky

te saludan!!........

(Translate: Hi and Welcome to TCS, Catulina and Milky say hello to you!!!... )

See you on the forums!

muchas gracias!

Hi there! Sorry to hear that you're having a difficult time with these litter box issues.

I see you've been given some great advice already. To help you along a bit further here is a thread in our Behaviour forum that might help http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9563

Good luck!