I am at my wits end. I have read through the behavior threads and tried everything suggested. Here is the back story:
I had 7 cats total. The eldest one passed away in 2006. We were at a 6 cat household at that point. We did not have any issues with any of the cats not using the litterbox. Last April, my 2 year old fell in love with an all black kitten that a friend of ours had so, we decided to take him. That put us back up to 7 cats. This past June, we came home from vacation to discover a stray had taken up residence in our yard. We tried to find her owners but no one claimed her and she ended up being our outside cat. That was pregnant. She proceeded to deliver 8 healthy, all white kittens. We managed to home all but 2. And I refuse to take them to a shelter where they face almost certain death. We kept the kittens (Buddy and Kipper) separated from our other 7 for 2 months. Each evening, we would bring the kittens out and introduce them. By the time we allowed the kittens to mingle all the time, there didn't seem to be any upset in the household.
Well, well, well. I started finding little spots of pee in different places. Especially the kitchen: on cabinet doors, in front of the hallway entrance, on the counter behind the sink, the blinds on the window, the couch, the television. I had 9 cats so I had to go to the vet and get the pills that make the urine flouresce different colors. Thats when I figured out Muffin was the one slinging pee. I immediately took him to the vet. The vet couldnt get a urine sample but determined that his bladder did feel extended and hard, so she prescribed an antibiotic and we scheduled a check up for when the antibiotic was completed. The check up came and he was cured. Except he still pee'd in inappropriate places. I called the vet back after 2 weeks of working with him and explained to her his new agression. She prescribed Ovaban, to be given orally, twice a week. This worked after about 2 weeks of him taking it. However, after about 2 days, he would do back to spraying. I cleaned all places with Simple Solution. All cats except Buddy and Kipper are spayed and neutered.
Last Saturday, Muff did the unthinkable: he sprayed my bed. Standing up, tail twitching, front paws going. I grabbed him and immediately separated him into his own room with a litterbox and called the vet. Not only did she suggest I keep him isolated for a few days but she also has changed his medication to Amitriptyline. She also suggested we find someone to take Buddy and Kipper for a week and see of the behavior straightened out. Unfortunately, I can't find anyone to take them. If I could, I wouldn't have them. I am at a loss. I don't know how to help him. The vet also thinks that neutering Buddy and Kipper will help, so they are scheduled to go in next month for that. In the meantime, this is causing a lot of tension in the house. I have a 2½ year old and am pregnant. So, it's frustrating to come home and clean up pee for half an hour or longer. Not to mention it doesnt smell pretty. As cat lovers, my husband and I don't know what to do. Has anyone else used Amitriptyline and was it successful? Is there anything else we can try?
Thank you!
I had 7 cats total. The eldest one passed away in 2006. We were at a 6 cat household at that point. We did not have any issues with any of the cats not using the litterbox. Last April, my 2 year old fell in love with an all black kitten that a friend of ours had so, we decided to take him. That put us back up to 7 cats. This past June, we came home from vacation to discover a stray had taken up residence in our yard. We tried to find her owners but no one claimed her and she ended up being our outside cat. That was pregnant. She proceeded to deliver 8 healthy, all white kittens. We managed to home all but 2. And I refuse to take them to a shelter where they face almost certain death. We kept the kittens (Buddy and Kipper) separated from our other 7 for 2 months. Each evening, we would bring the kittens out and introduce them. By the time we allowed the kittens to mingle all the time, there didn't seem to be any upset in the household.
Well, well, well. I started finding little spots of pee in different places. Especially the kitchen: on cabinet doors, in front of the hallway entrance, on the counter behind the sink, the blinds on the window, the couch, the television. I had 9 cats so I had to go to the vet and get the pills that make the urine flouresce different colors. Thats when I figured out Muffin was the one slinging pee. I immediately took him to the vet. The vet couldnt get a urine sample but determined that his bladder did feel extended and hard, so she prescribed an antibiotic and we scheduled a check up for when the antibiotic was completed. The check up came and he was cured. Except he still pee'd in inappropriate places. I called the vet back after 2 weeks of working with him and explained to her his new agression. She prescribed Ovaban, to be given orally, twice a week. This worked after about 2 weeks of him taking it. However, after about 2 days, he would do back to spraying. I cleaned all places with Simple Solution. All cats except Buddy and Kipper are spayed and neutered.
Last Saturday, Muff did the unthinkable: he sprayed my bed. Standing up, tail twitching, front paws going. I grabbed him and immediately separated him into his own room with a litterbox and called the vet. Not only did she suggest I keep him isolated for a few days but she also has changed his medication to Amitriptyline. She also suggested we find someone to take Buddy and Kipper for a week and see of the behavior straightened out. Unfortunately, I can't find anyone to take them. If I could, I wouldn't have them. I am at a loss. I don't know how to help him. The vet also thinks that neutering Buddy and Kipper will help, so they are scheduled to go in next month for that. In the meantime, this is causing a lot of tension in the house. I have a 2½ year old and am pregnant. So, it's frustrating to come home and clean up pee for half an hour or longer. Not to mention it doesnt smell pretty. As cat lovers, my husband and I don't know what to do. Has anyone else used Amitriptyline and was it successful? Is there anything else we can try?
Thank you!
