Hi, first post here, i've done some reading and got a few things to try, but i'm having some problems with my cat (or he's having problems)
he's 10 this month and i've had him for 9 & 1/2 years, he's a neutered male (short haired) and for the last 5 years at least he's been a house cat as he shows little sense when outside and i worry about him getting nocked over.
in the time we've had him we've moved 7 times so he's used to moving, though the last house we were at for over two years which was the longest.
since this last move he's started doing two things, drinking lots and lots of water and wee'ing on the carpet.
the drinking only started when we moved, he was not drinking more than normal in the run up to the move. his diet is about 3/4 of a pack of wet food a day plus a measured cup of Hills feline TD (which we top up as required)
we've had problems with him over the years in that if we've ever got a rug he'll pee on it, even if we clean it he'll do it again until we throw it away, but he's always been fine with carpet. this house has a really deep pile carpet so when he started doing it at the bottom of the stairs i wasnt over surprised but very worried about what we could do about it.
he did it three times and cleaning it wasnt working so as a short term solution i cut a cardboard box to fit exactly in the space over where he had done it - this stopped him as we could tell there were no wet stains on the box. we removed the box for a family visit last week and he did it again within a couple of hours. i'm told he sort of paced around first, then as i came in he sort of squatted backwards (not sure if this helps identify why he's doing it - read somewhere)
I cant work out what it is about this area, there are no windows or doors here, just the stairs, he cant see, hear or smell a cat from outside, though i cant rule out previous cats living here.
I've taken him to the vets twice recently as i'm worried, they have asked i keep an eye on him and his weight, he appears fine (although a bit slow??) - typical Toby really, and his weight is consistent. he's not scratching, clawing, crying etc. you can usually tell his mood by his eyes and his head movements, his eyes are bright and he's doing all the usual head movements so he looks 'happy' to me.
today i've come home and the dining room carpet had a wet patch, my girlfriend has been home all day and is fairly sure she didnt spill anything (though we cannot 100% rule it out) - the strange thing is, i replace his litter daily and it's always wet (assume due to the amount of liquid) and it always smells very strong of wee, yet this patch did not smell of anything - could easily have been water spilt - is this possible to be him?
if he ever wee's anywhere, brings up a furball or brings back up his food - he cleans. he sort of stands near it and rubs his paw over the surrounding area with a glazed look on his face. - i've not seen him 'clean' in the dining room yet so this also adds to that that might not be him.
whats changed recently:
well we moved (10 houses down the street - so same local cats)
in the old house (and previous ones) he used to sit mostly in upstairs windows, he cant as easily here, though doesnt appear to make a fuss about it.
we got a new litter tray after the first 'accident' he's using it plenty though
both his food and his litter are in the dining area, about a meter apart, this is the same as most other houses we've lived at
We have no other pets, no cats come in, and as far as i'm aware he cant see any (no nose to nose between glass incidents) as he cant get to the front door, and the only back door goes into a conservatory which he cant get into.
he's quite a communicative cat (talks) and he's doing this, he's also staying near us as normal, as when he's not happy he goes off to find quiet - so i'm at a loss as to what is stressing him.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance, Chris
he's 10 this month and i've had him for 9 & 1/2 years, he's a neutered male (short haired) and for the last 5 years at least he's been a house cat as he shows little sense when outside and i worry about him getting nocked over.
in the time we've had him we've moved 7 times so he's used to moving, though the last house we were at for over two years which was the longest.
since this last move he's started doing two things, drinking lots and lots of water and wee'ing on the carpet.
the drinking only started when we moved, he was not drinking more than normal in the run up to the move. his diet is about 3/4 of a pack of wet food a day plus a measured cup of Hills feline TD (which we top up as required)
we've had problems with him over the years in that if we've ever got a rug he'll pee on it, even if we clean it he'll do it again until we throw it away, but he's always been fine with carpet. this house has a really deep pile carpet so when he started doing it at the bottom of the stairs i wasnt over surprised but very worried about what we could do about it.
he did it three times and cleaning it wasnt working so as a short term solution i cut a cardboard box to fit exactly in the space over where he had done it - this stopped him as we could tell there were no wet stains on the box. we removed the box for a family visit last week and he did it again within a couple of hours. i'm told he sort of paced around first, then as i came in he sort of squatted backwards (not sure if this helps identify why he's doing it - read somewhere)
I cant work out what it is about this area, there are no windows or doors here, just the stairs, he cant see, hear or smell a cat from outside, though i cant rule out previous cats living here.
I've taken him to the vets twice recently as i'm worried, they have asked i keep an eye on him and his weight, he appears fine (although a bit slow??) - typical Toby really, and his weight is consistent. he's not scratching, clawing, crying etc. you can usually tell his mood by his eyes and his head movements, his eyes are bright and he's doing all the usual head movements so he looks 'happy' to me.
today i've come home and the dining room carpet had a wet patch, my girlfriend has been home all day and is fairly sure she didnt spill anything (though we cannot 100% rule it out) - the strange thing is, i replace his litter daily and it's always wet (assume due to the amount of liquid) and it always smells very strong of wee, yet this patch did not smell of anything - could easily have been water spilt - is this possible to be him?
if he ever wee's anywhere, brings up a furball or brings back up his food - he cleans. he sort of stands near it and rubs his paw over the surrounding area with a glazed look on his face. - i've not seen him 'clean' in the dining room yet so this also adds to that that might not be him.
whats changed recently:
well we moved (10 houses down the street - so same local cats)
in the old house (and previous ones) he used to sit mostly in upstairs windows, he cant as easily here, though doesnt appear to make a fuss about it.
we got a new litter tray after the first 'accident' he's using it plenty though
both his food and his litter are in the dining area, about a meter apart, this is the same as most other houses we've lived at
We have no other pets, no cats come in, and as far as i'm aware he cant see any (no nose to nose between glass incidents) as he cant get to the front door, and the only back door goes into a conservatory which he cant get into.
he's quite a communicative cat (talks) and he's doing this, he's also staying near us as normal, as when he's not happy he goes off to find quiet - so i'm at a loss as to what is stressing him.
Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance, Chris
