All about my cat "Burgers"

Hello

one day a few years ago, a scrawny cat got into my apartment building, climbed up 3 floors, and started meowing at my door.

I opened the door and let her in.

She could hardly meow, she was weak. I fed her some tuna and she started feeling better. I got some food and a cheap litter pan and went look look for her owner, she was really well behaved and I could swear she was lost, and had an owner.

I went everywhere in the apartment building (25 residences), and then put up signs, a craigslist, facebook post, myspace post (myspace was still going strong then! haha), and put an ad in the local paper...

no one has ever answered...

I noticed she was always scared of running out of food. She eats far too much, and I am desperately trying to feed her less, but she is very insistent and will wake you up at night to get more food. I got one of those compressed air things and i would blow it in her general direction, that would get her away from me, but I really hate doing that, as it seems like a very negative thing.

I am, of course, completely against hitting or spanking of any kind when an animal has a need. I have, in the past, struck a compromise with spraying water but I haven't had to do this with Burgers, and I really don't want to, because it seems to be a very negative thing... thoughts on that appreciated.

anyway, I am trying to feed her late at night to prevent her trying to wake us up....

Another interesting thing about her is that when she looks at me (which she seems to stare a lot) she raises one paw, she does this with either paw, so I don't think she's hurting...

The problem now is that she's really meowing a lot, and peeing on a mat in the bathroom.

Before I take her in for a check up (I really don't have any money for this, unless I know there's some imminent danger)

there are two things I've changed recently:

1. new cat pan, with cover and sifter (I routinely clean the litter box, every other day, at the least, before and after this) - this was about 2 months ago, didn't seem to be direct problems, but I wonder, even though it's a big one, if she can't fit properly in

2. new food for urinary tract health - I got this a few days ago, and the problem really got bad. I think i might have to go to another brand...

So I'd like to explore those options, also, one BIG problem is:

she drinks out of her bowl by scooping it up with her hands. I have to clean the bowl at least twice a day cause there's all sort of crap in it, hairs, dirt, etc... She LOOOOOOOOOVES water right out of the faucet. I got her a fountain before but it leaked like crazy. She loves cups, and sticking her head in whatever my girlfriend and I are drinking (and then pulling stiffly away when she realizes it's rum and diet haha).

I was thinking of trying this again.

I didn't want to be a cat owner again. My last cat was lost in the woods, and I don't know what happened to him... I really don't have the money, and not a ton of time. But I spend good portion of it bonding with burgers. She's a great, well behaved cat and I have grown to love her.

If I have to take her in for a check up, I will. I am willing to do what I can, but I would like to rule out other things first.

so, issues:

1. very vocal in general from the beginning (is this even an issue? I like it)

2. very needy for affection (not a problem really, hoping there's not something under the surface)

3. peeing on shower mat, especially after someone taking a shower gets it wet - and btw, this has also happened when I was away, and someone was taking care of her occasionally (once a day) could it be stress related? Or depression related? Intensified lately, perhaps due to food change or cat pan change? What enzyme based things can i get to clean/prevent this in the future? she's also even torn up tile at times, but it used to be SO rare it didn't bother me, it would be a passing thing...

4. Obesity - I simply cannot have an outdoor cat here, which sucks, but I want to figure a way to get this one healthier. Good, effective playtoys, etc...?

here are some pictures:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?s...0&l=5decf7317a

(anyone can view)

Are you using a scooping litter? If so, you should try scooping it twice daily. That will keep down the smell, and it may solve the peeing problem. Cats can be very fussy, just like some people!

Oh, and then wash the mat, or get rid of it and replace it. Thoroughly clean the floor under it, using an enzymatic cleaner.

Originally Posted by mrblanche

Are you using a scooping litter? If so, you should try scooping it twice daily. That will keep down the smell, and it may solve the peeing problem. Cats can be very fussy, just like some people!

Oh, and then wash the mat, or get rid of it and replace it. Thoroughly clean the floor under it, using an enzymatic cleaner.

Click to expand...

it is a scooping litter, I can't really do it twice a day, it just stinks up the garbage then... I could put it in the toilet, but I suspect that might clog it, no?

Once a day is about the limit.

TBH, her box doesn't smell, whatsoever.

do you have a recommendation for an enzymatic cleaner?

Cute kitty. Kind of plump. You should only flush litter when "flushable" is written on the packaging

You can get a flushable scoopable litter. We use Feline Fresh (I think?) pine litter. We live in an apartment, so it really makes it a lot easier to clean the litter box regularly.

Also - I just wanted to mention something about the food. I don't know what kind it is or anything, but one of my dogs was put on a urinary food after she developed crystals in her urine. It made her essentially incontinent with her pee, she would be sitting there and get up all of a sudden, definitely surprised, that there was a big wet spot under her. We took her off the food immediately and the problem went away. A few months later she had to have surgery for bladder stones (thanks to an incompetent vet that didn't check when she had the crystals), so they wanted her on the food again (different vet). We put her on it again, and the same thing happened. It didn't have any effect on the other dog that was eating it though.

Urinary foods are generally heavier in salt than regular foods as well - so the animal will drink and pee more. So, she may be having problems with that.

Originally Posted by c1atsite

Cute kitty. Kind of plump.

You should only flush litter when "flushable" is written on the packaging

Click to expand...

well that's an easy enough guideline

thanks, nerdrock. right now im using crystalline litter, mimi or something like that. It's cheap and works great. Ill check if it's flushable. It;s what ive always used.

I will switch food ASAP.

My theory is this:

she was owned by someone, they lost her or kicked her out for some odd reason, even though they got her fixed...

she had to scavenge for food and even though it's instinct, it may have been extremely stressful for the poor thing...

so she comes here and continues the same thing, she needs to always have food.. even though she has trusted me more and more over the years (she sleeps with me now at times whereas before she did not or had to be coaxed) she still gets fearful when food isn't directly available.