Help -- we can't keep him if he keeps attacking

I realize what I am going to say is going to sound like an inconvienence to you, but it would help the litterbox issue. I would go out and buy more litterboxes and put them in every room I could. Make sure they are in a private area, but that there is a clear escape route for her. Don't buy a covered one, simply buy the inexpensive open trays. Give her choices where to go so that she won't get attacked again. Often times when a cat has a painful experience in or around a litter box, they will not use the litter box again. They associate the box with pain and they are frightened of it. Even taking the one box where she got assaulted and throwing it away replacing it with another will help her. I again, would not get a covered one. I would also look at this as a blessing in disguise that she went outside her box. Other than the upset of the meds on her system, you were able to see that her stool was fairly normal because she couldn't cover it up.

Good luck with her, it sounds like she has a long road ahead of her.

I have IBS - i never heard of a cat having it
bless his little heart

Thanks so much to everyone who has taken interest in this thread! I wanted to update anyone who is still interested in our progress.

Once we put Zoey on the correct dosage of Methamazole (generic for Tapazole, which is probably the most commonly used hyperthyroid medication), she turned into a completely different cat. She came out of hiding, became a cuddler, and took to sleeping between my husband's and my head at night, instead of alone in the livingroom or the closet. She became a bit more aggressive with Monte, which seemed to just put him in his place; she seemed to be saying "you can't just push me around anymore!". The changes were amazing, really. Once her thyroid levels were normalized, we got the good news from her vet that her kidney function was still fine, indicating that she is a good candidate for Radioactive Iodine Therapy. We admitted her to a specialist hospital yesterday to have the procedure done, and expect to be able to bring her home, (cured!!!), before the week is out. The only potentially bad news about this is related to the fact that she developed this disease at such a young age. The veterinary specialist said (roughly), "Since we don't really know what causes Hyperthyroid to develop in cats, but we do know that, whatever the cause, it takes about 13 years to develop in most cats, most cats don't live to be 27 years old, so they do not develop the disease a second time. Zoey has an increased chance of developing the disease a second or third time if she lives to be 20 since it only took 6 or so years to develop in her." At least we'll know what to look for should her tumor return.

Monte, like the rest of us, seems a bit sad that Zoey is not padding gently around the house this week. He has lost a bit of weight over the past several weeks (which was desirable), and, aside from exhibiting a few behaviors that we think are related to insecurity since Zoey's health has improved, he's become quite the gentleman. His biting of humans has significantly decreased, he allows us to hold him more, and attacks have slowed to occasional challenges. We have even spotted the cats snoozing within a few feet of each other over the last few days before Zoey's departure.

We fully expect to go through a transitionary period once we bring Zoey home. She'll feel better, physically, but a week in a hospital cage is likely to bring back some kitty memories of 7 months at a shelter. Also, because she'll still be radioactive (will she glow in the dark? ), we will only be able to have limited contact with her for two weeks. That will make her transition back home more confusing. Monte will have to contend with her reappearance as a healthy cat! I'm sure, however, we'll all be fine in the end.

I don't know how I managed to miss this thread, but it is an amazing story! I am so glad you wrote in to update us and I am doubly glad that you are such a caring kittymom who is willing to go the extra mile to improve the lives of your feline friends. Wow!

This story has helped me out a lot. I just started posting yesterday, and I have two cats that fight as well. I went and bought the Feliway product and plugged it in last night. I'm definitely taking Berk, the aggressor, to the vet also, anything to help relieve my little Stevie from being stalked and also, to see if something medical might be the issue for Berk. He's still watching her today and it took me 1 hr to make her comfortable enough to come out from under the couch, her new favorite refuge! Now she only stays out in the room if I'm in there too to protect her.

I do have a questions........since she has a war wound on her tail area, where he's attacked twice in two months now, I'm not sure about putting vanilla on that area. I'll try the chin and shoulders, but does anyone know if that would be harmful or uncomfortable while she's healing in that area?

I really have learned a lot from this story and others I'm discovering as well!! Thanks to all!

chele I don't want to hijack this impressive thread, but if you put in on the upper part of her back leg, it should be fine.

Chele,

I'm sure you read this elsewhere in the thread, but because of our experiences I'd like to repeat the suggestion that you also make a veterinary appointment for Stevie, if you have the means. If we had only taken Monte (our aggressive cat) to the vet, our Zoey's serious illness might have remained undiagnosed. Treating her condition has made the biggest impact on their fighting, though the vanilla and Feliway, etc. all played an important part in reducing the frequency of aggression in the meantime. Hang in there!

Thanks so much for the update!
I was wondering if Zoey had the Radioactive Iodine Therapy already. Positive thoughts going out for a totally successful treatment!

Thank you!!! I hope Monte and Zoey fix their issues too!!! So far so good with the remedies suggested to me! Berk hates the vanilla, but he's a constant groomer, so I'm sure any foreign smells or feelings disturb him. Again, thanks for telling your story, it has helped me feel like I'm not alone out here!

We just heard from the vet, who says Zoey can come home next Sunday. She had to have a larger than average dose of Radioactive Iodine, so she has to stay longer than we had hoped to let the radiation decay. I'm going to try to post pic of our cats if I can, that way those of you following the saga of Zoey and Monte can put a furry face the names.

Thanks so much for the advice and encouragement! You all are the best!!!

Here's Zoey:

And here's Monte!