In need of advice please!

Hi everyone,

  I'm coming here to find advice for a situation that I'm having. I have 4 cats in the household and we have been taking care of them for many years now. However my mother who is the owner of the house was never too fond of having the cats in the first place. Recently one of them have been urinating outside of the litter box. This was never a problem before, although for four cats there is only one litter box in the house.

My mom has grown impatient with this issue and has wanted to let go of these cats for a very long time. I have not much say since I don't own the house. Although this is just one problem, my mother also has osteoperosis and I'm afraid of her tripping on one them and breaking a bone.

These cats have grown up with this us their whole lives but I think it's really come to a point where we can no longer take care of them. I DO NOT want to place them in just a regular shelter BUT all these no-kill shelters never want to take in any new pets. I have tried to solve the urinating issue and the vet says the cat has no problems. However my mom has really grown impatient.

Can anyone give me some advice on how I can find these cats a good home in a timely fashion? Or at least to a place where they will take all four cats until someone can adopt them without getting euthanized? Thank you very much.

This may all sound insensitive but I really do care for these cats a lot. But it also isnt fair for my mother. The only solution I have is to find the cats a new home as I am unable to move out on my own at this time.

Can you make them a separate space in the house? An outdoor enclosure? Add more litterboxes?

To be honest, there is very little chance that you'll be able to find homes for 4 adult cats , and particularly one that pees where he/she shouldn't. There are millions of kittens born every year and not enough homes for all of them, much less for unwanted adult cats. This is why most shelters kill so many cats and no-kill shelters don't have room---far too many people are irresponsible and don't spay their cats. You can go yell at those people if you want :tongue2:. You can try contacting every cat rescue in the phone book, look on petfinder for what's in your area, etc., but it is kitten season. . .

Definitely do not surrender them to a kill shelter, where they'll die alone and scared among strangers. If they must be killed, at least have the guts to take them to your own vet so they can die with people they know.

I agree with Willow about everything.  I am totally puzzled as to why you only have one litterbox.  You should have at least 5 according to popular wisdom; in my opinion with 4 cats it is unthinkable to have less than 3.  You must be scooping constantly, I can't even imagine it.  If this sounds judgmental it is not my intention- I am just baffled.  Is there a reason you have only one? I really think if you add more it may fix the issue.

As to the situation generally, the honest truth is that you are going to find it next to impossible to rehome 4 adult cats, and probably flat out impossible to rehome the one with the pee problem.  No kill shelters often (even when not full) will only take 'easily adoptable' pets whether they flat out admit that or not.  Sometimes this includes super friendly adult cats, but it would never involve a cat with a pee problem.  Often it includes basically only cats under 3.

If I were you I'd look for an open access shelter who is reputable and has many adult cats there.  If the 3 without the pee problem are in good health and friendly, I might chance it and take them there.  Ask about their policies. Here in DC we have a great open access shelter who will hold any cats they deem friendly and healthy (i.e. ultimately adoptable) until they find a home.  

As for the cat with the pee problem, and the unhealthy cats if any among the other 3, the truth is they are probably not rehomable and will die at once if surrendered to a shelter.  However, I certainly wish you luck with this  I am sorry to have to be blunt, but I think it is important you know what the truth is before making any decisions.

Thank you for all the info guys. I didn't take offense to any of this. I was very young when I wanted to keep the stray that was hurt outside. My mother was never fond of animals but she let me keep her. THe stray had 3 babies. We didn't know much at the time so we always just used one litter box and we scoop it every night. And they have been doing fine with it for so many years, never a problem.

But Willow I agree. I will never have them put in a kill shelter. I would bring them in for that. However they don't deserve to be put to sleep. Perfectly healthy all four of them. My conscience will not rest well if they were euthanized. I'll have to figure something out.

Has the peeing cat been taken to the vet to make sure it is not medical?  If going right outside box all the time try putting a puppy pad down to absorb it(after adding more boxes, at least one being regular non scoop cat litter.

Ok seeing a bigger issue-almost two years ago you asked the same question and stated you had only one box then.  SOMETHING needs to change!!!  and I guess the "babies" are now 8 or so years old and mom is about 9?  After at least 2 years of this going on I doubt you will ever be able to change the peeing cat(if it is the same one.  I also doubt you would be able to walk into many places to euthanize all them, the peer MAYBE.  But really you are talking a few hundred right there. 

I think you and mom need to have a serious discussion.  If peeing is the only issue and it is in one spot.  These guys are facing the age where health issues are going to pop up and need even more care.  This is going to be a constant source of stress for the entire family.

The answer you are seeking is highly unlikely to happen.  You need to get rid of the idea that there is someone willing to take 4 cats who at minimum will need a bloodwork/exam and probably dental cleaning(talking at min probably 500 a cat with rates I pay in NJ if extractions are needed it could be alot more)

You MUST add another litter box.  I find it cruel that you have not yet added one in this long-you were told by vet and by TCS members to add one.  You don't need a fancy set up just a plastic tray.  Maybe able to get a small one for few bucks or have somethign lying around house that will work(drawer to a plastic organizer/storage tub/...)

catsallaround said:

You MUST add another litter box.  I find it cruel that you have not yet added one in this long-you were told by vet and by TCS members to add one.  You don't need a fancy set up just a plastic tray.  Maybe able to get a small one for few bucks or have somethign lying around house that will work(drawer to a plastic organizer/storage tub/...)

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 I also just read your old thread and am really puzzled why a box hasn't been added.  I have a long history with cats and once in a complicated pinch I used a medium-sized amazon box for a week as a litterbox.  It wasn't the brightest thing I've ever done for a lot of reasons, but it actually served its purpose for that week, so you definitely can use household things if you can't afford the few dollars for the box.  It's important to note you actually won't be paying more for litter- they will use the same amount they will just be A LOT happier especially since it seems you only scoop once a day    I am frankly astonished that any of them use the box at all under those conditions.  I only have 2, and they do have 2 boxes (not 3, so I am not one of those who necessarily thinks you need number of cats +1) and they will start to avoid them if I go much over 24 hours without scooping.... but I scoop 2-3 times a day except for under really really extenuating circumstances for their comfort and for mine.

I also agree with most of the rest of the above comment that I didn't quote.  How did you come to be able to keep them after your post almost 2 years ago?

Yea he actually stopped doing it for a while and now he's starting again and it's worse this time. My mom is a hard person to work with shes not really logical. She's a control freak and wants everything her way. Adding another litter box will just make her go crazy. I'm going to try that anyway just to see how it goes for the time being. If it does help maybe she will change her mind. But if he continues, I'm going to have to find another way.

Ive thought about the idea of doing an outdoor home for them but I read that since they were raised inside they're not equipped to deal with temperature changes. What do you guys think?
 

You cant have a litter box in your room? 

I do not think it is very fair after 8 years to make them outside cats.  Especially if 3 of the 4 use one litter box when it is so natural.  Why must they all get punished for what is not their fault.  I think you need to look into what you could afford rent wise.  Maybe a shared house or something.  After 2 years I would hope you at least have some game plan if Mother is so horrible/would flip out at thought of a 2nd litter considering what scene you have now with 4 cats using one.  That is like four adult humans using one toilet and it only get flushed once a day.  I would pee or poop anywhere but there! 
 

I agree just get another litter box without asking your mother- preferably two. Read this article which is written by a vet on how to stop improper elimination (http://catinfo.org/?link=litterbox) 

Taiken84 said:

Yea he actually stopped doing it for a while and now he's starting again and it's worse this time. My mom is a hard person to work with shes not really logical. She's a control freak and wants everything her way. Adding another litter box will just make her go crazy. I'm going to try that anyway just to see how it goes for the time being. If it does help maybe she will change her mind. But if he continues, I'm going to have to find another way.

Ive thought about the idea of doing an outdoor home for them but I read that since they were raised inside they're not equipped to deal with temperature changes. What do you guys think?
 

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I think making them outdoors cats is not ideal for many reasons, not just temperature.  Where do you live (general geographic area is okay, you need not reveal your city or even state if you don't want).  If you live in California or Florida, temp is a less big deal than if you live in New York or Illinois. However, I think honestly they are ill equipped to deal with the change to outdoor.

IF you could make an outdoor enclosure with a heated/cooled shed in it, I think they'd be OK, as long as you made it a point to spend a lot of time with them. But if your mother would flip out over adding another litterbox, I can just imagine what she'd say about putting in a wired shed for them :/.

Willowy said:

IF you could make an outdoor enclosure with a heated/cooled shed in it, I think they'd be OK, as long as you made it a point to spend a lot of time with them. But if your mother would flip out over adding another litterbox, I can just imagine what she'd say about putting in a wired shed for them :/.

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My thoughts too. I am thinking that 4 cats and ONE litter box is just no good. Unless, you are there to scoop after each cat uses it and keep it scrupulously clean then therein lies the problem. It certainly could be medical and I see that you brought your cat to the vet BUT did they do a sterile urine sample check? Very important to get those results. Secondly, you must add more litter boxes. I don't want to sound harsh, believe me I am not trying, but in all fairness to the cats you must provide proper facilities for them in the way of more litter boxes. I understand you are trying to appease your mother but I am just thinking of four cats using one box and even though they have been fine for years with that, obviously one of them has had enough of sharing. I guess I don't have much to offer in the way of suggestions other than the vet and more litter boxes. The only other idea is the enclosure Willowy suggested, but not sure the cats would do well after being indoors for so long. for your four kitties.