help my sister before she dumps Pumpkin in the country

My sister got a year old tabby cat from a friend so she has no idea how this little girl was treated previously. It is not an ordinary cat. It hides from everything and everyone, scratches the heck out of people once they find her and try to hold her and pet her, etc. She has started coming out of her shell around my sister and her husband but has developed a bad habit recently - Pumpkin lays on a down comforter and snuggles cool you would think but now she pees on the comforter. I read and wrote down some of the things I have read here. I would take the cat but I have a ten year old Boxer/Chow that doesn't know what a cat is... LOL.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I am going to tell her about spraying with citrus (probably better luck getting my sister to use vodka she it in the house lol), the cats outside thing, suggest she gets her checked out, the stress thing where peeing on something the owner has been in/on, and cleaning the cat box daily instead of every 3 days.

Personally I think she may have been mistreated in her previous home and that is part of the issue as far as the scratching, biting, hiding part goes.

You might point out that it's thoroughly illegal to dump a pet. If she's caught there could be a large fine involved. Plus it's cruel---most housecats don't survive a day in the country.

First thing to do is to get her a full vet work-up. Urinary tract infections are a frequent cause of inappropriate peeing.

If no infection is found---Sometimes cats will develop a fixation on a certain object and mark it for themselves. If that's the case, removing the comforter might help (or keeping her out the room it's in). Giving her a bed of her own may help. Feliway could make her feel more secure. And, yes, cleaning the litterbox more frequently, maybe adding another box would be good too (some cats like to pee in one box and poop in the other. Is the cat spayed?

I would attempt to take the cat but I don't want my dog or the cat to get hurt. I really don't think she would dump her I told her she wouldn't survive in the wild she is just irritated and frustrated I think. Yes she is fixed.

skrblue23 said:

 
I would attempt to take the cat but I don't want my dog or the cat to get hurt. I really don't think she would dump her I told her she wouldn't survive in the wild she is just irritated and frustrated I think. Yes she is fixed.

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It is frustrating to have a cat do things like this; but not hopeless.  The kitty may have been mistreated as you suspect.  She will need love and patience to come out of her shell; and she may only ever do that with the people she knows best.  Some cats are just that way; even if they've had good lives.  My soul-kitty was born to a family member's cat and I picked her out when she still had her eyes closed; yet she was very skittish.  

Be sure to clean the comforter with an enzyme cleaner to remove the urine scent completely (even to kitty nose standards). It may take more than one washing.  I agree with the other suggestions from Willowy; vet-check ASAP, keeping the box clean (think of it as how you (your sister) would want it if you were the ones using it) at LEAST once a day.  If they kitty isn't feeling secure; a tall cat tree or those cube shaped bed/huts might be a good investment.  Many cats like to be up high to survey.  Others like places lower to hide.  There are nylon cubes that attach to each other and to some tunnels available at Walmart for a very reasonable price.  A cat tree can be a bigger investment but they are well worth it in my opinion.  If you all are handy; one can be built for reasonable too.  Just be sure it has a sturdy base so it won't wobble or tip.  If she has a "safe" place to go; it may help her come around to everyone.  I would suggest they let people know not to force the kitty to come to them.  I've had my Noodles since she was 11 weeks old; she is 9 now, and we still have to let her smell our hands before we can pet her.  And we have to let her come to us for cuddles.  She does not like being picked up for more than a couple seconds.  But she will come sit in my lap and purr and knead me.  She is very loving; but it has to be on her terms.    

skrblue23 said:

I would attempt to take the cat but I don't want my dog or the cat to get hurt. I really don't think she would dump her I told her she wouldn't survive in the wild she is just irritated and frustrated I think. Yes she is fixed.

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dogs and cats do get on. I had a large dog who came as a puppy and one of my cats and he had a love affair. I'm sure with proper introduction they'd get on famously.