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- Jun 28, 2015
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I have two indoor African Savannah f3 cats who are brother and sister, Cheech (girl) & Chong (boy). Both of my cats have been spayed and neutered since 6 months of age. I have had both of them since they were born. My issue is with my girl, Cheech.
Last year we moved in with my Uncle and Cousin who have both a male and female dog, a puppy that we have had for almost a month, and 3 other male cats (all indoor cats). Once every one acclimated to one another, there wasn’t much issue; Cheech would only pee (mostly on my bed) if all the litter boxes were dirty. After buying her a litter box for herself that is kept on the wall opposite of the other litter boxes and a room away, she was fine for a few weeks. However, she is now relieving herself on my bed, and throughout the basement, and as of this morning on the baby’s stuffed animals and our throw blankets. As of a few weeks ago, Chong and my cousins cat Nick have teamed together and become best friends who think they are either ninjas or in a fight club. They pick on the other cats daily. Cheech and Chong have always wrestled each other since they could walk, but since moving Cheech usually stays in the basement in my room, and only comes up if I am home. I have caught the other cats in my room and by her litter box. I have also noticed that if all of the litter boxes are clean at night, there will be one or two items one of our 6 litter boxes (each cat has a box plus and extra) and her litter box will be filled by the morning, so im assuming that at least Chong and Nick are using her box, if not the other two as well, but this only occurs over night.
We scoop the litter boxes daily (sometimes twice a day) and wash each litter box at the end of the week and put down fresh litter. We also try and keep up with cleaning up where Cheech is relieving herself, however as she was the runt of her litter, she can fit into very tiny spaces making it hard to get to, such as behind the furnace and under VERY low china cabinets.
We have not changed their food or their litter (my cats have always been fine with scoop away or arm and hammer). However, we live at a busy, construction filled intersection that is driving rodents toward our house, but none have been caught or seen in or around the house. Prior to moving last year, my cats shared everything without issue. They were also on a steady schedule of feedings and scoopings. Since the move, scooping is still steady, but there is always food out for all of the cats to eat at their leisure. I have brought food down to her, but it attracted ants very quickly. Also, since the move, I have graduated highschool and gone on to college and work part time, leaving Cheech with an unsteady, but daily seeing of me (during high school, if I arrived home so much as three minutes late, there was pee or poop waiting for me on my bed, regardless of my mom always being home as she works from home.
I’m unsure of this behavior as being a territorial issue, a health issue (there is no discoloration to her urine or stool, nor is she acting any different than from when she first showed a personality), or her demanding a routine, or what ever else this could be. I don’t think that this is a loneliness factor, as someone is always home at my uncles house. I have tried everything I can think of, getting extra litter boxes, reintroducing her in a positive way to all of the animals and people in the house, scooping all of the litter boxes multiple times each day, even attempting to block off her prime “drop-zones”, however, having an open basement with two rooms is hard to do. Any and all suggestions are welcome. I have also just learned about a spray called feliway, and as it is pricy I am not running to go buy it if something else may work just as well. Thank you in advance!
Last year we moved in with my Uncle and Cousin who have both a male and female dog, a puppy that we have had for almost a month, and 3 other male cats (all indoor cats). Once every one acclimated to one another, there wasn’t much issue; Cheech would only pee (mostly on my bed) if all the litter boxes were dirty. After buying her a litter box for herself that is kept on the wall opposite of the other litter boxes and a room away, she was fine for a few weeks. However, she is now relieving herself on my bed, and throughout the basement, and as of this morning on the baby’s stuffed animals and our throw blankets. As of a few weeks ago, Chong and my cousins cat Nick have teamed together and become best friends who think they are either ninjas or in a fight club. They pick on the other cats daily. Cheech and Chong have always wrestled each other since they could walk, but since moving Cheech usually stays in the basement in my room, and only comes up if I am home. I have caught the other cats in my room and by her litter box. I have also noticed that if all of the litter boxes are clean at night, there will be one or two items one of our 6 litter boxes (each cat has a box plus and extra) and her litter box will be filled by the morning, so im assuming that at least Chong and Nick are using her box, if not the other two as well, but this only occurs over night.
We scoop the litter boxes daily (sometimes twice a day) and wash each litter box at the end of the week and put down fresh litter. We also try and keep up with cleaning up where Cheech is relieving herself, however as she was the runt of her litter, she can fit into very tiny spaces making it hard to get to, such as behind the furnace and under VERY low china cabinets.
We have not changed their food or their litter (my cats have always been fine with scoop away or arm and hammer). However, we live at a busy, construction filled intersection that is driving rodents toward our house, but none have been caught or seen in or around the house. Prior to moving last year, my cats shared everything without issue. They were also on a steady schedule of feedings and scoopings. Since the move, scooping is still steady, but there is always food out for all of the cats to eat at their leisure. I have brought food down to her, but it attracted ants very quickly. Also, since the move, I have graduated highschool and gone on to college and work part time, leaving Cheech with an unsteady, but daily seeing of me (during high school, if I arrived home so much as three minutes late, there was pee or poop waiting for me on my bed, regardless of my mom always being home as she works from home.
I’m unsure of this behavior as being a territorial issue, a health issue (there is no discoloration to her urine or stool, nor is she acting any different than from when she first showed a personality), or her demanding a routine, or what ever else this could be. I don’t think that this is a loneliness factor, as someone is always home at my uncles house. I have tried everything I can think of, getting extra litter boxes, reintroducing her in a positive way to all of the animals and people in the house, scooping all of the litter boxes multiple times each day, even attempting to block off her prime “drop-zones”, however, having an open basement with two rooms is hard to do. Any and all suggestions are welcome. I have also just learned about a spray called feliway, and as it is pricy I am not running to go buy it if something else may work just as well. Thank you in advance!
