Help with domesticating very affectionate vocal Tom Cat (litter box issues!!!)

sweetlady4

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Hello all,

First, I must say that I have been the proud owner of a very sweet little lady, rescued from shelter September 2013. She is completely healthy and happy and well adjusted and I intend to keep her that way. I really had no need or intention for another cat...

..then my roommate is on the phone with me as he is bringing in some Vietnamese food, and I can't ignore this insistent voice in the background...this cat was meowing at him since he left his car!

Upon inspection, I see something that breaks my heart. This cat has the head of a full-grown adult, and the middle and lower body of a young adolescent cat. I feel like someone abandoned this little guy and he's not adept at fending for himself. I couldn't help but bring him in, for an escape from the Florida heat and some food--still terrified for the safety of my little one. I have kept them separated, and the very next morning I was extremely relieved after bringing him to the vet to hear that this guy tested negative for both FIV and feline leukemia. 

I'm waiting for him to put a little more weight on before neuter and vaccinations. He was given a dewormer this morning and has been very lethargic but otherwise very sweet.

Before taking him to the vet I noticed an alarming site--he openly urinated on a shelf in the hallway--it seems that he urinates standing up--yet he is very uncomfortable with a cat box with a lid. I placed him in the litterbox and he went #2 right away--but I'm worried about him marking up my apartment. I understand if it's inevitable for the time being, I would just like some advice in getting him adjusted to a cat box. 
 

StefanZ

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Hello all,

First, I must say that I have been the proud owner of a very sweet little lady, rescued from shelter September 2013. She is completely healthy and happy and well adjusted and I intend to keep her that way. I really had no need or intention for another cat...

..then my roommate is on the phone with me as he is bringing in some Vietnamese food, and I can't ignore this insistent voice in the background...this cat was meowing at him since he left his car!

Upon inspection, I see something that breaks my heart. This cat has the head of a full-grown adult, and the middle and lower body of a young adolescent cat. I feel like someone abandoned this little guy and he's not adept at fending for himself. I couldn't help but bring him in, for an escape from the Florida heat and some food--still terrified for the safety of my little one. I have kept them separated, and the very next morning I was extremely relieved after bringing him to the vet to hear that this guy tested negative for both FIV and feline leukemia. 

I'm waiting for him to put a little more weight on before neuter and vaccinations. He was given a dewormer this morning and has been very lethargic but otherwise very sweet.

Before taking him to the vet I noticed an alarming site--he openly urinated on a shelf in the hallway--it seems that he urinates standing up--yet he is very uncomfortable with a cat box with a lid. I placed him in the litterbox and he went #2 right away--but I'm worried about him marking up my apartment. I understand if it's inevitable for the time being, I would just like some advice in getting him adjusted to a cat box. 
Many cats dont like the lid on litterbox - especially not if there is a door too... Be sure its some sort of natural clay litter, no fancy parfumed versions.  There are also the Kitten attract litters.  You dont need to fill up the whole box - its enough you sprinkle some on the upper side.

The urinating you describe seems to be really a sort of spraying... Still. You prefer he does it in the litterbox.

Next step will be the neutering - with males its no big operation, its really just the sleeping agent which may be a burden on them.

With a friendly, not very territorial tom you will see the result perhaps already in one week. They dont have hormones high sky. Observe though, he will be fertile still at least one week more...  His spermies does survive at least several days, possibly even a couple of months.

I agree you can wait with the vaccines till you know he is OK and healthy.  Just the s.c. Core vaccine, + rabies if its customary in your country.  dont take the Felv vaccine.

You can try with a Feliway diffuser to calm him and his defensive watchfullness - meaning also the need to mark his place.

Calming music - classic harp music is best, but almost any may work.

Do NOT have radio with human voices on - this triggers him up  if he hasnt landed yet.
 

di and bob

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I agree, he needs just a high walled open box he can call his own, especially in the beginning, you can always try to change him over later. He's likely to spray now, he's scared and in a new place, so make sure you get a good enzyme cat urine cleaner to clean up any accidents, Walmart and most stores carry it. The spraying will most likely stop if you get him neutered and he calms down, my male marked for a year before finally stopping when we moved. He just needs to be loved and gain confidence, you will be blessed for giving him the attention he so desperately needs, thank you.
 
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sweetlady4

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Thank you so much for your responses! So far things are going well. I happened to have some of the litter attractant and added it to his litter, and left the lid off of the box. I'm very relieved and happy to report that my roommate witnessed him squatting and he urinated in his box this morning 
 So it seems we've come to a fair compromise--I leave lid off and he keeps his business in the box
 
 
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