Spring fever??

ollie

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 28, 2004
Messages
18
Purraise
0
I really hope someone can help me as I am at my wits end. My 3-y.o. male has cried to go outside CONSTANTLY for the last 2 weeks. We took him to the vet and he is fine. This morning I caught him spraying the wall. He was rescued as a stray and was in a foster home for about 6 months before we adopted him 4 months ago. He is a dear kitty and up to now has been no problem but my husband has basically said that he won't have a spraying cat in the house. I don't want to let him roam outside for many reasons but he seems miserable inside. We were thinking of taking him out on a harness but we don't want to make him more stressed and make the problem worse. We have a Feliway plug-in diffuser but since he was spraying today I don't think it is helping. We also have a 6-month old kitten as we were told he wanted company, but he doesn't seem to have much interest in her, he just sits at the door and cries. Please help, or else I may have to give up my boy.
 

marge

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 27, 2003
Messages
2,428
Purraise
1
I assume he is neutered? Otherwise,
it's rough. I mean there are probably more experienced pet owners here that can help. I do find if I ignore the pleas it stops.
But to be honest I had to give in and let mine outside, only when I am there, and supervised (I watch from my window). Now we live together much better. Mine had lived on the streets for awhile too, so he was used to it. And was acting out big time. But since I have allowed him out, it isn't so desirable to him and he doesn't push it as much. In fact less and less. But I totally and I mean totally understand why people say don't let them out. I just felt I had to. And I live in a quiet neighborhood. But I do realize it is a risk. I had two choices though, a completely safe-but deranged indoor only kitty. Or a mostly indoor but sometimes outdoor cat who is comfortable and happy.
 

hissy

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2001
Messages
34,872
Purraise
76
Is he neutered that would be my first question. If not, he needs to be, especially if you are entertaining the notion of letting him outside as kitten season is close.

Depending on where you live, being inside/outside is a personal choice. But please don't let him out until he is neutered.

Also chances are good that there are strays that are spraying your home (outside) and getting him worked up- that would be my guess.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #5

ollie

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 28, 2004
Messages
18
Purraise
0
Thanks for the input. Yes he is neutered, but he was already full-grown so he may be more aggressive than others neutered sooner. Yes there are other cats spraying outside, I can smell it on the front door/porch. Unfortunately there are a lot of wandering cats in our neighbourhood. Is there anything I can do to keep them away??

I have mixed feelings about taking him out, I don't know if "waiting it out" will make him give up the crying or will just make him more miserable. I want him to be happy but I can't live with a spraying cat. I don't mind taking him outside, supervised, and was considering a cat enclosure. That is a beautiful one on the link! My only concern is fleas and ticks, I am somewhat familiar with Advantage--is this something that has to be done at the vet or can I apply it myself?
 

squirtle

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Nov 29, 2003
Messages
5,544
Purraise
1
Location
Sunny Florida
You can purchase Advantage from your vet and but you put it on yourself. I used it on my cat once, the vet gave me a free sample the first time I brought Dori in for her shots. I haven't used it since because she stays indoors (she has no desire to go outside) but if I remember correctly you apply it only once a month.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #7

ollie

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jan 28, 2004
Messages
18
Purraise
0
I think he is getting worse. I have taken him out on the harness a few times every day and he marks the bushes in the front, but as soon as I come in he cries to go out again. He seems so unhappy to be here, I honestly don't know what to do with this cat. He is behaving like an un-neutered tom even though he is neutered. I don't know if he would ever be happy, even if I do let him out. He has no interest in anything else, he used to play a lot and cuddle, but now all he does is cry at the door. He doesn't even purr anymore which is heartbreaking. He has been checked by the vet and there is nothing physically wrong. Does anyone know if the natural remedies like Rescue Remedy can help with a cat like this? What do I do? He is making my life hell and he is miserable. Would he be better off in another home?
 

marge

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 27, 2003
Messages
2,428
Purraise
1
I know it's risky, but instead of having to think of a new home, have you thought of just letting him out on his own? I did that and things are better. LIke I said, I TOTALLY understand why people DON'T, but when you have no choice. Mine was just crying by the door too. And when I would walk up the steps returning home I would hear him crying EVEN WHEN NO ONE WAS HOME> So I bit the bullet and now things are much better. He doesnt want out all the time. Is peaceful when he's home. But has that option of going out. He is really good about it too. Comes back within an hour at the latest. My neighborhood is really nice about cats though. There are several outdoor cats and everyone is fine with it. So I know that's a factor.
 

lotsocats

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
May 30, 2001
Messages
5,481
Purraise
17
Location
Out Yonder in Kentucky
How to Stop Spraying

If the cat is spraying...he is marking his territory. Basically, he's saying this is my place, not yours! This can be a difficult habit to break but it is absolutely possible to do so.

Try the following ideas. Hopefully they will help!

1. Use Feliway to help him not want to spray. Feliway mimics the friendly marking that cats do when they rub their faces on things. When a cat smells a friendly scent, they are unlikely to mark with urine. The Feliway box will give detailed instructions on how to use it....follow the instructions carefully. (There is now a Feliway plug-in that I have heard works wonders.)

2. Hang aluminum foil on the places the cat likes to spray. Cats usually will not spray on foil because it makes an unpleasant sound when hit with the urine and it makes the urine splash back on the cat. Each day that the cat does not spray, tear about an inch off the bottom of the foil until the foil is completely gone. Don't remove the whole strip all at once because the cat may interpret this as you saying it is okay to spray here again.

3. If you see the cat getting into the spray position, yell "No!" and then grab him and put him in time-out (in the bathroom for example) for only 2-3 minutes. Do the same if you caught him in the act.

4. Check to see if there are stray cats hanging out outside your house. A cat will often spray in response to strange cats around the house. Make sure you don't walk through outside cat spray and track that smell into the house.

5. Be patient and persistent. Breaking the spraying habit can take a while, but it should work.


Good luck!
 

paige

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Dec 28, 2003
Messages
4
Purraise
0
Location
St. Louis, Missouri
Personally I've tried all of these, and to no avail. She peed again after we had sprayed Feliway. My cat walks and plays with the foil she loves the noise. I locked her up in her crate after I caught her in the act lastnight. Still leary of her actions though. We have one of the only cats in our neighborhood that I know of. I love her dearly, but peeing all over our new house is driving me batty. She had stopped for several months, and come about a week ago she started again. It used to only be at night when we were sleeping, so I had to start locking her up at night, which seemed to be working. The last two weekends I tried leaving her out. The first weekend it worked, the second it didn't. She peed on one of the floor mats in my kitchen, partially on the mat and the floor. The smell was horrible. Stronger than normal. Then just lastnight she was running around the house like crazy and crying. Then I found her peeing on the floor near a wall in our bedroom. She was put in lockup for a while after that. I just don't know what to do. I love her so much, but can't stand this peeing all over. She had never done it before we moved to this house, and she didn't start till we'd been here for several months.
 

lotsocats

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
May 30, 2001
Messages
5,481
Purraise
17
Location
Out Yonder in Kentucky
Paige,

What you are describing is not spraying, but urinating. I strongly suspect that your cat has a urinary tract infection that can be easily cured with antibiotics. Once the infection is cured, the potty problem will go away. (Urinatry tract problems are the number one cause of peeing outside the litterbox!) Please take your cat to the vet immediately and tell the vet what she is doing so the vet can test her urine.
 

paige

TCS Member
Kitten
Joined
Dec 28, 2003
Messages
4
Purraise
0
Location
St. Louis, Missouri
I took her to the vet when she started doing this the last time. Absolutely nothing wrong with my chubby little kitty. I'll try the website, but my husband and I have tried practically everything. The Plastic with the spikes she walks right through. Citrus smell doesn't seem to bother her. She's a little brat. She is so adorable though that's what makes this so hard.
 
Top