Hey all,
I just registered, but have enjoyed reading posts prior to taking the plunge and signing up! You guys have been great resources for me, as I have been around cats all my life, but never dealt with rescue babies on my own before.
Here's the story...
I adopted two teenage rescue cats, Violet and Simon, from a no-kill organization here in Virginia last December. They are brother and sister, and although it has taken a long time for them to warm up to my husband and I, get along famously with each other and can be affectionate when they have a mind to be. We currently live in a large one-bedroom apartment, with plenty of room for them to run around in. They love toys, and being pet, and attention in general (from me especially...I'm their Mommy, after all
). It's all love, most of the time...except for when Miss Violet wants to pee in random spots.
This started when we first got them, and I expected them to want to mark their territory. The day they arrived, we left them to explore their new home in peace, and I spotted Violet peeing on personal objects like my sweater, my husband's favorite sweatshirt, blankets, gym bags, etc. All these items had been worn or used before she urinated on them, which makes me believe she was just trying to "claim" us. The poor babies had bounced around from home to home, and we are the first people they've really bonded with (the last foster home they came from had 20 cats). I called her previous caregiver, who informed me that she had no knowledge of Violet having a peeing problem. I took her to the vet, and nothing was found.
I have two litter boxes, unscented fine grain litter, and clean them twice a day. My work schedule was crazy when we first got them, and has settled down into a nice routine. Violet had taken to urinating on the carpet, but stopped her inappropriate peeing completely a few months after we got them, and she had not done that for seven months at least...until Wednesday. We had gotten them new fleece mats for their beds on Saturday, and she seemed to like them quite a bit. However, my husband heard the telltale scratching on Wednesday, and saw her spraying on her fleece.
We were upset, but felt this may be an isolated incident. But yesterday, when I got home, I caught her peeing on her carpet. I am upset, and baffled by what triggered this behavior. My work schedule has not changed, we haven't had any new visitors, no new furniture. Also, she has been more clingy with me, never letting me out of her sight. One of the more bizarre aspects of this is that I've noticed a general change in her appetite as well the past couple of weeks. She used to LOVE canned food, and now it's a rare occasion that I can get her to eat her half of the can. She will eat some dry, but acts famished all of the time and wants to eat my food! Also, I thought her brother may have been eating all of her food, and he's not (though he will eat it if she doesn't). There is no bullying going on, either.
And before you guys ask, she's being taken to the vet on Monday. That's the earliest appointment I could get.
Help! Any advice you can give me would be a big help.
I just registered, but have enjoyed reading posts prior to taking the plunge and signing up! You guys have been great resources for me, as I have been around cats all my life, but never dealt with rescue babies on my own before.
Here's the story...
I adopted two teenage rescue cats, Violet and Simon, from a no-kill organization here in Virginia last December. They are brother and sister, and although it has taken a long time for them to warm up to my husband and I, get along famously with each other and can be affectionate when they have a mind to be. We currently live in a large one-bedroom apartment, with plenty of room for them to run around in. They love toys, and being pet, and attention in general (from me especially...I'm their Mommy, after all
This started when we first got them, and I expected them to want to mark their territory. The day they arrived, we left them to explore their new home in peace, and I spotted Violet peeing on personal objects like my sweater, my husband's favorite sweatshirt, blankets, gym bags, etc. All these items had been worn or used before she urinated on them, which makes me believe she was just trying to "claim" us. The poor babies had bounced around from home to home, and we are the first people they've really bonded with (the last foster home they came from had 20 cats). I called her previous caregiver, who informed me that she had no knowledge of Violet having a peeing problem. I took her to the vet, and nothing was found.
I have two litter boxes, unscented fine grain litter, and clean them twice a day. My work schedule was crazy when we first got them, and has settled down into a nice routine. Violet had taken to urinating on the carpet, but stopped her inappropriate peeing completely a few months after we got them, and she had not done that for seven months at least...until Wednesday. We had gotten them new fleece mats for their beds on Saturday, and she seemed to like them quite a bit. However, my husband heard the telltale scratching on Wednesday, and saw her spraying on her fleece.
We were upset, but felt this may be an isolated incident. But yesterday, when I got home, I caught her peeing on her carpet. I am upset, and baffled by what triggered this behavior. My work schedule has not changed, we haven't had any new visitors, no new furniture. Also, she has been more clingy with me, never letting me out of her sight. One of the more bizarre aspects of this is that I've noticed a general change in her appetite as well the past couple of weeks. She used to LOVE canned food, and now it's a rare occasion that I can get her to eat her half of the can. She will eat some dry, but acts famished all of the time and wants to eat my food! Also, I thought her brother may have been eating all of her food, and he's not (though he will eat it if she doesn't). There is no bullying going on, either.
And before you guys ask, she's being taken to the vet on Monday. That's the earliest appointment I could get.
Help! Any advice you can give me would be a big help.
. Have changed the litter back to Arm and Hammer, and make sure to give them plenty of attention.
