o.k., I have two spayed female cats. The younger one is a kitten from the older one's first litter. Both of them (but especially the younger one, Mika) pee all over my house. I'm fairly positive it is a behavioral issue, because I know exactly when it started. Chloe (the mom) had a second litter of kittens, and the once inseparable pair became sworn enemies. I kept mom and the new babies closed in the bathroom, but the cats would hiss and growl at each other through the door. Heaven forbid if mom snuck out the bathroom door... it was kitty war!
So the kittens are long gone now (about a year), and both cats have been fixed, but they still don't get along that well. I tried to reintroduce them gradually to each other after the kittens, such as putting them in cat carriers in the same room together. My boyfriend and I would also each hold one, and then pet and praise them while moving them closer together. They can live in the same space now, but are generally irritated with each other. Mostly, mom will hiss and swat at Mika whenever she walks by, and I often hear her growling in warning to stop Mika from coming too close. When I see her doing this I clap or shout to try to distract them, but it doesn't really work.
As a result of their dislike for each other I'm sure, they now urinate everywhere. Plastic bags, clothes, towels, blankets, and stacks of mail seem to be their favorite items. I try very hard to keep things picked up, especially off of the floor, and not leave things laying around for them to pee on. As a result, they now pee on my counters, in the bathtub, and on the kitchen appliances (I didn't think there could be a worse smell than cat urine... but warm cat urine emanating from the toaster is certainly worse!). I've even found puddles sitting in the middle of the linoleum floor! In addition, I've just been informed by my apartment manager that there have been multiple complaints of my cats peeing on people's doors, welcome mats, and under the mailboxes. I got a warning this time, but was told I would be evicted if it continued! I try to keep them inside, but sometimes can't help it when they dart out the door when I come home.
What can I do to help them get along and stop peeing??? I love them both very much, but they're getting close to winning a one-way trip to the woods. I certainly am not going to be kicked out of my apartment because of it! Since there is no rhyme or reason to where they go, foil, sticky tape, or citrus tricks are not going to work. Would those pheramone plug-ins be my best bet? And what about the anti-depressants? I don't really want to drug my kitties, but I'm desperate.
So the kittens are long gone now (about a year), and both cats have been fixed, but they still don't get along that well. I tried to reintroduce them gradually to each other after the kittens, such as putting them in cat carriers in the same room together. My boyfriend and I would also each hold one, and then pet and praise them while moving them closer together. They can live in the same space now, but are generally irritated with each other. Mostly, mom will hiss and swat at Mika whenever she walks by, and I often hear her growling in warning to stop Mika from coming too close. When I see her doing this I clap or shout to try to distract them, but it doesn't really work.
As a result of their dislike for each other I'm sure, they now urinate everywhere. Plastic bags, clothes, towels, blankets, and stacks of mail seem to be their favorite items. I try very hard to keep things picked up, especially off of the floor, and not leave things laying around for them to pee on. As a result, they now pee on my counters, in the bathtub, and on the kitchen appliances (I didn't think there could be a worse smell than cat urine... but warm cat urine emanating from the toaster is certainly worse!). I've even found puddles sitting in the middle of the linoleum floor! In addition, I've just been informed by my apartment manager that there have been multiple complaints of my cats peeing on people's doors, welcome mats, and under the mailboxes. I got a warning this time, but was told I would be evicted if it continued! I try to keep them inside, but sometimes can't help it when they dart out the door when I come home.
What can I do to help them get along and stop peeing??? I love them both very much, but they're getting close to winning a one-way trip to the woods. I certainly am not going to be kicked out of my apartment because of it! Since there is no rhyme or reason to where they go, foil, sticky tape, or citrus tricks are not going to work. Would those pheramone plug-ins be my best bet? And what about the anti-depressants? I don't really want to drug my kitties, but I'm desperate.