This is probably in the wrong place, because I know *why* the behavior is occurring. Feel free to move it if necessary.
DH decided to be silly and let the cats meet one another. Big mistake, and one I can't go back and correct. Whisper and Reagan had a huge fight last night (Reagan won, but she's pretty well scratched up -- and Whisper lost his collar -- Thank God it was a breakaway!). I believe that everybody is simply readjusting and trying to figure out where they fit in the "pack order." Reagan's still alpha, Molly isn't challenging it, but Whisper is feeling insecure(ish).
The biggest behavioral change that we're experiencing is the failure to use the litterbox. Molly had one accident, which is understandable. Whisper did too, but at the time he was behind a closed door in a room with no litterbox -- again, understandable. But when we woke up this morning, the entire house smells of cat accidents. We haven't found any fecal material (which is what I'm smelling), and urine is almost impossible to find without a black light, which is an expense that we don't want to pay out right now.
I'm going to use vinegar on all the carpets tonight and tomorrow to clear out the urine smell, and use my nose (pregnant nose at that!) to determine if there is an marking on the walls that needs to be treated, too.
Enzyme cleaners have never worked for us in the past, unfortunately.
Does anybody have any other suggestions a) for getting the smell out and b) making this transition smoother so that we can help to stop them from continuing this behavior?
Thanks!
DH decided to be silly and let the cats meet one another. Big mistake, and one I can't go back and correct. Whisper and Reagan had a huge fight last night (Reagan won, but she's pretty well scratched up -- and Whisper lost his collar -- Thank God it was a breakaway!). I believe that everybody is simply readjusting and trying to figure out where they fit in the "pack order." Reagan's still alpha, Molly isn't challenging it, but Whisper is feeling insecure(ish).
The biggest behavioral change that we're experiencing is the failure to use the litterbox. Molly had one accident, which is understandable. Whisper did too, but at the time he was behind a closed door in a room with no litterbox -- again, understandable. But when we woke up this morning, the entire house smells of cat accidents. We haven't found any fecal material (which is what I'm smelling), and urine is almost impossible to find without a black light, which is an expense that we don't want to pay out right now.
I'm going to use vinegar on all the carpets tonight and tomorrow to clear out the urine smell, and use my nose (pregnant nose at that!) to determine if there is an marking on the walls that needs to be treated, too.
Enzyme cleaners have never worked for us in the past, unfortunately.
Does anybody have any other suggestions a) for getting the smell out and b) making this transition smoother so that we can help to stop them from continuing this behavior?
Thanks!