I've had Spaaz since he was about 8 weeks old. He's now 8 years old. As for breed, he's just a run-of-the-mill big gray tabby. He was neutered at 12 weeks.
Ever since he hit "puberty", he's been a bit of a problem cat. He began spraying to such a degree that he no longer peed in the litter box at all, and relieved all his urine on my walls and carpet. I tried all the usual diciplinary actions, including the firm "NO", the spray bottle, the whole nine yards. He also spent a year going to and from the vet office, trying every medication on the market to try and help this behavior, from hormones, anti-anxiety drugs, you name it. Finally, the vet explained to me that a small percentage of cats simply cannot be indoor cats.
So, this summer, I slowly weaned him to the outside. For chilly nights, I set him up a heated cat house out on the back porch. At first, he would yowl and yowl at our window all night long, but slowly, he got used to it. The whole process of weaning took about two months. I could deal with it, since I worked in the afternoons, and school wasn't in. I would feed him at night as he would go outside, to associate the outdoors with good emotions. There is little risk from cars, because our apartment complex is cut off from all major roads by a running creek. For the longest time, we've been keeping him in when we're home and awake, and he would ask to go out to use the bathroom.
A couple weeks ago, it got cold enough that I didn't trust my heated kitty house for outdoors, possible snow storm. So, we kept him in overnight. Ever since, he's back to his old habits of yowling outside our bedroom window in the middle of the night, all night long. Now, I work a professional job early in the morning. I'm a full-time student. I'm no longer in a position where I can work my sleep schedule around Spaaz's habits. My job and my classes are really starting to suffer. This whole situation is starting to put undue stress on my marriage, as well.
I think that part of the problem may be that I've become cat mom to the whole neighborhood. Word has gotten around that food magically appears on our porch, so I'm constantly trying to chase away four or five other cats from my porch with a spray bottle. One of them decided she liked Spaaz's cat house, and bullies him away from it. But, if I don't feed him as he goes outside, the yowling starts as soon as I crawl into bed, instead of at 3am.
Personality wise, Spaaz is a dear. His nickname is the "Gentle Giant", because I really don't think he's capable of ever making an aggressive move against anyone. He's affectionate, and his favorite place in the world is to be curled up in my lap at the computer or television. I love this cat. He's my fuzzy buddy. He also gets along really well with my other cat, Monkey, a brown tabby female (fixed). They often-times sleep in a "pile of kitties", play together, lick each other, and generally snuggle. He's also been there for me through the hardest parts of my life, and the idea of losing him breaks my heart. I also fear for the well-being of Monkey if I get rid of Spaaz. But, he's ruining my life.
Last time things were this bad with him, I looked for a new home for him. But, I had NO luck. No one wants a cat that won't use the litter box, and yowls all night long. As a last resort, I've been considering taking him to a local no-kill shelter, but I question the amount of affection he'll receive, and his quality of life. I simply do not know what else to do.
So, I'm coming here to see if any of you have any ideas/suggestions I might try as a last effort before I say goodbye to my beloved Spaaz. Please help if you're able.
Ever since he hit "puberty", he's been a bit of a problem cat. He began spraying to such a degree that he no longer peed in the litter box at all, and relieved all his urine on my walls and carpet. I tried all the usual diciplinary actions, including the firm "NO", the spray bottle, the whole nine yards. He also spent a year going to and from the vet office, trying every medication on the market to try and help this behavior, from hormones, anti-anxiety drugs, you name it. Finally, the vet explained to me that a small percentage of cats simply cannot be indoor cats.
So, this summer, I slowly weaned him to the outside. For chilly nights, I set him up a heated cat house out on the back porch. At first, he would yowl and yowl at our window all night long, but slowly, he got used to it. The whole process of weaning took about two months. I could deal with it, since I worked in the afternoons, and school wasn't in. I would feed him at night as he would go outside, to associate the outdoors with good emotions. There is little risk from cars, because our apartment complex is cut off from all major roads by a running creek. For the longest time, we've been keeping him in when we're home and awake, and he would ask to go out to use the bathroom.
A couple weeks ago, it got cold enough that I didn't trust my heated kitty house for outdoors, possible snow storm. So, we kept him in overnight. Ever since, he's back to his old habits of yowling outside our bedroom window in the middle of the night, all night long. Now, I work a professional job early in the morning. I'm a full-time student. I'm no longer in a position where I can work my sleep schedule around Spaaz's habits. My job and my classes are really starting to suffer. This whole situation is starting to put undue stress on my marriage, as well.
I think that part of the problem may be that I've become cat mom to the whole neighborhood. Word has gotten around that food magically appears on our porch, so I'm constantly trying to chase away four or five other cats from my porch with a spray bottle. One of them decided she liked Spaaz's cat house, and bullies him away from it. But, if I don't feed him as he goes outside, the yowling starts as soon as I crawl into bed, instead of at 3am.
Personality wise, Spaaz is a dear. His nickname is the "Gentle Giant", because I really don't think he's capable of ever making an aggressive move against anyone. He's affectionate, and his favorite place in the world is to be curled up in my lap at the computer or television. I love this cat. He's my fuzzy buddy. He also gets along really well with my other cat, Monkey, a brown tabby female (fixed). They often-times sleep in a "pile of kitties", play together, lick each other, and generally snuggle. He's also been there for me through the hardest parts of my life, and the idea of losing him breaks my heart. I also fear for the well-being of Monkey if I get rid of Spaaz. But, he's ruining my life.
Last time things were this bad with him, I looked for a new home for him. But, I had NO luck. No one wants a cat that won't use the litter box, and yowls all night long. As a last resort, I've been considering taking him to a local no-kill shelter, but I question the amount of affection he'll receive, and his quality of life. I simply do not know what else to do.
So, I'm coming here to see if any of you have any ideas/suggestions I might try as a last effort before I say goodbye to my beloved Spaaz. Please help if you're able.