Schroeder was euthanised.......

[changeling]

Last Saturday. The mobile vet was wonderful. Now? A HUGE hole in my husbands heart. He is home all day working on the computer and misses the furball on his lap. He went to the local animal shelter today and bonded immediately with a 1yo dsh calico girl, as soon as she is spayed  'Ella Fitz' will be joining us. PROBLEM. The one cat left always had out-of the-box peeing problems ( even called in a behavior therapist) They were resolving but just in the last 5 days, since Schroeder left he has reverted to peeing by the basement door. He and Schroeder were NEVER close, just kind of tolerated each other. Perhaps he sensed the illness in the house before we noticed it?. I feel he is experiencing our loss as well as his. NOW there will be a new cat...has ANYONE used antidepressents with any success for urination problem??

The boxes (3) are clean and in a well lit utility room. I spray enzyme cleaners, put down prickly mats and use feliway to no avail.

Needless to say Ella will be in a quarantine room (husbands office/guest bedroom) until she and Django become acquaineted.

I couldn't deny my husband this cat but now I'm back to square one with Django.

If antidepressants work for anyof you let me know and Django will be at the vet Monday AM for an Rx.

Thanks for any suggestions/help

 

[gooned]

Did the cat ever use the litter box? 

I'm sure you ruled out a medical problem such as urinary. I would be hesitant to put him on antidepressants. Some things to consider....

- Are the boxes clean. Don't use ammonia.

- Is litter clean

- Try a different litter. Clumping rather than non-clumping or vice versa. Pine and paper are other options.

- Unscented litter. Some cats don't like scented

- Cat can easily climb in box i.e. sides not too high

- Move box to a more private area. Is another cat or dog ambushing him

 

[orientalslave]

Another thing you could try if it's available where you live is Zylkene.  I'm using it with my cat that hates my kittens with some success, and my vets use it with cats that have stress-related UTIs.  Here in the UK it's available on-line without a prescription.

It takes up to 2 weeks to make a difference, and I don't think it always helps.  Suspect that sometimes the changes can be very subtle, but I feel it's worth a try if you can get it.

 

[changeling]

boxes clean, scoop 2xday NEVER use ammonia. same litter type he has been using for 7 years and boxes are in the same place THOUGH I moved one toward the 'pee' door and gradually moved it back as per instructions of behavior therapist.Unscented litter, same size/height pan that he has been using for 7 yrs. I am in the medical field so I have collected and dipped his urine, no sign of any infection. No straining ( I've had other cats with urinary blockage..one who required surgery) so I know the symptoms.NO dogs in the house and now he is the only cat and even when schroeder was alive Django was ALPHA ( he peed on my bed..where the previous old alpha cat was euthanised...after that there was no fight for dominance in the remaining cats) so no litter box ambushes. Django is shy and skittish...he disappears when ANYONE comes into the house and has a VERY low startle point even with me. NOW? 3AM and he is crouched behind a door. This cat is, I believe, depressed. Zylkene? Will try and find it in the US. Don't WANT to use antidepressents but may have to...will make a vet appt for Monday. The new kitty comes in Tuesday but will be in STRICT one room quarantine. Thanks for your help. Anything I might have missed? Oh, I tried the Elsey litter attractant, affects him about as much as catnip....ZERO. again thanks

 

[changeling]

Yes, I just ordered what is formulated the same as Zylkene and expect it to be here shortly

 

[gooned]

Wow, he is a tough cookie. I have no other suggestions but want to share a similar story.

My 7 lb alpha female was peeing frequently around the house. She would not squat but pee like a male. I tried almost everything with no luck. When we moved to a new house, the peeing stopped. It turned out there was a neighbor above us that had a cat. The peeing started when he got the cat and stopped when we moved. My only guess is that she could smell him and was marking her territory. It has been 6 years since then with no accidents. 

Hopefully, [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]the new female will be what [/font][color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]Django needs to change his behavior.[/color]

[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]Good luck and keep us posted[/color]

 

[changeling]

So many changes around the house even -I'm- feeling a bit off. Django goes to the vet tomorrow for his Rabies and a consult. The new cat arrives Tuesday and I have two very big cat trees coming Wednesday. Luckily husband works at home and I'm off next week.

I've started leaving the light on on the lower level where the boxes are. Maybe that will help. More pee by the door this AM. Luckily I had pulled up the carpet tiles and the sub floor is concrete. If I can get him to stop the behavior lady recommended painting the floor with KILLZ. Has anyone ever used it?

 

[p3 and the king]

This is just my opinion, but the anti anxiety meds may not do a whole lot and it will not be an "immediate fix" even if it does help some.  It takes time to build up in his system so you're talking a month to 6 weeks before you start to notice any change, if there is change at all.  People look at meds like this for animals for a "magic cure all" and then are discouraged when it doesn't work the way they had hoped.  My opinion is, because it is a long standing problem, he may always have issues and there will not be a quick fix for him.  Cats are creatures of habit and once a behavior has become ingrained in them, it is hard to break.  It can be done but it is very difficult, especially the longer it continues. 

 

[tjcarst]

Can you leave the litter box in the location where he is currently peeing by the door and enter your home by means of another door?

 

[changeling]

actually he is now peeing ONLY at the door on the lower level, not the one we routinely use. Peeing there, and at the deck door were stopped with the prickly mat. Yuop, the behvior specialist had me put the box by the lower door and gradually (over 4+ months) move it back to where it was. It got halfway to the litter box room before he started walking -around- it to get to the door. Just had him to the vet for his rabies etc and she said we can start him on Prozac. Worth a try.

 

[changeling]

UPDATE:

"Stella" ( formerly Ella Fitz ) Has been here for three weeks. The -hissy fits- continue however all the doors are now OPEN and they can posture to their hearts delite. No blood. Needless to say Django's litter box problem is not foremost now....the box is in the middle of the lower level room and Stella has one in husbands office bath.Call me a masochist but when this settles down I will probably adopt a rescue kitten/cat. I used to have 5 cats and it was never more of a problem than opening the door for another and everybody settled in to the pecking order quite quickly.

I will be surrounded by a mound of purring fur as I approach the rainbow bridge.