Posted on 04/30/2007 12:26:03 PM PDT by Nachum
What part of Ca. do you live in?
Could be, and if so, the move to a new home is likely to make him nervous too. But he could also just be like that all the time — there was no particular stress in my pee-monster’s life, he’d lived in the same home since he was about 6 months old and always spent lots of time outdoors. He just seemed to find life a bit stressful and anxiety-producing (at least the indoor part of his life) and dealt with it by peeing on stuff. And we’re not talking little marking sprays here, we’re talking full-blown relieving himself — he did it so often, that I swear he must have made a habit of holding it until an opportunity to get maximum outrage from a human arose.
Los Angeles.
You have children and your wife thinks the cat smells bad?
My nieces, at five and three some of the most darling girls in the universe, have always been capable of producing odors that my eyes are watering just thinking about.
Seriously, tell your wife that’s fine, as long as she consents to getting rid of whichever child starts to misbehave.
Pet adoption is a commitment for life, and I wouldn’t want my spouse teaching our children that you can renege on commitments to living beings just because you don’t like a behavior.
Yep. That's sounds familiar. My wife wanted me to take him somewhere and let him go (she was only half serious), but was completely serious about taking him back to the shelter. I have kept mum on that. I think it would be cruel and he would only be put down. I don't like the surgery idea at all, but- I think that is possible that if he is an outdoor cat and doesn't spend too much time inside, that may work. I let him out today to wander. Now to see if he comes back.
Usually the other way around. Unaltered males are the usual culprits, although some altered ones will do it also. Haven't known a female doing it, but guess that could happen also,
Damn, you aren’t moving to the Sacramento area are you? I don’t know any local rescue orgs in LA and I don’t think Fed Ex will let you send a cat to my area to get him to PAL if you absolutely have to get rid of him.
Check out what PAL says about spraying:
Myth: A pet’s behavior changes dramatically after surgery:
§ Fact: The only changes in behavior you’ll see are positive ones! Here are the facts:
* Male cats tend to reduce their territorial spraying depending upon the age at which they are neutered. If neutered young enough, before they develop the habit of spraying, they may never develop the behavior.
* Neutered male cats and dogs fight less resulting in fewer battle scars, contagious diseases, and abscesses. They also wander less since they aren’t interested in pursuing the female in heat. Therefore, their chances of being hit by a car or getting lost are greatly reduced.
* In fact, spayed and neutered animals live longer, happier, healthier lives.
I would agree. Besides, it would break my kids' hearts. No, I am trying new things. At worst, he will be an "outdoor cat".
We loved the little guy anyway. His fundamentally troubled psyche was sort of cute (especially after we got peeing stuff under control). He spent most of his time outdoors, especially in his later years, and had friends all over. My house is next to a small town’s commercial strip, and the hair salon, liquor store, and bookstore all let him in their back doors regularly. He was also welcome at an apartment over the liquor store, which he accessed by the roof, and where the chief appeal was a pet cockatiel. And I heard reports from two residents of a nearby house that was divided into apartments, that for a couple of years someone who lived there had a large rambunctious dog that spent its days outdoors in decent weather, tethered to a stake in the center of the backyard, and my cat would bask in the sun for hours, just inches out of the dog’s reach, with the dog going nuts the whole time — clearly enjoying tormenting the dog. He died about 6 years ago, but people all over the neighborhood still remember him and talk about his antics.
I would definitely go to your regular good cat vet and get your boy fixed. Everyone will be a lot happier with his behavior, and he won't become frustrated or mark like this. As a previous person mentioned, you can also have their scent glands removed as well if that is part of the problem. Just make sure that you give him a few weeks after surgery - it will take some time for his body to get down to its new lower hormone level, so his behavior will not change immediately, but start getting better over the next month as his hormone levels reach their new lower level.
No, but we do pass by that way on occasion. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be till the summer.
Check out what PAL says about spraying:
He was neutered at 4 months. He has begun this behavior recently. I think it is a stress related thing after considering. He really is a good fellow. All male though, doesn't need a lot of petting and is very independant. He is pretty much through with the teething business now. He is also a very handsome tabby. (his name is "Tabby")
He is just, ahem, a bit of a stinker. If you know what I mean.
Ok, now I'm a cat owner, 3 in fact, so this may be a very stupid question, but how can you tell the difference.....I mean isn't it the same "action" coming from the same hole?
WELL now, how would you like it if your significant other felt that way about you?
“How big is the cat?”
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Great pic...LOL
He wasn’t big, just mean and aggessive when he got angry. I was bitten several times by him. He was the best of friends...worst of enemies type.
Yeah, but I am useful. Cats are just parasites.
If you have to get rid of him and still have him in the summer, I’ll take him if for no other reason to get him to PAL.
He should stop spraying. Spraying is nasty but hopefully it will go away.
Thanks for the pointer about the water.
That is kind of you. I might take you up on that if things haven't worked out by this summer. So far, he loves it outside today. He has stayed near the house and has come over to me for a neck scratch. He was probably an outdoor cat all along. Anyway, the next few days should tell.
He should stop spraying. Spraying is nasty but hopefully it will go away.
I think that he is peeing too, as he is already neutered. This is a new thing for him and he is now almost nine months old and has been neutered for longer than 4 months now.
I’ve got a cat now who pees on the counter for some reason. Then one day he hit my coffee cup. He’s lucky to be alive now. We’re still trying to get him to stop. I need to get that spray that supposedly deters them from peeing where you spray it.
An unclean litter box will also make them use other places and what’s bad, once they like a place, you really need to keep the litter box clean or they just go back to the old place.
We finally went the clumping litter way. It’s a real pain having to clean the litter box clumps every morning but it stops the nasty cat pee and ammonia smell so the cats use it.
I clean his litter box everyday and he still went and peed/sprayed. I guess he will be officially an outdoor cat. :)
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