Posted on 08/10/2008 9:17:48 PM PDT by Huntress
Dear FReeper Cat Fanciers:
I've had a one human, two cat household for the past six years. I moved into my current home about nine months ago. Since then, both cats, Norman and Betty (see my homepage for pics), have lived in relative harmony and shared one large litter box. Recently, however, I've started to hear yowling at night from the litterbox room, and one of the cats has taken to urinating on the carpet in the corner of the dining room. I've cleaned up numerous messes, and have been trying to figure out what the problem is.
My first theory was that one of them has a urinary tract infection, and is going outside the box because it associates the litterbox with pain. In order to figure out which cat has an aversion to the litterbox, I picked up each one and attempted to place it in the box. Betty resisted vigorously, and I was unable even to force her inside. Then I tried the same thing with Norman. He seemed displeased, but didn't resist too much. I got him halfway in, when Betty went absolutely berzerk and attacked him. I've never seen her behave this way, and she stayed mad for a long time, growling at me whenever I approached.
After this encounter, I came up with my second theory: they are having a litterbox territorial dispute. So I got a second litterbox. I wanted this one to be Norman's, so I picked him up and set him down inside it. He jumped out and ran off as Betty went berzerk again. Norman sought refuge in the garage, where he and Betty are in the midst of a standoff.
Betty is the dominant cat of the two, and she is definitely the agressor in this situation. I am now at a loss. I can't figure out why this problem is happening now, after six years, why Betty is behaving this way, and what to do about it.
Any ideas, theories, or possible solutions?
Thanks.
Huntress
Crazy cat ping!
We have four cats. All I can say to help is “pour yourself a good stiff drink”.
Call Warren Eckstein. He has a radio show solving pet problems on Saturdays, both local and national.
Got any suggestions as to what’s going on with these battling cats?
Solution: two litter boxes not in the same room..
There are two ways to resolve this problem.
One - Give them edged weapons and let them sort it out.
Two - Consult your vet to see if there is a physical problem. If there is no medical reason, your vet may be able to help you with kitty psychiatry.
Maybe Norman gave the wrong answer when Betty asked if her butt looked big.
IDK...are they both six years old? Fixed?
Swap them for dogs......
Have you used different Cat Liter lately? Maybe put the two liter boxes in different rooms..Are they both fixed?
If not maybe they are in heat, have you changed there food lately?..There are tranqulizers for Cats not sure if you need a prescription or not, but I have had friends who used a mild sedative on there cats for misbehavin behaviour and it helped...
Me Cat lover...
Dump the cats. Get a dog.
My guess is that is where the previous owners kept their litter box and the cat smells the urine.
They would have to be outdoor kitties for awhile is my answer.
Take the cat that fussed the most to the Vet. Could be a UTI or something else. Health problems make them pee where they are not supposed to, and often very ornery (and tender and sore when picked up).
Best of luck to you.
Get more than 2 litter boxes, and put them in different rooms/floors.
Take cats to vet to rule out physical problems.
Betty if fed up with Norman for leaving the seat up?
Norman is 8, Betty is 6. Both are fixed.
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