Vanity: Cat behavior problems

Huntress | 8/10/08 | Huntress

[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

[JJR RNCH]

This is the only cat in the house. We do have an outside cat. She has been to the vet for urine problems but this is not the case. She just likes to poop on the floor.

[Vicki]

We moved in to our current home almost 3 years ago. After 25 years at our prevous home, it was a big change for our 3 cats. One cat lived in our closet for 3 months, one lived behind the dryer for 2 weeks and the other cat didn't seem to be too bothered by the move.

I would guess your cats are upset by this move. Probably at the other house they had established a sense of order and boundaries. I think that when they are afraid they compensate by becoming aggressive.

There are sprays that you can buy that will discourage a cat from urinating in an area. I know PetSmart carries such items. I think the idea of separate cat boxes sounded like a good try. I would say they need time and reassurance.

[brytlea]

I never understand why anyone would think that pushing an animals nose into feces would suddenly make a little light come on in their head that says, “Oh, wait, I am supposed to poop (in the box or outside, or whatever).” Do people imagine that animals actually understand the words they are saying? I expect they just think you have gone totally crazy and are someone to be highly suspicious of!

susie

[Slings and Arrows]

P.S. Cats want privacy when they poop. If the litterbox is exposed, try putting it behind a screen, putting it in a concealed area, and/or switching to an enclosed litterbox.

[JJR RNCH]

At this point I don’t care!!!!! Love cats but this is just getting tooooooo much to deal with.

[brytlea]

LOL best answer! I really suspect they cath cats to get a sample, but I honestly don’t remember.

susie

[Slings and Arrows]

I don’t know how they do it, and I’m not sure I want to know. Getting a urine sample from a “puddin’” Jack Russell Terrier was enough of an adventure for me.

[1rudeboy]

Click here. I'd post the cartoon, but I think I remember (I'm tired and ready for bed--cut me some slack) that there was a copyright complaint.

[Grammy]

We have a cat who started yowling very loud, and totally rejected a new cat. She also was peeing all over the place. We finally figured out several things.
1) She is yowling because she has lost her hearing. She is stone deaf now, and seemed to be yowling to see if she could hear herself.
2) She hates the new cat because she gets surprised by her.
3) New cat smells in the litterbox made her go elsewhere.
4) She is now senile, at about age 20. She used to be a mean outdoor cat, but she has discovered the ease of living indoors. Since she moved in she has become a nice cat.... kind of like “old people trying to get into heaven”.

So, we finally allowed her to confine herself to the loft. We have a litter box for her, food and water, and it is basically her assisted living space. She gets companionship from us when we come up, or when she occasionally ventures down into new cat territory. New cat gets thumped if she comes up (not by us, but by the cranky old girl)

New cat has no problem with the old girl. She lets her come down and just watches her. She can eat from the new girl’s bowl, or drink, but the old girl is very edgy (because she smells the new girl, but can’t hear her, or probably see her very well) so the old girl sprints back upstairs.

So, check to see if any of those sorts of old age problems are cropping up, and also do check for a bladder infection.

[Slings and Arrows]

Two more thoughts:

1: Animals instictively avoid pooping where they eat. If the cat’s dishes are close to the litterbox try moving them well away.

2: If the cat likes pooping behind the plants so much, move the litterbox behind the plants.

[CitizenM]

There must be some sort of weird cat spell in the atmosphere. My cat has behaving funny too. He has been pooping on the floor (never before), sleeping in the bathroom sink and other wierd places he never slept in before (he is six), rushing to get out and staying out 2 days at a time, racing wildly around the house, etc. Strangest behavior. Maybe cats know something we don’t?

[brytlea]

Male dogs are easy. Females a little trickier, but still all in all, MUCH easier than a cat (at least a cat who is awake and has an opinion!)
susie

[eastforker]

There is an alternative you might try if you have 2 bathrooms. Lock the cat in the bathroom with the litter box with food and water for a few days but make sure you clean the box. I know it sounds cruel but it does work. let the cat out of the bathroom but keep an eye on her, if she starts to go back to the plants, back to the bathroom she goes, she will get the hint.

[brytlea]

Funny you should post that, I was thinking about that EXACT cartoon while I was posting. Best thing I’ve ever seen on the subject. Back when I trained other people’s dogs, they would tell me how they knew their dog knew that something was wrong, and they would come home and beat the dog for doing whatever it was while they were gone, and the dog looked guilty so they knew the dog knew. And so I thought—then your dog is too stupid to train, because he intentionally does something just so you’ll beat him?
susie

[brytlea]

It sounds to me like your cat has been going out to all night cat parties and coming home drunk!
susie

[JJR RNCH]

I am sorry but I was told this was the way to train a cat. I really did not want to offend anyone. I rely on what people here give advise. Sorry. No I am not crazy and I do understand that our animals do not hear or comprehend every word we say.

[JJR RNCH]

My hubby has insisted that we keep food in the bathroom where her box is so she doesn’t have to go downstairs to eat. I think this may solve the problem. Thank you.

[Slings and Arrows]

My pleasure.

[Mark]

I like advice columns, but am of the male species.

Why Men Don’t Write Advice Columns

Dear Walter: I hope you can help me here. The other day, I set off for
work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn’t
gone more than a mile down the road when my engine conked out and the
car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband’s help.
When I got home I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was in our bedroom with
the neighbor lady. I am 32, my husband is 34, and we have been married
for twelve years.

When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted that they had been
having an affair for the past six months. I told him to stop or I would
leave him. He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has
been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much,
but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly
distant. He won’t go to counseling and I’m afraid I can’t get through to
him anymore.

Can you please help?

Sincerely, Sheila

---

Dear Sheila: A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be
caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that
there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the vacuum
pipes and hoses on the intake manifold and also check all grounding
wires. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that
the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the
carburetor float chamber.

I hope this helps.
-Walter

[brytlea]

I was probably a bit harsh, and I’m sorry, and I know you were certainly told that. I don’t get where any of that stuff started. I shouldn’t post when I’m tired. Sorry about that. (But you probably would not believe how many people will argue with you about how that works, and their pet knows exactly what it did wrong but it keeps doing it, blah blah blah—animals were easy to train, people were hard!)

Good luck with your kitty. Housebreaking issues are the number one reason animals end up in shelters and euthanized. You should talk to a pro (I’m just not a cat behaviorist so I really don’t know why they do the weird things they do!)

:)

susie