Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Welcome to kingsnake.com's message board system. Here you may share and discuss information with others about your favorite reptile and amphibian related topics such as care and feeding, caging requirements, permits and licenses, and more. Launched in 1997, the kingsnake.com message board system is one of the oldest and largest systems on the internet.

Click for ZooMed
Click here for Dragon Serpents

My biggest fear has happened....

breakfastatme Mar 15, 2005 06:02 PM

I am 33 and just adopted 2 VERY loving sweet cats. I scoop the litterbox everyday and I change the litter 1x a week. I do not want kitty (pee) smell in my home. One of my cats poyyied in my tennis shoe.... Ahhhhh. Why would they do this horrible thing to me and my shoe???? My first reaction is "everybody out!"" But These are sweet cats, both just at the vet, fit in very well to our home and tehy seem to really enjoy being around us. My shoe smells and my sock smells and my foot smells too..... I am going to take a hot shower with my shoe and my sock while I wait for an answer.....

Seriously, I have had these 2 for only 2 weeks. They are such affectionate cats. A boy 7 years (deaf)and a girl 5 and is currently on the Jenny Craig kitty diet. Why my shoe? When I was a little girl, the cat I had peed in my Suede boot. My feet really are not that stinky, (i don't think, hang on sniff... sniff.. not to bad, but my right one smells like kitty potty) I am going to wash my feet.
Thanks in advance!!
Breakfast

Replies (6)

JaimeMarie Mar 15, 2005 07:10 PM

The first thing to do is figure out which of the two did it. Also, you may want to sniff around and make sure the kitty hasn't gone any place else.
The second thing is a trip to the vet with the kitty that peed. Have the cat checked for a urinary tract infection. If that is not it. You will have to retrain the cat to the litter box. Probably need to keep the cat in one room with food, litter box, and water. There also it a litter out there called cat attract. I have never used this so not sure how it works.
I am sure others will have more advice. Don't give up on the cats yet!
-----
Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

JaimeMarie Mar 15, 2005 07:10 PM

It's better on your shoe, then on your pillow (that has your head on it)!
-----
Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

breakfastatme Mar 15, 2005 07:35 PM

Thanks so much.

I think I found what happened. About 5 days ago my big girl was using the litter box and was in a funky position and some pee was on the side and edge of the box and some went on the floor. I changed the litter and wiped up the floor with water and then with bleach. I was cleaning the box a few days later and i steped in something tacky (right where the pee was) I figured that the bleach must have done some thing to the finish of the wood floor to make it sticky. Well I just checked the box a min a go and found a puddle of pee (right where she had an accident) So, I figur that the first time was an accident and now one of them is peeing right on the floor. not more than 1/2 inch from the edge of their box.
I must have steped in it this morning (while it was almost dry)and then put my shoes on!! It was me I put kitty pee in my own shoe!!! Damn me and my feet!!!!. Do you think if I pull the cat box over the peed on area that may eliminate the problem?
Thank you for your advice!! BTW I am getting them both to the vet this week yet as Xander is sneezing (he has snezzing fits and sneezes about 14 times in a row really fast) and Muffin's meow is really gravely sounding.
Thanks again
Breakfast

PHMadameAlto Mar 15, 2005 07:52 PM

You may have found the problem - inadvertenly getting the pee smell on your shoe. However, here is my pat answer regarding litterbox problems....

The cats need to go to the vet for a check up ASAP. Urinating on out of the box often means there is a urinary infection present.

If all is clear on the health front, then the problem is behavioral. You will need to take steps to retrain the cat to the box. Basically you need to confine the cat to a room like a bathroom, or a large cage with only food, water, bedding and the litterbox. As he begins to use the litterbox consistantly you can expand his space. There is more information at this link:
Litterbox Problems

Cats need easy access to boxes and you may need to put several boxes around the house. Be sure to keep all boxes very, very clean. Scoop at least once a day! Also try to find the Cat Attract litter and use it.

You need to thoroughly deodorize wherever the cat has been peeing. Petastic is highly recommended as is Heaven's Own. It is the smell of the "accidents" that causes a cat to reuse the place.

Check into using Feliway, a spray that mimics the happy scent cats leave when they rub their check against something. You can get it from your vet or from Cat Faeries at http://www.catfaeries.com
If you visit the website, you will see a phone number that you can call and for a fee discuss your cat's problems with someone. The person who does this is very knowlegeable and it may be worth the $$ for you. Feliway is also available in most large pet supply stores. There is also a plug-in with Feliway that can help.

Finally, if all else fails, ask you vet about using an antianxiety medication such as Buspar or Prozac. These very often work, however the decision to prescribe them will rest solely with your veterinarian who will be able to monitor the dosage and side effects.

In the case of your cats - your female may need a larger box since she is missing the mark so to speak. Or she may need a "little girls' box" all her own. Also get both cats to the vets - they sound like they have some sort of upper respiratory problems brewing.

>>Thanks so much.
>>
>>I think I found what happened. About 5 days ago my big girl was using the litter box and was in a funky position and some pee was on the side and edge of the box and some went on the floor. I changed the litter and wiped up the floor with water and then with bleach. I was cleaning the box a few days later and i steped in something tacky (right where the pee was) I figured that the bleach must have done some thing to the finish of the wood floor to make it sticky. Well I just checked the box a min a go and found a puddle of pee (right where she had an accident) So, I figur that the first time was an accident and now one of them is peeing right on the floor. not more than 1/2 inch from the edge of their box.
>>I must have steped in it this morning (while it was almost dry)and then put my shoes on!! It was me I put kitty pee in my own shoe!!! Damn me and my feet!!!!. Do you think if I pull the cat box over the peed on area that may eliminate the problem?
>>Thank you for your advice!! BTW I am getting them both to the vet this week yet as Xander is sneezing (he has snezzing fits and sneezes about 14 times in a row really fast) and Muffin's meow is really gravely sounding.
>>Thanks again
>>Breakfast
-----
Smile, it will make them wonder what you are up to!

breakfastatme Mar 15, 2005 08:05 PM

You guys are so great, I REALLY appreciate all of the helpful advice. I haven't had a cat since I was a little girl and there is so much to learn so thank you for helping out

JaimeMarie Mar 16, 2005 06:16 AM

Yes you should clean the area with one of the two products MA recommends Petastic or Heaven's Own. This will get the smell out of your floor. But I did want to say neither cat may be actually going outside the box. One might just have bad aim. We have this problem here. So we go to the dollar store and buy those table cloths with the plastic on one side. These go under the litter boxes. This way it catches the accidents. Then we throw it out once a week or so.
Also a covered box might be a good idea. They have some really big ones, or even a box with extra high sides.
Good luck and keep us posted.
-----
Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker

Site Tools