The story is as follows:
I wanted to adopt a nice, social cat to keep my others company... and then there was Calista. Calista is a 2yr old stray that I got from a local shelter. The shelter grossly misrepresented her and claimed she was social, liked other animals, and was an otherwise 'normal' cat. At the time I adopted her she was 10 months old, so fairly set in her ways already. After having her home I realized she was skitish, afraid of EVERYTHING, and really didn't appreciate having other cats around... she is down right mean. I called the shelter concerned about her behavior and it was only then that they told me she was an abuse rescue... which explains the skitish, and that she was then put on the street which explains the other cat on my turf mantality...
So now I have at 2 years old, a skitish, mean to my other cats, but otherwise a complete love... that pees on my bed! She pees on my bed if I am gone for more then a day. She pees on my bed if she feels like she isn't getting enough attention... she pees on my bed for whatever reason. I have gone through countless mattresses, sheets, and even pillows! I use Natures Miracle, and I scrub and air out my mattress... however this being the 3rd day in a row I am out of blankets, out of pillows and pretty peeved that I have to sleep on my couch all because she has choosen my bed as her pee spot.
She only urinates, never deficates on my bed it is driving me nuts. I really do not have the patience for this type of behavior. I have tried everything I know of, the vet even tried putting her on prozac -it didn't help. It is not a health issue, it's strictly behavior. I have recently strongly considered putting her up for adoption or taking her to a non-kill shelter. I do not have the money to continue buying new bedding... and now a new mattress because this one has been peed on so many times. I do not have the energy to continue sleeping on a love seat and trying to work full time... this is my last resort. I love my kitty, I HATE her behavior! I don't want to have to give her up, any suggestions? I'm at my wits end with Calista! P.S. her photo is enclosed (isn't she so cute!)
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I'm about to give up on her
Replies (9)
Have you brought your new cat to the vet. She could have an urinary tract infection. My cat peed on the carpet near our door in front of us to tell us she was sick. Maybe that is the problem with your cat. If you have brought her already and she doesn't have any medical problems, you will need to retrain her to the litter box. I would lock her in the bathroom while your not home. Also, you can try feliways comfortzone plug ins. I have heard mixed reviews about it. I have never tried it myself. It costs about 30 dollars. Also, Bach's rescue rememdy works if you put a few drops in their water bowl. If all else fails you can ask your vet to for a prescription to an anti-anxiety medication.
-----
Jaime owned by
Mya the dog
and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker
In addition, once you've established the root of the problem, be it medical or otherwise, consider buying the "Cat Attract" brand litter to help re-train her. I don't know what's in it, but my little girl is consistently using it, whereas before, she'd urinate outside the box at least once a week.
Feliway and Bach's are all good stuff. She may be better off being confined for a period of time, considering the abuse you relate. I never had any luck with Prozac or Buspar. If anything, the act of pilling was even more stress for the cat!
Good luck,
Nancy
>>Have you brought your new cat to the vet. She could have an urinary tract infection. My cat peed on the carpet near our door in front of us to tell us she was sick. Maybe that is the problem with your cat. If you have brought her already and she doesn't have any medical problems, you will need to retrain her to the litter box. I would lock her in the bathroom while your not home. Also, you can try feliways comfortzone plug ins. I have heard mixed reviews about it. I have never tried it myself. It costs about 30 dollars. Also, Bach's rescue rememdy works if you put a few drops in their water bowl. If all else fails you can ask your vet to for a prescription to an anti-anxiety medication.
>>-----
>>Jaime owned by
>>Mya the dog
>>and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker
-----
Nancy E. Wigal
Arlington, VA
As I stated in my original post, she has gone to the vet and there is no underlying medical issue... she has also been put on Prozac which did nothing but make her loopy... The vet insists that it is strictly a behavior issue. Usually a cat with a medical issue will urinate in multiple places, not the same place repeatedly...
I can try locking her in the bathroom, but being that I have 4 other cats I think this is kind of a cruel way of "teaching her" since I am most positive the other cats will sit outside the bathroom door and scratch and meow... I put magazines on my bed this morning before I left for work, no pee today... but who knows what tomorrow holds...
I sure wasn't expecting this when I adopted her a year and a halg ago... I just hope she gets over whatever little attitude problem she is having and stops marking my bed!!!
Posted by: newigal at Tue Nov 2 12:24:20 2004 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]
In addition, once you've established the root of the problem, be it medical or otherwise, consider buying the "Cat Attract" brand litter to help re-train her. I don't know what's in it, but my little girl is consistently using it, whereas before, she'd urinate outside the box at least once a week.
Feliway and Bach's are all good stuff. She may be better off being confined for a period of time, considering the abuse you relate. I never had any luck with Prozac or Buspar. If anything, the act of pilling was even more stress for the cat!
Good luck,
Nancy
>>Have you brought your new cat to the vet. She could have an urinary tract infection. My cat peed on the carpet near our door in front of us to tell us she was sick. Maybe that is the problem with your cat. If you have brought her already and she doesn't have any medical problems, you will need to retrain her to the litter box. I would lock her in the bathroom while your not home. Also, you can try feliways comfortzone plug ins. I have heard mixed reviews about it. I have never tried it myself. It costs about 30 dollars. Also, Bach's rescue rememdy works if you put a few drops in their water bowl. If all else fails you can ask your vet to for a prescription to an anti-anxiety medication.
>>-----
>>Jaime owned by
>>Mya the dog
>>and the cats:Crash, Moxie, Gabby and sometimes Tucker
It sounds like Calistra does have a behavioral problem.
Have you talked to the vet about using Buspar? This often works better than Prozac for marking behaviors. Calistra is probably marking your bedding to show the other cats that you are HERS!
Give the Rescue Remedy and the Comfort Zone plug-in a try and see if things improve. If you are serious about keeping her, an animal behaviorist might be able to help you. Talk to your vet about a recommendation.
It just might be that Calista needs to have a home where she is the only cat. This happens. If so, giving her up to a no-kill shelter or to another adoptive family might be the kindest thing you could do for her.
>>The story is as follows:
>> I wanted to adopt a nice, social cat to keep my others company... and then there was Calista. Calista is a 2yr old stray that I got from a local shelter. The shelter grossly misrepresented her and claimed she was social, liked other animals, and was an otherwise 'normal' cat. At the time I adopted her she was 10 months old, so fairly set in her ways already. After having her home I realized she was skitish, afraid of EVERYTHING, and really didn't appreciate having other cats around... she is down right mean. I called the shelter concerned about her behavior and it was only then that they told me she was an abuse rescue... which explains the skitish, and that she was then put on the street which explains the other cat on my turf mantality...
>> So now I have at 2 years old, a skitish, mean to my other cats, but otherwise a complete love... that pees on my bed! She pees on my bed if I am gone for more then a day. She pees on my bed if she feels like she isn't getting enough attention... she pees on my bed for whatever reason. I have gone through countless mattresses, sheets, and even pillows! I use Natures Miracle, and I scrub and air out my mattress... however this being the 3rd day in a row I am out of blankets, out of pillows and pretty peeved that I have to sleep on my couch all because she has choosen my bed as her pee spot.
>> She only urinates, never deficates on my bed it is driving me nuts. I really do not have the patience for this type of behavior. I have tried everything I know of, the vet even tried putting her on prozac -it didn't help. It is not a health issue, it's strictly behavior. I have recently strongly considered putting her up for adoption or taking her to a non-kill shelter. I do not have the money to continue buying new bedding... and now a new mattress because this one has been peed on so many times. I do not have the energy to continue sleeping on a love seat and trying to work full time... this is my last resort. I love my kitty, I HATE her behavior! I don't want to have to give her up, any suggestions? I'm at my wits end with Calista! P.S. her photo is enclosed (isn't she so cute!)
>>
-----
I have never heard of Buspar... I will ask my vet. I am serious about keeping her as I made that commitment to her when I adopted her. I am concerned that if I give her up for adoption another family may have the same problems that I am having, but not be as patient or as understanding as I have been... It's actually more stressful of a situation then it seems...
I'm not too convinced the Feliaway will work since it's supposed to mimic "happy scents" Calista sleeps on my bed, she cuddles on my bed... she will even sleep where she peed the previous night (after being cleaned) so I don't think she gives a hoot about "happy smells" This lil kitty is givin me a run for my money!
Posted by: PHMadameAlto at Tue Nov 2 20:53:59 2004 [ Report Abuse ] [ Email Message ]
It sounds like Calistra does have a behavioral problem.
Have you talked to the vet about using Buspar? This often works better than Prozac for marking behaviors. Calistra is probably marking your bedding to show the other cats that you are HERS!
Give the Rescue Remedy and the Comfort Zone plug-in a try and see if things improve. If you are serious about keeping her, an animal behaviorist might be able to help you. Talk to your vet about a recommendation.
It just might be that Calista needs to have a home where she is the only cat. This happens. If so, giving her up to a no-kill shelter or to another adoptive family might be the kindest thing you could do for her.
>>The story is as follows:
>> I wanted to adopt a nice, social cat to keep my others company... and then there was Calista. Calista is a 2yr old stray that I got from a local shelter. The shelter grossly misrepresented her and claimed she was social, liked other animals, and was an otherwise 'normal' cat. At the time I adopted her she was 10 months old, so fairly set in her ways already. After having her home I realized she was skitish, afraid of EVERYTHING, and really didn't appreciate having other cats around... she is down right mean. I called the shelter concerned about her behavior and it was only then that they told me she was an abuse rescue... which explains the skitish, and that she was then put on the street which explains the other cat on my turf mantality...
>> So now I have at 2 years old, a skitish, mean to my other cats, but otherwise a complete love... that pees on my bed! She pees on my bed if I am gone for more then a day. She pees on my bed if she feels like she isn't getting enough attention... she pees on my bed for whatever reason. I have gone through countless mattresses, sheets, and even pillows! I use Natures Miracle, and I scrub and air out my mattress... however this being the 3rd day in a row I am out of blankets, out of pillows and pretty peeved that I have to sleep on my couch all because she has choosen my bed as her pee spot.
>> She only urinates, never deficates on my bed it is driving me nuts. I really do not have the patience for this type of behavior. I have tried everything I know of, the vet even tried putting her on prozac -it didn't help. It is not a health issue, it's strictly behavior. I have recently strongly considered putting her up for adoption or taking her to a non-kill shelter. I do not have the money to continue buying new bedding... and now a new mattress because this one has been peed on so many times. I do not have the energy to continue sleeping on a love seat and trying to work full time... this is my last resort. I love my kitty, I HATE her behavior! I don't want to have to give her up, any suggestions? I'm at my wits end with Calista! P.S. her photo is enclosed (isn't she so cute!)
I'm at my wits end with Calista! P.S. her photo is enclosed (isn't she so cute!)
>>
Calista is beautiful! It's so difficult to give them up even when you're having so many problems with them. She is definitely spraying to show the other cats that you belong to her. It sounds like you've done everything right as far as working with your vet to correct this problem.
I do have a couple of suggestions for you. Not so much correcting her problem but rather protecting your property.
#1......put a plastic liner on your mattress so she doesn't ruin that. And then keep your entire bed covered with plastic (even a cheap plastic tablecloth would work) when you are not home to watch her.
#2......I've heard of a cat litter, called Cat Attract, which is supposed to make them want to pee in the litter box instead of the house. I've never tried it but that might be something that you could try.
#3.......Do like I did with my two cats who have always had a 'top cat position' issue and then started a 'spraying war' in my new house. It cost me almost $300 to have the carpets in my entire house cleaned and I had had enough of their spraying nonsense. I ordered two pairs of Piddle Pants for both cats, 2 for Samantha and two for Simba. At first they objected to me putting them on them and acted like they couldn't walk. Simba took it a lot better than Samantha and he was walking around in them in less than an hour. Samantha pouted and acted like I was commiting a crime for 3 or 4 hours, then finally figured out that she could walk in them after all.
Piddle Pants are a cute little outfit with a diaper in them. The diaper is almost like a sanitary napkin, I would say a panty liner size but much shorter.
When I went to work in the morning, two cats wore Piddle Pants. When I got home and could watch them, I'd take the pants off. It worked out fine and my carpets stayed clean and fresh. It was that way for a few days. Then one weekend when I was home and they didn't wear the pants, I decided to try them without the pants the following Monday. When I got home from work, still no peeing on the floor by either cat. It's been about a month now that they haven't worn the Piddle Pants and my house is still clean and fresh with no spraying anywhere.
I'm not sure what happened...did they figure out that they were wearing them because they were bad kitty cats or what? Whatever. I'm happy with the outcome.
I do know that if either one of them starts the spraying again, into the Piddle Pants they go. If they don't like it, that's just too bad. They'll get used to it again and in the meantime my house will stay free of cat urine. This is the way that I can have my cats and enjoy my house too.
I highly recommend this to you. Here's the link to the Piddle Pants website. The pants costs about $25 and the 'diapers' are about $8.
Click Here: Joybies Piddle Pants
-----
Ruby and the Kitties
Simba, Samantha, Katrina & KatyKatt
Meow!! Meow!! Meow!! Meow!!
I use Cat Attract litter, and I can tell you, it really works! My little girl now uses the box about 99% of the time.
The kitty diapers...I'm intrigued by those. I might have to check them out, particularly if they can correct a behavior problem associated with inappropriate elimination.
Nancy
>>I'm at my wits end with Calista! P.S. her photo is enclosed (isn't she so cute!)
>>>>
>>Calista is beautiful! It's so difficult to give them up even when you're having so many problems with them. She is definitely spraying to show the other cats that you belong to her. It sounds like you've done everything right as far as working with your vet to correct this problem.
>>
>>I do have a couple of suggestions for you. Not so much correcting her problem but rather protecting your property.
>>
>>#1......put a plastic liner on your mattress so she doesn't ruin that. And then keep your entire bed covered with plastic (even a cheap plastic tablecloth would work) when you are not home to watch her.
>>
>>#2......I've heard of a cat litter, called Cat Attract, which is supposed to make them want to pee in the litter box instead of the house. I've never tried it but that might be something that you could try.
>>
>>#3.......Do like I did with my two cats who have always had a 'top cat position' issue and then started a 'spraying war' in my new house. It cost me almost $300 to have the carpets in my entire house cleaned and I had had enough of their spraying nonsense. I ordered two pairs of Piddle Pants for both cats, 2 for Samantha and two for Simba. At first they objected to me putting them on them and acted like they couldn't walk. Simba took it a lot better than Samantha and he was walking around in them in less than an hour. Samantha pouted and acted like I was commiting a crime for 3 or 4 hours, then finally figured out that she could walk in them after all.
>>
>>Piddle Pants are a cute little outfit with a diaper in them. The diaper is almost like a sanitary napkin, I would say a panty liner size but much shorter.
>>
>>When I went to work in the morning, two cats wore Piddle Pants. When I got home and could watch them, I'd take the pants off. It worked out fine and my carpets stayed clean and fresh. It was that way for a few days. Then one weekend when I was home and they didn't wear the pants, I decided to try them without the pants the following Monday. When I got home from work, still no peeing on the floor by either cat. It's been about a month now that they haven't worn the Piddle Pants and my house is still clean and fresh with no spraying anywhere.
>>
>>I'm not sure what happened...did they figure out that they were wearing them because they were bad kitty cats or what? Whatever. I'm happy with the outcome.
>>
>>I do know that if either one of them starts the spraying again, into the Piddle Pants they go. If they don't like it, that's just too bad. They'll get used to it again and in the meantime my house will stay free of cat urine. This is the way that I can have my cats and enjoy my house too.
>>
>>I highly recommend this to you. Here's the link to the Piddle Pants website. The pants costs about $25 and the 'diapers' are about $8.
>>Click Here: Joybies Piddle Pants
>>
>>-----
>>Ruby and the Kitties
>>Simba, Samantha, Katrina & KatyKatt
>> Meow!! Meow!! Meow!! Meow!!
>>
>> How wonderful to do nothing and then rest afterwards. Meow!
-----
Nancy E. Wigal
Arlington, VA
>>I use Cat Attract litter, and I can tell you, it really works! My little girl now uses the box about 99% of the time.
>>
>>The kitty diapers...I'm intrigued by those. I might have to check them out, particularly if they can correct a behavior problem associated with inappropriate elimination.
>>
>>Nancy
>>
>>>>I'm at my wits end with Calista! P.S. her photo is enclosed (isn't she so cute!)
>>>>>>
>>>>Calista is beautiful! It's so difficult to give them up even when you're having so many problems with them. She is definitely spraying to show the other cats that you belong to her. It sounds like you've done everything right as far as working with your vet to correct this problem.
>>>>
>>>>I do have a couple of suggestions for you. Not so much correcting her problem but rather protecting your property.
>>>>
>>>>#1......put a plastic liner on your mattress so she doesn't ruin that. And then keep your entire bed covered with plastic (even a cheap plastic tablecloth would work) when you are not home to watch her.
>>>>
>>>>#2......I've heard of a cat litter, called Cat Attract, which is supposed to make them want to pee in the litter box instead of the house. I've never tried it but that might be something that you could try.
>>>>
>>>>#3.......Do like I did with my two cats who have always had a 'top cat position' issue and then started a 'spraying war' in my new house. It cost me almost $300 to have the carpets in my entire house cleaned and I had had enough of their spraying nonsense. I ordered two pairs of Piddle Pants for both cats, 2 for Samantha and two for Simba. At first they objected to me putting them on them and acted like they couldn't walk. Simba took it a lot better than Samantha and he was walking around in them in less than an hour. Samantha pouted and acted like I was commiting a crime for 3 or 4 hours, then finally figured out that she could walk in them after all.
>>>>
>>>>Piddle Pants are a cute little outfit with a diaper in them. The diaper is almost like a sanitary napkin, I would say a panty liner size but much shorter.
>>>>
>>>>When I went to work in the morning, two cats wore Piddle Pants. When I got home and could watch them, I'd take the pants off. It worked out fine and my carpets stayed clean and fresh. It was that way for a few days. Then one weekend when I was home and they didn't wear the pants, I decided to try them without the pants the following Monday. When I got home from work, still no peeing on the floor by either cat. It's been about a month now that they haven't worn the Piddle Pants and my house is still clean and fresh with no spraying anywhere.
>>>>
>>>>I'm not sure what happened...did they figure out that they were wearing them because they were bad kitty cats or what? Whatever. I'm happy with the outcome.
>>>>
>>>>I do know that if either one of them starts the spraying again, into the Piddle Pants they go. If they don't like it, that's just too bad. They'll get used to it again and in the meantime my house will stay free of cat urine. This is the way that I can have my cats and enjoy my house too.
>>>>
>>>>I highly recommend this to you. Here's the link to the Piddle Pants website. The pants costs about $25 and the 'diapers' are about $8.
>>>>Click Here: Joybies Piddle Pants
>>>>
>>>>-----
>>>>Ruby and the Kitties
>>>>Simba, Samantha, Katrina & KatyKatt
>>>> Meow!! Meow!! Meow!! Meow!!
>>>>
>>>> How wonderful to do nothing and then rest afterwards. Meow!
>>
>>
>>-----
>>Nancy E. Wigal
>>Arlington, VA
-----
Ruby and the Kitties
Simba, Samantha, Katrina & KatyKatt
Meow!! Meow!! Meow!! Meow!!
Today is now Novemeber the 12th and still no spraying by either cat, Sim or Sam. I've got two brand spanking new, still in the package, pair of Piddle Pants ready to put on ANY of my cats but they are all behaving themselves.
I have no idea of what this means but if any of them (4 cats total) decide to mark their territory by spraying, I'll be sure to let you know.
So far, so good, if any changes, I'll be sure to let you know.
-----
Ruby and the Kitties
Simba, Samantha, Katrina & KatyKatt
Meow!! Meow!! Meow!! Meow!!
