I'm at a loss

Mollymitten · 07-26-2005, 09:05 PM

I need some help here. I don't know if you all remember, but Sadie had a problem with rug poos. Then the BF and I split up, and the rug poos seemed to stop after I moved into my new place. Unfortunately they have started again, and to top it all of, she just peed on my leather couch as I was cleaning up the latest pile. From her behaviour and eating habits I really don't think she'll ill - I think it's just bad behaviour. The cat box is clean.

When we got her from the shelter, we were told that she had previously been adopted by two gay guys, who returned her because she scratched a $3000 piece of furniture. She has never scratched anything since she's been with us (me), so I am really tending to think that she has always had this bad habit.

I don't know what to do. I can't have this happening. I don't want to return her to the shelter because the poor thing will only repeat the cycle. She's beautiful and playful and affectionate, although she doesn't like to be picked up - she will tolerate being held on my lap for a couple of minutes. I really can't afford expensive treatments, but as I said I really don't think she's ill. My new apartment is already starting to stink, and I haven't even been here a month yet.

Can someone PLEASE offer some advice? I am getting so frustrated I am even thinking of having her PTS - like I said, returning her to the shelter will only continue her cycle of being adopted and returned which basically to me would be abusive for her - strange rationale but I can put up with a lot but not this continuing behaviour, so maybe for her sake it could be the kindest thing. I hate this.

suzoo · 07-26-2005, 10:00 PM

I know how difficult a problem this can be.

I would first rule out a medical problem.. if it is truly behavioural, I would make some changes in your environment to see it any of them helps. Check out the thread 'Litter Box Problems' in the Cat Archives section.
I have to agree with you about not returning her to the shelter. That is just passing on the problem to others. I would not euthanize her though until it is the absolute last resort.

Mollymitten · 07-26-2005, 10:14 PM

Thanks for your support I will of course have her checked by the vet, and euthanization would definately be a last resort. If she used the same spot all the time it would "help" too. but it's indiscriminate. Unfortunately what I think is a big contribution is the fact that Sadie is nervous, and Penny, my other big cat tends to terrorize her, and I think she gets so upset she has to "go now!" The runs don't help either! Has anyone ever heard of a kitty Imodium? The pees on the couch are a new thing - thre was no sign of blood in the urine when I cleaned it up.

fertmom · 07-26-2005, 10:57 PM

Is there any way you can restrict her space so that it is just her and her litter box and that she not have the run of the house and then gradually increase the space as she consistently uses the box with lots of praise?
I agree, I would first make a trip to the vet to make sure there isn't a physical problem.

Mollymitten · 07-26-2005, 11:02 PM

I was wondering about getting a large wire dog cage that she could have as her home - keep her in there with all the essentials when I'm at work and let her out when I'm there. The only thing I'm concerned about that is Penny would torment her through the bars.......The more I watch them it seems that Penny will stalk Sadie and jump at her with her back fur up. Sadie does regularly use the cat box, and gets praised lavishly when she does, so I really think it's a stress thing. Poor Penny is getting very sulky with being told off all the time.

millimi · 07-26-2005, 11:21 PM

I no barely anything about cats, but I figured I could offer you some suggestions...
Could you maybe separate your two cats and see if that is the problem? If it is causing the problem, maybe you could lock Sadie in a room when you are away so no other cats could tease her? I wish you the best of luck and I really hope you get behind that problem!

Denise · 07-26-2005, 11:52 PM

Molly,

to you.

Banshee · 07-27-2005, 06:42 AM

I think the key could very well be Penny, your other cat. When Fionagh lived with us, she used to poo and pee outside of the litterbox. At first it was just in the tub (which we could handle), but eventually she began going on the floor randomly and even peed on the bed one day. Derrick was convinced it was just behavioural but I had a funny feeling it was also health-related. We had her to the vet and part of it was indeed health -- she had the very beginnings of crystals and although it wasn't apparent that she was ill, she was and needed meds. However, the other part of it was two of my other cats, Hamish and Aoife. They'd never gotten along with Fionagh and Aoife tended to terrorize her. After Fionagh moved out with Derrick and went to live in a household in which she was the only cat, she stopped messing outside the litterbox altogether.

I'd have her to the vet for a checkup, just to rule that out. Also, is it possible to have someone take either Sadie or Penny for a week or so to see how Sadie reacts to not having an aggressive cat around? If Penny is the cause, you may have to consider rehoming Sadie to a single-cat household. Rehoming Fionagh was by far the very best thing for her, and for the rest of my kitties.

Mollymitten · 07-27-2005, 06:48 AM

Yes, that's pretty much the decision I had made. I'll talk to David and see if he will take Penny. He just lives 8 floors up, so I's be able to visit her. I'll make a vet appointment for this weekend as well.

Thanks for the support everyone - you've helped make me feel a bit better about this

suzoo · 07-27-2005, 08:33 AM

My friend is going thru the same situation with her cats.. she has 3 cats and one is a bully. One cat usually retreats to the bedroom (under the sheets on the bed).. I call her 'The lump'. The other cat retreats to the top of the fridge. She has a cat bed up there as well as her food. The problem comes in when the cat needs to use the litterbox and has to sneak into the spare room to go without attracting the attention of the bully. So far she hasn't had any housesoiling issues but she bought 2 litterboxes and have them in different rooms and the opening of the covered litterbox faces into the room so they aren't 'surprised' by The bully.
If this works would David be able to take Penny full-time?