Adopted cat struggling to settle in (we think)?
Discussion
We adopted Ted the cat from an old lady who had to go into a home. He is an 8 year old Persian cat who, while loved, was probably not the best looked after cat in the world. We have had him for a month.
We took him to the vets and it turns out he was underweight, has a heart murmour and has very bad teeth. We're getting the teeth sorted in the new year and will monitor his heart while feeding him up. He wasnt chipped or vaccinated so we did these too.
Anyway, he is a really lovely little thing when we're around - very cuddly and has never scratched us or been a problem - he follows us around and purrs non-stop. He's even had a bath with pretty good grace.
Two things make me think he is unhappy:
1. He wees in the house on rugs/floors/clothes when we are around. He uses his litter tray at all other times (ie during the day)! This happens a few times a week at least now.
2. He makes the most deathly crying/screaming noise when he doesnt know where we are, generally at night when he's on his own as we dont let him into the bedroom. For an experiment we let him sleep in the bedroom last night and he was pretty quiet - although I woke up with a cat on my head so not ideal.
I'm a bit worried that he is unhappy, perhaps has his last owner was around all of the time (we go out to work during the day) so he isnt getting the attention he was used to. Is there anything we can do? He has games and toys, but we took a few away as he was weeing on them. His favourite toy is a ping pong ball (wish I'd known this before buying the various cat toys).
Any tips on the weeing thing? His litter tray is huge, clean and out of the way - and he does use it.
We took him to the vets and it turns out he was underweight, has a heart murmour and has very bad teeth. We're getting the teeth sorted in the new year and will monitor his heart while feeding him up. He wasnt chipped or vaccinated so we did these too.
Anyway, he is a really lovely little thing when we're around - very cuddly and has never scratched us or been a problem - he follows us around and purrs non-stop. He's even had a bath with pretty good grace.
Two things make me think he is unhappy:
1. He wees in the house on rugs/floors/clothes when we are around. He uses his litter tray at all other times (ie during the day)! This happens a few times a week at least now.
2. He makes the most deathly crying/screaming noise when he doesnt know where we are, generally at night when he's on his own as we dont let him into the bedroom. For an experiment we let him sleep in the bedroom last night and he was pretty quiet - although I woke up with a cat on my head so not ideal.
I'm a bit worried that he is unhappy, perhaps has his last owner was around all of the time (we go out to work during the day) so he isnt getting the attention he was used to. Is there anything we can do? He has games and toys, but we took a few away as he was weeing on them. His favourite toy is a ping pong ball (wish I'd known this before buying the various cat toys).
Any tips on the weeing thing? His litter tray is huge, clean and out of the way - and he does use it.
Stand back,im a professional!Try getting a couple of extra litter trays,put them at the most frequent places the cat pees,once it starts using them slowly take each one away one by one leaving your original one left.
That ungodly noise the cat makes must be an oriental cat thing,i had a siamese that done it,really eerie haunting howl.As has been said it will take time to settle in,be patient.
That ungodly noise the cat makes must be an oriental cat thing,i had a siamese that done it,really eerie haunting howl.As has been said it will take time to settle in,be patient.
Potentially Apis may assist with the urination.
Yelling, well, some cats are more talkative than others, some breeds moreso. Guess which category yours falls into
By the way, as far as I can tell, when a cat is really unhappy, it will simply f**k off somewhere else. He keeps coming back, so happy enough..
Yelling, well, some cats are more talkative than others, some breeds moreso. Guess which category yours falls into
By the way, as far as I can tell, when a cat is really unhappy, it will simply f**k off somewhere else. He keeps coming back, so happy enough..
Plug some diffusers into the rooms he pisses in (Feliway or Pet Remedy); and the room he spends most time in, they have a calming & de-nerving effect.
He needs 2 litter trays (rule of thumb is one per cat & a spare).
Orientals yowl for attention. It's a test of wills, give in once & you'll be a slave forever to that particular whim - you now have a cat in the bedroom
He needs 2 litter trays (rule of thumb is one per cat & a spare).
Orientals yowl for attention. It's a test of wills, give in once & you'll be a slave forever to that particular whim - you now have a cat in the bedroom
Last night was another quiet night and no weeing - he was on the bed for a few mins then slept on the floor (we think)... if this continues and thats the trade off then we'd be really happy!
I've ordered a couple of diffuers, so will plug these in to 'his' room and the lounge. I do have a spare litter tray, but really would sooner only have one - especially if his weeing is a nervous/territorial thing so will see if that calms down first for a bit longer
I've ordered a couple of diffuers, so will plug these in to 'his' room and the lounge. I do have a spare litter tray, but really would sooner only have one - especially if his weeing is a nervous/territorial thing so will see if that calms down first for a bit longer
Maxf said:
Last night was another quiet night and no weeing - he was on the bed for a few mins then slept on the floor (we think)... if this continues and thats the trade off then we'd be really happy!
I've ordered a couple of diffuers, so will plug these in to 'his' room and the lounge. I do have a spare litter tray, but really would sooner only have one - especially if his weeing is a nervous/territorial thing so will see if that calms down first for a bit longer
Put the two down, it's a golden rule for indoor cats, even more essential for a nervous cat (cats don't tend to mark for territory it is a reassurance/ security thing). I tried to reduce to one for my cat big mistake, been much better since back to two.I've ordered a couple of diffuers, so will plug these in to 'his' room and the lounge. I do have a spare litter tray, but really would sooner only have one - especially if his weeing is a nervous/territorial thing so will see if that calms down first for a bit longer
Link to a very good website, lots and lots of info including inappropriate urination, subtleties of stress in cats, medical reasons for it etc. It is definitely worth a red.
The biggest frustration I have with clients is seeking help and then not actually taking th advice they are given then moaning when things haven't got better. The advice is time consuming which is why people don't do it but it is worth it.
Hope it gets sorted soon.
Also vocalising - not something I associate with Persians (I don't class them as an oriental breed either?) See how this goes as he settles and relaxes this may reduce on is own.
http://www.icatcare.org:8080/advice/cat-behaviour
He seems ok this week - I think he might just be a bit thick! We have had quiet nights mostly this week, but only when we've left the bedroom door open and carried him in there to show us where we are. The one time we didnt actually show him where we were was a noisy night!
We havent had any weeing this week either which is great news - we're making sure there is nothing on the floor which looks remotely inviting, which is probably helping, but he does seem a bit more relaxed too.
The vet says most of his teeth need to come out in January and that might help him too as he's probably putting up with a bit of pain.
We havent had any weeing this week either which is great news - we're making sure there is nothing on the floor which looks remotely inviting, which is probably helping, but he does seem a bit more relaxed too.
The vet says most of his teeth need to come out in January and that might help him too as he's probably putting up with a bit of pain.
telecat said:
On the teeth front. If moggy can eat biscuits I would hold fire on the teeth. Too many seem to go downhill fast after that particular treatment.
He does eat biscuits fairly easily - he will only eat dry food actually. I've heard him crunching them, so assume he isnt just swallowing whole. telecat said:
On the teeth front. If moggy can eat biscuits I would hold fire on the teeth. Too many seem to go downhill fast after that particular treatment.
Not sure how you got to that conclusion because in my experience owners report their cats have a new lease of life after a dental. As long as he is blood tested for kidney function (esp as Persians are susceptible to polycystic kidneys) and I/v fluids during the dental.Don't rush into it though,I agree. Whilst they still eat biscuits with painful/bad teeth you have a bit of time on your side, ensure he is settled in well first.
that's good news, something is working anyway 
bexVN said:
telecat said:
On the teeth front. If moggy can eat biscuits I would hold fire on the teeth. Too many seem to go downhill fast after that particular treatment.
Not sure how you got to that conclusion because in my experience owners report their cats have a new lease of life after a dental. As long as he is blood tested for kidney function (esp as Persians are susceptible to polycystic kidneys) and I/v fluids during the dental.Don't rush into it though,I agree. Whilst they still eat biscuits with painful/bad teeth you have a bit of time on your side, ensure he is settled in well first.
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