Adopted cat struggling to settle in (we think)?
Discussion
We are still struggling with Ted. We have finally found some decent food he likes (applaws salmon) and will eat, so thats great.
However, he has started weeing on the floor again - only in the kitchen and bathroom. This is now daily (at least) and we have cleaned the areas thoroughly with biological washing liquid as advised. We've also tried using aftershave to 'mark' the territory.
The bathroom may be because he can still smell his wee, as its an old lino which is being replaced in April as we re-do the bathroom.
The kitchen we are lost with. He has pee'd on the floor and also on the worktop(!) once. We are starting to think its some kind of protest as we've stopped him having some 'treats' he really liked (dentabites) as he was refusing normal food and just expecting those. Will cats protest like this?
We're fed up of cleaning wee up every day (at least). Are animal behaviorial specialists worth a try?
We will move one of his Feliway diffusers into the kitchen tonight, but I'm not sure thats the issue, as there is one only a few feet away anyway.
However, he has started weeing on the floor again - only in the kitchen and bathroom. This is now daily (at least) and we have cleaned the areas thoroughly with biological washing liquid as advised. We've also tried using aftershave to 'mark' the territory.
The bathroom may be because he can still smell his wee, as its an old lino which is being replaced in April as we re-do the bathroom.
The kitchen we are lost with. He has pee'd on the floor and also on the worktop(!) once. We are starting to think its some kind of protest as we've stopped him having some 'treats' he really liked (dentabites) as he was refusing normal food and just expecting those. Will cats protest like this?
We're fed up of cleaning wee up every day (at least). Are animal behaviorial specialists worth a try?
We will move one of his Feliway diffusers into the kitchen tonight, but I'm not sure thats the issue, as there is one only a few feet away anyway.
Edited by Maxf on Wednesday 21st January 08:45
I'm Have you tried things like Zylkene and Kalmaid (ask your vets or look on line)
I've not heard if using aftershave? ICC advise surgical spirit after cleaning.
Have you had a good read of their pages. A lot to take in but well worth it.
Yes referral worth it but you really need to seek help from knowledgeable cat specific behaviourists, the ICC prob have a list, may be worth contacting them. It will need to be done via your vet (any behaviourist that doesn't ask this should be avoided)
No chance of another cat from outside upsetting him (they do not even need to come in the house to upset the resident cat.)
The other issue is this may be a long term behaviour and is very likely that he did it in his ex owners house, esp as she was elderly, likely she was nor so aware.
I've not heard if using aftershave? ICC advise surgical spirit after cleaning.
Have you had a good read of their pages. A lot to take in but well worth it.
Yes referral worth it but you really need to seek help from knowledgeable cat specific behaviourists, the ICC prob have a list, may be worth contacting them. It will need to be done via your vet (any behaviourist that doesn't ask this should be avoided)
No chance of another cat from outside upsetting him (they do not even need to come in the house to upset the resident cat.)
The other issue is this may be a long term behaviour and is very likely that he did it in his ex owners house, esp as she was elderly, likely she was nor so aware.
Edited by bexVN on Wednesday 21st January 09:40
Edited by bexVN on Wednesday 21st January 09:42
ali_kat said:
How many litter trays had he got & how often are they cleaned out?
2, cleaned out daily. He still uses them daily for 1s and 2s - he just seems to like to do a protest wee in the same places too. I've read a huge amount about it online, luckily mostly non-conflicting stuff, and we spent ages cleaning properly to get the places 'cat clean'. We havent tried surgical spirit as I was worried about ruining the floor more - but I will give it a go. I've also read that strong citrus floor cleaner may help - although that seems a bit cruel, as he will obviously dislike the smell but has to walk around on it - perhaps I'm just soft though.
I wonder if we should get him back on his 'dentabites' daily, but I really cant believe its just down to protesting about us not giving them to him. Trouble is, I bet there is no real nutition in them, and he (judging by past performance) will go off his proper food again.
I imagine Bec is right about him doing it in the past and it being habitual.
Hmmmm
Cats are food motivated, but dirty protests tend to be over more serious issues (like being left alone), rather than food.
At least in the kitchen it's easy to mop up!
I never got to the bottom of Pepi's spraying; it just stopped. I'd had Vet checks, tablets for cystitis, behaviourist over etc & no good reason was found (other than cystitis - which is a thought, has he been to the Vet for this?)
Is he bored?
Cats are food motivated, but dirty protests tend to be over more serious issues (like being left alone), rather than food.
At least in the kitchen it's easy to mop up!
I never got to the bottom of Pepi's spraying; it just stopped. I'd had Vet checks, tablets for cystitis, behaviourist over etc & no good reason was found (other than cystitis - which is a thought, has he been to the Vet for this?)
Is he bored?
That is my worry - that it is linked to being left along 
We both work all day, so he is alone (although he does the same thing at night too, but less often). We try and have a day at home a week, and are around all weekend, generally. He was ok for a while, but this all started up again after Christmas, and worse than ever.
He is a very cuddly cat and his prime seating perch is on one of our knees - he relly does like company. We leave the radio on during the day, as we thought odd noises from neighbours might be spooking him and we also have lights on timers.
He isnt a big player, and is probably quite clever as normal things like feathers on a stick and ping pong balls get played with for a few minutes, then left alone indefinitely once he figures them out.
When we adopted him we were specifially told he liked to be on his own and he definitely didnt like other cats. At this point we hadnt realised his old owner was elderly, but realised that later - so she probably was around all day.
He hasnt been to the Vets for cystitus, but has had a general checkup about a month ago and was fine.
We both work all day, so he is alone (although he does the same thing at night too, but less often). We try and have a day at home a week, and are around all weekend, generally. He was ok for a while, but this all started up again after Christmas, and worse than ever.
He is a very cuddly cat and his prime seating perch is on one of our knees - he relly does like company. We leave the radio on during the day, as we thought odd noises from neighbours might be spooking him and we also have lights on timers.
He isnt a big player, and is probably quite clever as normal things like feathers on a stick and ping pong balls get played with for a few minutes, then left alone indefinitely once he figures them out.
When we adopted him we were specifially told he liked to be on his own and he definitely didnt like other cats. At this point we hadnt realised his old owner was elderly, but realised that later - so she probably was around all day.
He hasnt been to the Vets for cystitus, but has had a general checkup about a month ago and was fine.
I know it's an expense, but not as much as cleaning materials , but ask your Vet about Cystitis as this is a symptom.
Keep a calendar to see if it happens more when you're at work or at home?
He may not initially like other cats, but may well enjoy their company once he's used to them being around.
Cats do get bored, and play up as a result. Has he got a cat tree or scratching post? If just a post, try something like this?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Happypet-Scratcher-Activit...
Gives him full length scratching, different views, places to hide, toys etc.
, but ask your Vet about Cystitis as this is a symptom. Keep a calendar to see if it happens more when you're at work or at home?
He may not initially like other cats, but may well enjoy their company once he's used to them being around.
Cats do get bored, and play up as a result. Has he got a cat tree or scratching post? If just a post, try something like this?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Happypet-Scratcher-Activit...
Gives him full length scratching, different views, places to hide, toys etc.
Both times we've had cat weeing issues in the house, have been due to illness which we didn't realise until the weeing started. Once was just after we got them (rescue cats) and initially we thought it was a behavioural thing. Get the vet to check for a urinary tract - turned out the boy cat had struvite crystals and after treatment, and then staying on specialist food forever, no more weeing 
Then we had a spate of weeing during the night on the kitchen counters. Used a laptop webcam to find the culprit - was the girl cat. That one didn't end so well, but it was an early sign of illness.
Definitely well worth a specific vet investigation - from what I understand the crystals in the wee can be very serious if not identified, and quite often a cause of indoor weeing.
Then we had a spate of weeing during the night on the kitchen counters. Used a laptop webcam to find the culprit - was the girl cat. That one didn't end so well, but it was an early sign of illness.
Definitely well worth a specific vet investigation - from what I understand the crystals in the wee can be very serious if not identified, and quite often a cause of indoor weeing.
Got in yesterday and he'd wee'd on the tinfoil we put down to keep him away from his weeing area in the kitchen! Last night he slept in our bedroom all night and was super chilled out.... got up this morning though to find 1 wee in his litter tray, 1 in the bathroom near his tray and 1 in the kitchen.
We've booked a vets appointment, so will see what they say. I've also just ordered a load of activity type toys, which may help him during the day. As soon as I can find a climbing thing which looks decent, I'll get that too.
We're going to get him back on his treat food too - but hide it around the house rather than just feed it to him. He wont touch wet food, so thats no good - we've tried him on raw food too. At the moment we're just happy he is finally on Applaws rather that whiskers.
His coat is also a lot longer than when we first got him so we're getting him a trim too, in case that is pissing him off. We just thought that it was maybe strange that he went to the adoption place with a newish trim, so perhaps he was used to it being done regularly. £60 a pop though, so hopefully not too regular!
We've booked a vets appointment, so will see what they say. I've also just ordered a load of activity type toys, which may help him during the day. As soon as I can find a climbing thing which looks decent, I'll get that too.
We're going to get him back on his treat food too - but hide it around the house rather than just feed it to him. He wont touch wet food, so thats no good - we've tried him on raw food too. At the moment we're just happy he is finally on Applaws rather that whiskers.
His coat is also a lot longer than when we first got him so we're getting him a trim too, in case that is pissing him off. We just thought that it was maybe strange that he went to the adoption place with a newish trim, so perhaps he was used to it being done regularly. £60 a pop though, so hopefully not too regular!
Good luck, hope it is easily sorted either way.
Best place (not the only decent place I hasten to add) for pet behaviour information, including local professionals is www.apbc.org.uk but your vet will probably have a behaviourist they refer clients to already.
Best place (not the only decent place I hasten to add) for pet behaviour information, including local professionals is www.apbc.org.uk but your vet will probably have a behaviourist they refer clients to already.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff