our cats have gone freaking nuts

[kag]

We have two indoor neutered male cats. They have lived together for about a year now and except for a brief spell of peeing in plants and on firewood last winter (which stopped when we got rid of the Christmas tree after Christmas), they mostly do quite well. They do claw the sofa, but I have accepted this as part of having cats.

In the past two weeks, they have begun peeing on EVERYTHING. We have been spot cleaning and trying to figure out what's going on and then yesterday, in about a 12 hour period, they apparently sprayed down everything from an upholstered chair (soaked it - likely cannot be salvaged) to all the clean baby blankets folded in a bassinet to curtains to clothing to corners. We have spent the entire day scrubbing the house from top to bottom and laundering everything we own and we STILL keep finding stuff soaking in cat urine. It's horrifying. I've never seen animals do anything like this on this scale all of a sudden.

So cat experts, here is what we are doing. Tell us if we are missing something:

-Cats will go to vet to be checked
-We bought some of that Feliway cat hormone stuff to spray around
-Placed new litterbox downstairs in addition to the one upstairs
-Thoroughly cleaned, mopped, laundered and scrubbed house
-Spraying really bad areas with that Nature's Miracle stuff that's supposed to break up animal urine enzymes and remove smell

Thankfully, we are all hardwood floors and have no throw rugs to speak of, so we are not dealing with rugs and carpet.

In trying to figure this out, I am wondering if the fact that I am very pregnant might be disturbing them (hormonal thing). They seem especially fond of peeing on **my** clothing if I happen to leave it on the floor.

I am saying "they" but we really don't know if this is one or both cats.

All suggestions welcome.

[gordongekkojr]

get a pellet gun and try to catch them in the act

that will teach them!!!

[Daizy]

kag, I don't know the solution, but I would bet that it is the pregnancy hormones they are picking up on - inasmuch as they smell it as an intruder.

Good luck with that. Might check with the vet too, about the odor thing. I was under the impression that a neutered male's spray is much less odorous than that of the unfixed. Maybe I misunderstood my vet's prior comments on this topic...?

[DnB]

they have begun peeing on EVERYTHING

Welcome to our world.

But if anyone has a solution, we, too, would be mighty appreciative.

I did first think the pregnancy hormones might be key to your problem, or the kitties' problems.

[JFermaggio]

First, take them to the vet.

One litter box per cat, plus an additional one - it works!

Some more info:

One of the more serious reasons for cats urinating outside the litter box is a urinary tract dysfunction, known as FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease), formerly known as FUS (Feline Urinary Syndrome.)
http://cats.about.com/cs/litterboxpr.../urinewoes.htm

Castration stops or greatly reduces urine marking in 87 percent of intact males that spray. Yikes.
http://www.faqs.org/qa/qa-13836.html

More about Feliway:
http://declaw.lisaviolet.com/feliway.html

I'm sure you already know this one:

One cat related disease that pregnant women should watch out for is called toxoplasmosis. It's a parasitic disease that doesn't harm healthy humans. A large percentage of North americans are already carriers of the disease and will never become sick. However it can be passed to the fetus by a woman who contracts it during pregnancy, and it can seriously harm the fetus because it is so fragile.
http://www.pets.ca/pettips/tips-35.htm

Cats hate banana and orange peels. Put these peels in the "no" spots (works well for keeping cats off the counters, too). There are also citrus based sprays that kill odors and help deter cats. They are a bit more attractive than banana peels laying around your house!
http://www.felinediabetes.com/cat-ur...n-problems.htm

[James]

Home Depot has some crystalline stuff in a bag that absorbs odors in the air really well. I think it is in the place where the cleaners are.

As far as your cats go, they'll either get over it or not. I personally don't like to have cats. My last cat was Bozzette and she drove me crazy until I let her go out and hunt any time she wanted (I lived in the country). Hunting is fun for cats, but I have to tell you I witnessed some horrible scenes of pain and death because she loved to bring her "prey-toys" back to the porch.

[binR Bishop]

I've outlived 4 cats in my adult life. We currently have 1. The 2 males would occasionally spray a window on spying a cat in the yard. They'd also occasionally pick a corner to spray for no apparent reason. And the last one gave us a fit while adjusting to his new sister.

But the only cat I ever had who just suddenly developed a really bad problem like you describe was a female with a urinary tract infection. So that trip to the vet could be important.

[clementine]

My brother has been battling this problem with his two neutered male cats for years. He eventually began medicating them (under his veterinarian' direction) with a drug named clomicalm (sp?). This drug is usually prescribed for dogs with separation anxiety, but it has been useful in cats. I know it helped his cats but its kind of expensive, and both cats have to be medicated. I think you should definitely take them to the vet, just to make sure that the problem isn't physical. But, it sounds to me like its a territory/dominance dispute. Maybe one cat is trying to exert dominance over the other where it hadn't before.

My brother says he used to give treats to the cats, but he realized that part of the pissing match was over food. I think he had a couple of litter boxes, and used the feliway stuff. And I think giving the cats some closely monitored outdoor time helped too, but he had a fenced back yard and neither cat was keen on leaving the yard. Good luck Kag, I know this is a bad time to have to deal with that behavior. Also, just out of curiosity, have there been any stray or new cats hanging around outside your house lately?

[fclake]

http://www.odordestroyer.com/Merchan...m&AFFIL=google

This gadget works really well for me, I dont even have to turn it on anymore I just leave it in the corner of the living room and my cats dont go near that room or my leather couch. I loaned it to a couple of friends with mixed results. Somewhere in the lit. it says it may not be effective on some cats. It may not stop them from spraying but it may stop them from spraying wherever you point it.

[gordongekkojr]

**_Excerpts from a Dog's Diary_**


8:00 am - Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am - A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am - A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am - Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm - Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm - Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm - Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm - Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm - Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm - Wow! Watched TV with the people! My favorite thing!
11:00 pm - Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!


**_Excerpts from a Cat's Diary_**


Day 983 of my captivity...
My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates and I are fed
hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the
rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to
keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of
escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the carpet.


Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet.
I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly
demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made
condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am.
*******s!

There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight. I was
placed in solitary confinement for the durati on of the event.
However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my
confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this
means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this
again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches.
The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released - and
seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded.


The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicate with the
guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. My captors
have arranged pro tective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is
safe. For now.. .