My sister's cat is an asshole...

[ibshafer]

...except he's not my sister's cat anymore - he's mine.My sister passed away in January and I have inherited her four cats, each with their own set of issues I've had to work my way through. (Not to mention integrating my two into the mix.) I am living in her home and have a similar personality - I love kitties, am very affectionate with them - so

Comments

[silme]

What does your vet say?

When I first brought Ezra home, he was pretty wild. He was a tiny kitten, but he stole Abby's food (she was four), ate a spider plant and destroyed rolls of toilet paper. Etc. At night, he'd run around and keep me up. (I didn't let them out at night.) I called the vet and she gave me the number of an animal behaviourist who gave me some free advice over the phone, all of which worked.

Good luck! He is a handsome guy, that's for sure.

[ibshafer]

I didn't mention in the post, but being a former feral (he's been "in" for 14 years now, but trust has always been a problem for him) he is notoriously, nay impossible to catch, so my consultation with the vet was via sample. (My sister had him in last fall, though, for a full round of tests and all was clear

[chelseagirl]

There are two things we are concerned about for the upcoming move -- the books (now down from the high 1700s to 1660 after intensive weeding and donating) and Gracie Gray, our darling feral girl. So I sympathize with the Benny issue.

[ibshafer]

Have you ever tried/had any luck sedating her? I could get the pill in him - buried in yummy canned food, something he cast resist - be just never became sedated. Maybe that would work for Gracie?

Also, kudos on the book winnowing.

[chelseagirl]

Benny!

I'm more used to cat vomit, but whatever. I don't think you need to be worried about being mortified -- everyone who comes to visit you loves you, loves Roz, knows the situation.

[ibshafer]

I love that dismayed little face of his!

Mr friends, I know understand, but some of my relatives are not animal people. Or they're dog people and just think I should give up. :(

I'd just rather he didn't poo on carpeting when they were here, but there's nothing I can do about it...

[nutmeg3]

Hi, hi, hi! It's good to see you again after so long.

I have no really useful suggestions, other than maybe putting a Feliway diffuser near the litterbox so it feels like a nice, soothing place to him.

[ibshafer]

Hey, to you, too! I've been reading your fun posts - just no time to comment.

The Feliway worked really well for his other problem - scent marking. :( Thank goodness the peeing has stopped, but everytime I think I've figured out why he's pooping outside the laundry room, he either does it again or does it somewhere else.

He's actually told me, in the clearest way a cat can, that he doesn't like incense. (I'd been lighting a stick after every scoop - once or twice a day - for over six months, when he suddenly decided he didn't like it...) But now he doesn't like my yummy pumpkin scented candle (even 20 feet away in the living room) or even the room spray. All of which have been in use for years. :(

Otherwise, he really does seem happier than I've seen him pretty much ever. Which is why I'm so stymied...

Glad to hear the little pooters are doing so well!

[amethyst_koneko]

Benny's problem might be his age. At 14, he might be getting a bit senile/forgetful and just letting fly wherever he is or, with his bad hips, he just might be unable to make it to the litter box in time to take care of business properly. I have an elderly cat who sometimes pees in her bed and we think it's because her arthitis makes it difficult to make it out of bed and into the litter box in time. It really seems to bother my cat too when this happens because she used to be so fastidious about her appearance and so particular about her bed. All you can really do is not make too much of a fuss about it (that only causes more stress for the both of you), do a lot of washing, and clean the litter box more often. Oh, putting out an extra litter box or three might help too. :)

[ibshafer]

You might have something there. I know it isn't so much that he can't get into or out of the box because he had to climb onto the bed to poop there, but maybe it's that he can't make it to the box if he's too far away when the urge strikes.

At first I would get really upset, mostly because it felt like a betrayal ("and we were getting on so well!"), but now I just shake my head and clean it up.

And calling him an asshole on the Internet. Which, you know, he can't read, so... ;)

I may talk to the vet about getting him something for his joints, though. He goes up the stairs like I do - one at a time and slowly...

Thanks for the suggestions, sweetie. :)

[ibshafer]

Oh, also, there used to be a 3rd box in that bedroom he pooped in.

That might be an idea, though...

[ibshafer]

Oh, also, there are six cats, but one is mostly outside (the others don't go out) and will not use a litter box.

[merlenhiver]

I can't really recommend anyone, I just know that a friend of mine who has horses sometimes consults a woman who can sort of get "into animal's heads" - I'm sure you have them too in the US, they are called "animal communicators" around here. For her (and her horses), it's been working extremely well.

Good luck with your "problem child"!

[ibshafer]

Thanks hon. You're either referring to the animal behaviorist or an animal psychic both of which I could make use of... ; )

I haven't had a whole lot of time for research lately, but I'm sure I will turn someone up eventually. Was just so frustrated by the discovery of what he'd done in the bedroom, I thought I'd come and rant a little and see if anyone could pint me to a short cut.