[QUOTE=alittlegray;6045286]
having been through the same thing, I will give you some advice that is obviously to go hand in hand with a visit to the vet to check for painful medical conditions:
Yes, eliminating on “soft” items is 80- 90% of the time a sign that they are in urinary pain. They absolutely equate “going in the litter box” with OUCH, DAMNIT! So they find somewhere else to go. *Sometimes it is behavioral, but not in a “I’m gonna get you humans” way, it is directly a result of whatever negative stimuli they have received while trying to eliminate appropriately. Cat’s don’t “plot” to get us. (Except my cat, she is absolutely building a death ray in the basement)
Take the hoods off the litter boxes. With other animals in the house, it is entirely possible one or more of them is waiting until the culprit goes to use the box and “pinning” the cat in the box or jumping him as he comes out. OR the cat could just be afraid to go in a hooded box. Some cats (like people) are slightly claustraphobic.
This was done last week. No change.
What are the boxes near? The washer and dryer? Furnace? Any other loud thing that might start randomly while the cat is trying to use the box? Make sure the box is somewhere quiet, with an easy escape route. Make sure you have boxes in different rooms or if possible on different floors.
No they are near nothing loud.
CLEAN THE DAMN BOX every day, sometimes twice a day if necessary. Use unscented litter. You think YOUR nose is sensitive? Jeebus. Poor cat. Try leaving your poo unflushed in the toilet for a few days to stack up and then see if YOU want to go use that space to relieve yourself. Poor kitty can’t hold his nose while he goes.
My husband has been cleaning the boxes religiously every day.
Yes, YOU can clean the box.
Will you be paying for medical bills when I miscarry my baby? What about MY therapy bills? Been there, done that.
If the boxes are small, go bigger with at least one. With my kitty that was eliminating inappropriately, we went out and bought a HUGE plastic tub like this one:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sterilite-50-Gallon-Tote-Set-of-4-Titanium/15940602 (we just bought one, not four) LEAVE THE TOP OFF.
We cut out a U-shape on one long side since it was too tall for her to easily jump into, and filled it with 4 containers of kitty litter. It worked. She needed space to go without feeling confined, no top, and a quiet area away from the laundry room (scary washing machine) to go where she could get away from our other cat in a hurry if need be. This way she had all those things.
Lastly, if you can’t commit to get this kitty what he needs to be comfortable then either rehome him right away or put him down. He is picking up on your distress and your husband’s and it is only going to continue to make the situation worse.
Yes, it is just an animal. Yes, early pregnancy does intensify emotions. Yes, we all understand you are a dramatic person with a flair for hyperbole. But unless your entire blog is a lie, there is a kernel of your true personality/intent in all this peevishness. Why hold this kitty hostage to your pride?
What in the holy hell are you talking about, pride? Elaborate.
You don’t want to make the effort to clean the box every day and make other accomodations to ensure he modifies his behavior, instead you would rather continue the cycle of inappropriate peeing and the punishment that follows. Even if it is just yelling at the cat, he has no idea why you are yelling at him unless you catch him in the act, and even then he may not equate the yelling with what he is peeing on.
I don’t yell at the cat. I don’t hit the cat. Actually, I cried last night if you must know. That would be my hormones. The cat wasn’t around. Maybe he was ashamed. :rolleyes:
Frankly, the cat deserves better. If you aren’t willing to modify YOUR behavior to solve this problem and to treat him with whatever meds the vet deems necessary (even if it is kitty prozac), then give him an easy passing over the rainbow bridge or invest the time to find him an appropriate home with people who understand this kind of cat behavior and will work to help kitty overcome it.[/QUOTE]
You need to read for comprehension. And thanks for reading my blog!! :winkgrin:
