- Joined
- Aug 3, 2006
- Messages
- 50
- Purraise
- 1
Long story short, I have six cats that pee and poo anywhere they feel like doing so. I have lived with this problem for 3 years and it involves lots of paper towels and many gallons of natures miracle. I have also ripped up all the carpet in my home and put down hard flooring just because of them. It is easier to clean.
I have tried crating each and every one of them separately for weeks on end with their litter boxes and food (plus playtime many times per day) in an attempt to retrain them to use their boxes and while this works while they are crated it all falls apart the minute I let any of them have more freedom.
I am at the point where I come home and just feel like crying because I see puddles of pee in the corners and poo on top of my kitchen cabinets and I am so tired of cleaning it up. It is never ending and I am done. My house does not smell and you would never even know I have cats, but that is because I spend nearly ever waking moment cleaning. It has taken over my life.
Having said that. I love these cats. They are part of my family and I could never re-home them or give them to a shelter. I know no one else will want to deal with this problem anyway.
I have decided to build them a large enclosure off my deck and plan on having them live there. I will put a roof on it, it is shaded in the summer and they will have many creature comforts, however when I told someone about this she stated that it was cruel for me to make them live outside and that if anyone saw this I would be reported for animal cruelty because they won't have a separate little house to get away from the rain and that I'm depriving them of social contact. (keep in mind it will be enclosed on 3 sides since it'll butt up to my house and there will be a roof.)
This cannot possibly be true, right? Cats live outside all the time, and for these kitties to have a safe enclosure instead of me simply giving up and dumping them has to be a better alternative. Yes they love attention from me and enjoy sleeping with me, but they will adjust to only have snuggle time when I go visit. Right?
I'm so torn now and I honestly don't know what to do. I cannot continue to live this way, but at the same time I don't want to do anything that will make people think I'm neglecting my cats. She made me feel like I was banishing them.
Can cats that have only known the indoor life adjust to not being with their people all the time?
I just want my house back. If anyone has any other suggestions I'm all ears.
I have tried crating each and every one of them separately for weeks on end with their litter boxes and food (plus playtime many times per day) in an attempt to retrain them to use their boxes and while this works while they are crated it all falls apart the minute I let any of them have more freedom.
I am at the point where I come home and just feel like crying because I see puddles of pee in the corners and poo on top of my kitchen cabinets and I am so tired of cleaning it up. It is never ending and I am done. My house does not smell and you would never even know I have cats, but that is because I spend nearly ever waking moment cleaning. It has taken over my life.
Having said that. I love these cats. They are part of my family and I could never re-home them or give them to a shelter. I know no one else will want to deal with this problem anyway.
I have decided to build them a large enclosure off my deck and plan on having them live there. I will put a roof on it, it is shaded in the summer and they will have many creature comforts, however when I told someone about this she stated that it was cruel for me to make them live outside and that if anyone saw this I would be reported for animal cruelty because they won't have a separate little house to get away from the rain and that I'm depriving them of social contact. (keep in mind it will be enclosed on 3 sides since it'll butt up to my house and there will be a roof.)
This cannot possibly be true, right? Cats live outside all the time, and for these kitties to have a safe enclosure instead of me simply giving up and dumping them has to be a better alternative. Yes they love attention from me and enjoy sleeping with me, but they will adjust to only have snuggle time when I go visit. Right?
I'm so torn now and I honestly don't know what to do. I cannot continue to live this way, but at the same time I don't want to do anything that will make people think I'm neglecting my cats. She made me feel like I was banishing them.
Can cats that have only known the indoor life adjust to not being with their people all the time?
I just want my house back. If anyone has any other suggestions I'm all ears.