Help Inherited An 8yo Cat That's Not Socialised.

[Shadowhunter]

Hi. I apologise for long post, not ready to give up on this cat yet.

HISTORY
So my gran got 2 tom kittens 8 years ago but had a bad stroke just after getting them. They spent their first few months alone in her home.

Unfortunately the stroke changed my gran and she stopped receiving visitors. She doted on her cats and would visit family but wouldn't answer the door etc to anyone. So the cats were only used to her and no one else. They are indoor cats.

In July she became ill and had no choice but to allow me into her home. I was looking after her so the cats were slowly becoming used to me. One would even allow me to clap him, the one I need advice about now. They had their own room and I noticed that she had obviously been unable to change the litter box in a while as they'd started going in other places. I cleaned the room and boxes, they then were only using the boxes like they should.

Unfortunately my gran ended up in hospital and died in November. One of the cats escaped while we were trying to catch it, it hasn't been found yet. We decided to ask a cat charity to assist catching the second and although we were promised they'd use a humane trap he used a pole n rope! So this poor cat lost the only human he loved, his best friend and now this man had him swinging from a pole by his hind legs and was forcibly removing him from the only home he'd ever known.

PROBLEMS
My house is much noisier than he is used to with two kids running around and I've not a room he can have to himself like he had at my grans. I also have a dog which doesn't mind the cat (we used to foster old cats that were given up due to illhealth/ expensive medical bills) but obv the cats never seen a dog. Ive kept them separate so far but have been allowing them to get each others scent.

He's decided to hide in a cupboard so I've put his food just outside the door and created a small tunnel to get to his cat box (which he uses).

Unfortunately he's also urinated elsewhere through the night. Normally a sofa or if paper has been left on the floor. This isn't on vertical surfaces so I don't believe he's spraying. Why is he doing this? I keep his cat box clean, have kept to the same brand litter he's used to etc.

We all left him alone the first week. The second week he started coming out of the cupboard when the kids were in bed so I gave him treats and he would pop his head up to allow me to clap him. Even gave few meows and tried to rub scent on my hand. This stayed same for few weeks but last week something spooked him while I was clapping him and he attacked me. Just one tap but it drew blood (I'm also allergic to cats though antihistamines are usually sufficient but with drawing blood my hand swelled up and was itchy for a few days)

I'll admit I'm now a little scared of him. If a pin prick scratch can cause my hand to swell so bad I don't want a full blown attack. But I'm not willing to give up so soon.

I need help/ advice. Ive got experience with cats but they were older trained cats coming to the end of their life. I have no idea what I'm doing here. I don't mind if he's never a cuddly cat, my kids know not to go near him. I don't want him living in fear of me or urinating outside his litter tray.

I had to stop fostering cats when I had my kids as ill cats urinate everywhere but here I have a healthy cat (he's been checked) doing it.

Is this stress due to all the changes? Is he trying to dominate? He's not neutered at the moment and given his age and that hes not spraying i had hoped to avoid the risks of surgery but would neutering him help?

Any advice would be greatly

Help....

 

[kommunity kats]

I would get some tincture of catnip.
Taken orally, it actually is calming, so put a little in his food.
It should help him relax.

Yes . . . stress from not only living in a new place, but being caught in such a dramatic fashion,
is probably why he is acting up!

"Tryptophan, commonly known as Nutricalm®,
is primarily used to decrease aggression and stabilize mood for dogs and cats.
L-tryptophan is a large neutral amino acid that is an essential dietary constituent for dogs and cats. . . ." www.petplace.com/article/drug-library/library/over-the-counter/tryptophan-nutricalm

 

[Shadowhunter]

I would get some tincture of catnip.
Taken orally, it actually is calming, so put a little in his food.
It should help him relax.

Yes . . . stress from not only living in a new place, but being caught in such a dramatic fashion,
is probably why he is acting up!

"Tryptophan, commonly known as Nutricalm®,
is primarily used to decrease aggression and stabilize mood for dogs and cats.
L-tryptophan is a large neutral amino acid that is an essential dietary constituent for dogs and cats. . . ." www.petplace.com/article/drug-library/library/over-the-counter/tryptophan-nutricalm

Thank you. I'll try the calmers you suggested. I had no idea these were available for cats!

It's making me so sad. Ive never met an animal so afraid before and it breaks my heart that he fears ME. If he only knew to give us a chance. He used to love climbing and jumping all around my grans house but has chosen to live in this small cupboard at mine. We bought all these climbing and scratching toys in preparation but he's too afraid to come out and use them.

 

[kommunity kats]

It's making me so sad. Ive never met an animal so afraid before and it breaks my heart that he fears ME. If he only knew to give us a chance. He used to love climbing and jumping all around my grans house but has chosen to live in this small cupboard at mine. We bought all these climbing and scratching toys in preparation but he's too afraid to come out and use them.

A cat like this one -brought into a new situation- can be traumatized if not introduced very slowly.

Research instructive websites that detail the dos & don'ts of how to go about it . . .
giving the cat its own room for a period of time (however long it takes) to get used to the new scents, sounds, of the home in general, & the others who live there (including other animals) . . . . from the safety of their own, private, space. And only then should they be given a slow introduction to outside of that safe room.

Treat this one as a feral who needs a LOT of patience.
Never approach him. Always let him come to you, and for some time do not respond to his approaches.
Let him learn to view you as a totally non-threatening entity, first . . . without doubts.

Never look him in the eye, as that is threatening to cats. They are not only hunters,
but also prey animals . . . &, when someone they don't trust looks at them,
they feel like they're being sized up as prey!

I've personally found this website to be very helpful, so you might want to start there:

"TAMING FERAL KITTENS & CATS"
www.messybeast.com/feralkit.htm

 

[kommunity kats]

Thank you. I'll try the calmers you suggested. I had no idea these were available for cats!

There may be some Homeopathic remedies, too.
I know there is music that helps cats with anxiety . . . (check Youtube for some examples).
I've never looked for catnip-extract sold for calming animals, but it's available in many health food stores. (I'd purchase alcohol-free, only.)
I wonder if cats can benefit from powdered catnip mixed in their food.


". . . Kitties are very sensitive to unfamiliar smells, sights and sounds.
Strange, potentially threatening noises are particularly distressing, and
this type of stress can affect an animal’s physiologic state. . . ."

Here's an article about music for cats:
The Music That Is Appealing to Many Cats

 

[Shadowhunter]

A cat like this one -brought into a new situation- can be traumatized if not introduced very slowly.

Research instructive websites that detail the dos & don'ts of how to go about it . . .
giving the cat its own room for a period of time (however long it takes) to get used to the new scents, sounds, of the home in general, & the others who live there (including other animals) . . . . from the safety of their own, private, space. And only then should they be given a slow introduction to outside of that safe room.

Treat this one as a feral who needs a LOT of patience.
Never approach him. Always let him come to you, and for some time do not respond to his approaches.
Let him learn to view you as a totally non-threatening entity, first . . . without doubts.

Never look him in the eye, as that is threatening to cats. They are not only hunters,
but also prey animals . . . &, when someone they don't trust looks at them,
they feel like they're being sized up as prey!

I've personally found this website to be very helpful, so you might want to start there:

"TAMING FERAL KITTENS & CATS"
www.messybeast.com/feralkit.htm

Yeah I realise having his own room would be better but it's not an option I'm afraid. I own my home and while I love him, selling this place and buying a bigger home isn't going to happen. I'd also point out we aren't complete strangers to him, although granted our home is.

Unfortunately we had two choices, I take him or the rspca puts him down as they had no room for him. We tried a few places but they were all full. The RSPCA felt his best chance was here with me as the base work had already begun. I'll be honest given how much my gran loved this wee fella and knowing how much he's already gone through, I'm not sure I could've let him go, even if the charities had space for him.

I did check with the RSPCA before taking him on and they advised he was semi feral but appeared to have a bond with me and the foundation had already been set for him and our family. They advised he'd know all our scents already through my gran visiting here and us spending the previous 5 months going back and forth her home to help her while she was ill, then to look after the cats and home while she was in hospital. Although they did say to take my time allowing him to get used to the kids. While the RSPCA didn't give advice to leave him etc, I have treated him as I would any of my foster cats when they first arrived here. I released him, he chose his safe place then I put his food, litter box etc all nearby and left him to it. Most of my foster cats came to me within days he took a week and a half. Though I still only give him attention when he comes to me for it or if he pops his head out and meows for it.

I have made many changes to try and accommodate him. The kids no longer play in the livingroom and the dog is currently banned from this room as well. Since half way through the second week he was coming to me for attention and patting my knee for treats (this was how he got treats from my gran so I feel not respecting this training and ignoring his request would be worse)

While training to foster cats (many years ago granted) I learned many cats hate the vibrations of music if they aren't used to it so he could find this upsetting, though I confess I hadn't thought to look for music created specifically for calming cats. I think I'll give this a miss for now though just incase it does make things worse.

I can only get the calming pills you suggested on prescription from a vet in this country so it'll be a few days before I can get them, but while searching for them I came across a plug-in that releases pheromones that help calm cats, I've ordered one of those meantime and hopefully it'll be here the end of the week. If I'm lucky I'll have a vet app for him the following week.

Last night he popped his head out and cried for a pet. After a little attention he jumped out and came across for some of my chicken dinner. Which he came out for and took from my hand. I'm taking this as a sign he's not as afraid of me as i thought. A friend suggested that I hadn't spooked him but had missed the sign he'd had enough attention and this was why he "swatted" me. Thinking about it now, she could be right. If he'd wanted to do damage I'd have had a proper scratch not a pin prick sized hole. He only caught my pinky with one claw but the way he had been laying he could've got me with all four paws and really shredded my hand up. He's a growler too but he didn't growl when he hit me. So I'm not as panicky about being attacked.

Yesterday he came out and sat on my window ledge, behind the curtain but still I'm taking this as a good sign as he usually only comes out at night. I went to bed so proud of him and happy he seemed to be coming around. Though I woke to find he had still urinated on my sofa while I was asleep. I'm now wondering if the urine is a dominating thing or maybe trying to imprint his own scent in the place?

I called our local cats protection unit and left a message (they were closed for the holidays), I'm hoping someone will call me back tomorrow with more advice and some techniques to help him settle in.

He was always climbing and jumping around the furniture at my grans so hubby is converting some of our units into cat friendly hiding spaces. We're hoping the extra hideouts and exercise will give him the courage and confidence to explore a little more and allow him to socialise more easily on his own terms.

If I could just fathom out why he's peeing everywhere and fix it. Hopefully the pills you recommended and the plug-in will help.

Thanks

A cat like this one -brought into a new situation- can be traumatized if not introduced very slowly.

Research instructive websites that detail the dos & don'ts of how to go about it . . .
giving the cat its own room for a period of time (however long it takes) to get used to the new scents, sounds, of the home in general, & the others who live there (including other animals) . . . . from the safety of their own, private, space. And only then should they be given a slow introduction to outside of that safe room.

Treat this one as a feral who needs a LOT of patience.
Never approach him. Always let him come to you, and for some time do not respond to his approaches.
Let him learn to view you as a totally non-threatening entity, first . . . without doubts.

Never look him in the eye, as that is threatening to cats. They are not only hunters,
but also prey animals . . . &, when someone they don't trust looks at them,
they feel like they're being sized up as prey!

I've personally found this website to be very helpful, so you might want to start there:

"TAMING FERAL KITTENS & CATS"
www.messybeast.com/feralkit.htm

 

[rubysmama]

First off, condolences on the loss of your grandmother.

And thank you for taking her cat. I can tell it's been a huge adjustment for your family, and the cat. He's been through so many losses - his owner, his sibling, his traumatic removal from his house. And now new home, kids and dog. Poor kitty.

I was going to suggest reading up about crate training to help calm cats, but it sounds in your last post that he may adjusting a bit better now, as he's come out of the cupboard.

Has he had a vet checkup since you brought him home? I wonder if the vet would recommend neutering him. That might help him both calm down, and hopefully stop peeing on the sofa. Meanwhile, maybe put plastic on the sofa to protect it. And look into enzyme cleaners to thoroughly remove the pee smell.

I'm thinking again about crate training. There's a few threads on this site, including one where the poster had a litter box averse cat: About To Start Crate Training For My Extremely Litter Box Averse Cat
I would definitely do a lot of research before I resorted to crating a cat, but it may be helpful in certain cases.

About your scratch, I doubt you've been able to trim his claws, so if they are super sharp it doesn't take much to break the skin. I always know when it's time to try to trim my Ruby's claws, she ends up accidentally scratching me when we're playing. If you can't trim them yourselves, maybe you could get the vet to do it.

Thanks again for taking in your gran's cat. Hopefully things will work out for everyone.

 

[Shadowhunter]

First off, condolences on the loss of your grandmother.

And thank you for taking her cat. I can tell it's been a huge adjustment for your family, and the cat. He's been through so many losses - his owner, his sibling, his traumatic removal from his house. And now new home, kids and dog. Poor kitty.

I was going to suggest reading up about crate training to help calm cats, but it sounds in your last post that he may adjusting a bit better now, as he's come out of the cupboard.

Has he had a vet checkup since you brought him home? I wonder if the vet would recommend neutering him. That might help him both calm down, and hopefully stop peeing on the sofa. Meanwhile, maybe put plastic on the sofa to protect it. And look into enzyme cleaners to thoroughly remove the pee smell.

I'm thinking again about crate training. There's a few threads on this site, including one where the poster had a litter box averse cat: About To Start Crate Training For My Extremely Litter Box Averse Cat
I would definitely do a lot of research before I resorted to crating a cat, but it may be helpful in certain cases.

About your scratch, I doubt you've been able to trim his claws, so if they are super sharp it doesn't take much to break the skin. I always know when it's time to try to trim my Ruby's claws, she ends up accidentally scratching me when we're playing. If you can't trim them yourselves, maybe you could get the vet to do it.

Thanks again for taking in your gran's cat. Hopefully things will work out for everyone.

Thank you, I really hope so.

The RSPCA gave him a look over and they did recommend neutering him but wouldn't give a clear answer on the risks given his age. I lost a rabbit as a child to anaesthetic so I'm apprehensive. Though I will ask the vet about this. I know the local cat charities all neuter the cats they take on regardless of age but since they also put healthy cats down if they don' have space for them, I'm not sure the risks are weighed before they do the procedures. Defo looking into this.

Yeah I think his nails will be quite long. He is used to having lots of scratch posts etc but hasn't scratched anything since we brought him home in November. We do have them hes just not using them. I had rubbed them and his toys with catnip thinking that might attract him but seems hes not that fussy for catnip or at least he doesn't think it's worth the risk. With everything else I hadn't given his nails much thought but ur right, I'll need to get the vet to check those too.

I've been using vinegar and soda to clean up his messes so far, its what I used with my foster cats. Some of them were so ill they had no idea when they were going so it was to stop the old but healthy ones from going in same places. I'll check this with vet too, maybe a better product is available now.

I'm glad I joined this site. I think I'm putting so much pressure in myself to take care of him, I'm becoming overwhelmed at times and not really able to think straight.

Had some great tips so far. Thanks

 

[kommunity kats]

Here's an excerpt from an article ( When Your Cat Pees Outside the Litterbox ) by a vet:

"Another common reason cats pee outside the litterbox is to urine mark.
Kitties who urine mark generally use the litterbox normally, but also perform marking behaviors.
Some cats do both house soiling and urine marking.

"It's easy to tell the difference between the two once you know what to look for.
Urine marking, when it takes the form of spraying, happens on vertical surfaces.

"Urine marking can be hormonally driven,
but more often it's the result of a natural system of feline communication, or stress.

"Examples of common kitty stressors include:

• The addition or loss of a pet or human family member
• Changes in the daily routine brought on by a change in work hours, illness, etc.
• A neighbor's cat . . . . . . . . .

"Both male and female cats spray, as do both neutered and intact cats.
However, neutered cats spray less, and neutering can reduce or eliminate spraying
in some cases.

"But some cats urine mark on horizontal surfaces, which can make it more difficult to determine whether you have a marking problem or a house soiling problem.

"Where your cat marks can provide clues . . . "

Maybe this article can help you figure out what the source of your cat's problem is.
It points out early-on that an infection can cause this or similar behavior.

 

[Shadowhunter]

Yes this is what i was worried about. Incase it is stress etc.

I've found articles saying what it may be unfortunately few tell you how to help solve the problem.

But you've both given me lots of advice for starting with.

I decided to sleep on the sofa last night to ensure he didn't urinate there. I also left a few puppy pads around since he seems to like going on books/ papers if the kids leave them around.

I woke in the night to find him walking around me. I ignored him while he was out and after using his tray and exploring the room, he came over and lay on the arm of my sofa next to my feet. I was pretty sure he was going to pee on me, but he just lay watching me for a while. He cried for a pet but i was too tired so all he got were some whispered reasurances I love him and miss her too. Though he was probably just wondering why the dirty human was laying in his bathroom! but it's got me thinking, my gran was a night owl. Unless she had somewhere to be she was up all night n would sleep through the day. The result of 40+ years of working nightshifts. Could he be lonely through the night?

When he went back in his cupboard, I looked around. No urinating anywhere outside of his box!

Gonna sleep in bed tonight and see if he's back at it, when I'm not there.

If it is loneliness I've not a clue what I'm doing about it. I can't make anymore changes, i.e. getting another cat. It wouldn't be fair if I'm wrong and he rejects them. I also can't sleep on the sofa every night and the bedroom has always been the dogs sleeping area... I suppose worse case I can camp out on my daughter's camping cot for a few nights each week but again that's not an indefinite solution.

Phoning vets and cats protection unit today to see what advice they can give.

Thanks again

 

[kommunity kats]

You might want to leave something like an old T-shirt with your strong scent on it for him all the time, like you're doing with your dog's scent. That way it might seem like you're closer than you actually are to him during the lonely nights. Hopefully it won't be too long before they both tolerate the other, and can at least be house companions. Maybe the cat will join you & the dog , sleeping at night. He has 4 major adjustments to make: loss of both best friends, moved to new home, a dog in his new home, and not having anyone to play with at night. If he can adjust to being awake more during the day, with the dog to roam the house with, that may help things.

Seriously, look into the music that is designed for cats.
If you haven't read that article I posted the link for . . . DO! (: