Hey everyone, hoping I can get some advice here.
In October of 2016, we adopted 2 kittens both were 8-9 weeks old.. First, we adopted Iggy from a shelter. She appears to be a Somali. About a week later, we adopted Hank from some people who just had kittens. He's a black and white tuxedo. They were best friends. Always cuddling and sleeping by each other. Iggy was fixed at the shelter. Hank was not fixed and we soon discovered he had fleas. We got him fixed at the vet, and both updated on flea medication. Everything was going fine. In April of 2017, we decided to add another cat to our family. We found Jaxon at a rescue/foster center, he was 3 years old. They were hesitant about us adopting him, because he was previously adopted and returned because he didn't get along with that owners 2 make cats. He was so loving towards us, I felt like he was picking me. We brought him into our home in a cat carrier, left him inside it for maybe 20 minutes so the other cats could smell him a bit and then we let him out to roam. We could've done better at a slow introduction but we were naive. He seemed to adjust well into the family, however he was always very skittish and hide all the time. After a week of two, we began to notice Jaxon and Iggy fighting. Jaxon and Hank would also fight but Hank fought back, while Iggy is more of the run and hiss type.He seemed to be blocking her from accessing the litter boxes, staring at her, cornering her. And Iggy began to pee in inappropriate places. Piles of clothes that werent taken care of, the couch, my bed. Jaxon never seemed to be comfortable here, he always acted like he was afraid of everything and in general didn't seem happy here. We spoke with the foster care/rescue that we got him from, and we all decided it would be best for him to go back with them and they would find him a foster home until he could be adopted again by a family with no other cats. We bought a new mattress, and a new couch, hoping that if we got the stained furniture out of our house, she wouldnt be able to smell the old pee and wouldn't think she needed to pee there. However, the peeing on the couch still continued. It's always the same spot of the couch, in between the cushions. She has done this in front of me, while I'm sitting on the couch. I don't punish her, I just shoo her off, and take her directly to the litter box. With this problem continuing, we took Iggy to the vet and the vet said he wanted to try prescription Ovaban for her, that long haired cats are normally more temperamental than others. Ovaban is birth control for cats. It's said to help with behavioral issues as well. The Ovaban seemed to help a little bit. But without Jaxon in the house, Iggy and Hank's relationship became tense and now he treats Iggy how Jaxon did. He tries to be the alpha of the house, grooming her, and she doesn't like it. Hank will go after her while she's in the litter box. He constantly stares at her as she moves around the house. We decided to take Hank to the vet to see if that could give us any answers. The vet wanted us to try Ovaban for Hank too. After about 2 months of this, and no new pees outside the litter box, Iggy has done it again. Twice yesterday, in two different spots of the couch. We've tried several different cleaners, bissell, nature's miracle. The smell goes away, but the peeing continues. The vet said if it continues, he will want to do blood work. We aren't in a financial position to be able to afford to have bloodwork done. I'm not a vet, but I think it's a behavioral issue and not anything medical, because it's always in the same place on the couch and not all over the house. We love the cats and just want the peeing to stop. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Extra thoughts- We have 3 litter boxes in separate areas of the house, none of them have hoods, and they all have clear view points around them. Iggy eats at a raised location, we have cat trees, access to windows, several scratching posts/boards, toys. Iggy and I have a great bond, she sleeps right next to me every night, and wants attention as soon as I get home. She doesnt want attention from anyone else in the house. Sometimes, I've wondered if she has seperation anxiety when I'm gone, and that added with the stress of Hank going after her, is causing her to urinate on the couch. I have a 6 year old who is always here, and 3 step kids who are here half the time, that have cats and dogs at their mothers. Could also be a cause of stress?
In October of 2016, we adopted 2 kittens both were 8-9 weeks old.. First, we adopted Iggy from a shelter. She appears to be a Somali. About a week later, we adopted Hank from some people who just had kittens. He's a black and white tuxedo. They were best friends. Always cuddling and sleeping by each other. Iggy was fixed at the shelter. Hank was not fixed and we soon discovered he had fleas. We got him fixed at the vet, and both updated on flea medication. Everything was going fine. In April of 2017, we decided to add another cat to our family. We found Jaxon at a rescue/foster center, he was 3 years old. They were hesitant about us adopting him, because he was previously adopted and returned because he didn't get along with that owners 2 make cats. He was so loving towards us, I felt like he was picking me. We brought him into our home in a cat carrier, left him inside it for maybe 20 minutes so the other cats could smell him a bit and then we let him out to roam. We could've done better at a slow introduction but we were naive. He seemed to adjust well into the family, however he was always very skittish and hide all the time. After a week of two, we began to notice Jaxon and Iggy fighting. Jaxon and Hank would also fight but Hank fought back, while Iggy is more of the run and hiss type.He seemed to be blocking her from accessing the litter boxes, staring at her, cornering her. And Iggy began to pee in inappropriate places. Piles of clothes that werent taken care of, the couch, my bed. Jaxon never seemed to be comfortable here, he always acted like he was afraid of everything and in general didn't seem happy here. We spoke with the foster care/rescue that we got him from, and we all decided it would be best for him to go back with them and they would find him a foster home until he could be adopted again by a family with no other cats. We bought a new mattress, and a new couch, hoping that if we got the stained furniture out of our house, she wouldnt be able to smell the old pee and wouldn't think she needed to pee there. However, the peeing on the couch still continued. It's always the same spot of the couch, in between the cushions. She has done this in front of me, while I'm sitting on the couch. I don't punish her, I just shoo her off, and take her directly to the litter box. With this problem continuing, we took Iggy to the vet and the vet said he wanted to try prescription Ovaban for her, that long haired cats are normally more temperamental than others. Ovaban is birth control for cats. It's said to help with behavioral issues as well. The Ovaban seemed to help a little bit. But without Jaxon in the house, Iggy and Hank's relationship became tense and now he treats Iggy how Jaxon did. He tries to be the alpha of the house, grooming her, and she doesn't like it. Hank will go after her while she's in the litter box. He constantly stares at her as she moves around the house. We decided to take Hank to the vet to see if that could give us any answers. The vet wanted us to try Ovaban for Hank too. After about 2 months of this, and no new pees outside the litter box, Iggy has done it again. Twice yesterday, in two different spots of the couch. We've tried several different cleaners, bissell, nature's miracle. The smell goes away, but the peeing continues. The vet said if it continues, he will want to do blood work. We aren't in a financial position to be able to afford to have bloodwork done. I'm not a vet, but I think it's a behavioral issue and not anything medical, because it's always in the same place on the couch and not all over the house. We love the cats and just want the peeing to stop. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Extra thoughts- We have 3 litter boxes in separate areas of the house, none of them have hoods, and they all have clear view points around them. Iggy eats at a raised location, we have cat trees, access to windows, several scratching posts/boards, toys. Iggy and I have a great bond, she sleeps right next to me every night, and wants attention as soon as I get home. She doesnt want attention from anyone else in the house. Sometimes, I've wondered if she has seperation anxiety when I'm gone, and that added with the stress of Hank going after her, is causing her to urinate on the couch. I have a 6 year old who is always here, and 3 step kids who are here half the time, that have cats and dogs at their mothers. Could also be a cause of stress?
try a reintroduction to the rest of the house/other cat.
