- Joined
- Jul 13, 2015
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- 137
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Hey, I'm back again. I'm in need of advice. I have a few questions about spraying, and for those of you who live with a cat that sprays regularly, how do you keep your house clean, your sanity, and keep your spouse from threatening to re-home the cat.
My neutered cat Donatello started randomly spraying over the summer. It's only about once a week that I know of, but I'm scared it's escalating now. There have been strays in the yard that appear to have started this. He's the alpha of our three cats, and always gets stressed out when he can't go assert his dominance over intruders in the yard. He's 7, we've had him for 3 years with 0 pee problems.
He's been to the vet a few months ago to check for a UTI, but I will be taking him again next week. I've put items by the windows, tried to keep the curtains closed, and blocked access to what I can. I keep the door to my office closed when I'm not in it now since the first victim of the spraying incidents was my computer.
Everything is cleaned with enzyme cleaner (Nature's Miracle ultra for cats). I've switched two of the four litter boxes out with Rubbermaid bins. The one in my office was being occasionally used, but then Donatello and Dunlop started peeing that turned into a spray. I have the biggest bins, but since they are very large cats... if Dunlop stands and sprays it even flies over that. (16" tall). My first question - are there any litter boxes that are taller than 16" that I can order online?
Cocoa doesn't use the Rubbermaid bin boxes, so I'm reluctant to get rid of the other two boxes that they all use. The problem is these boxes are only 13" tall so spray goes over the sides. We have Feliway diffusers but they aren't making a difference.
My second question - aside from plastic poly, is there another kind of sheet/material I can put down to protect a surface that's waterproof? I'm worried about my touch-screen stove getting hit and ruined like my coffee maker did.
Tonight I found spray on a cabinet, on the floor, and not by a window, which is making me worry that this is escalating more.
Third question - I'm thinking if part of this is anxiety over the cats, my next step may need to be medication. Has anybody had to medicate their cats for spraying, and if so, how did it go?
Final question - to those of you who need to live with constant pet spray, do you have any tips you can share with me about coping? I've been having anxiety over this. Aside from having things ruined, just when I think I can trust Don again, I find spray in a new place. My spouse is okay so far because I've been able to get the smell out. But the new room that he's spraying in has carpet. If the behaviour continues I don't know if enzyme cleaner will save it. I'm worried that my house will just constantly smell like cat pee and I can't have friends or family over any more.
Thank you for any and all help with this
My neutered cat Donatello started randomly spraying over the summer. It's only about once a week that I know of, but I'm scared it's escalating now. There have been strays in the yard that appear to have started this. He's the alpha of our three cats, and always gets stressed out when he can't go assert his dominance over intruders in the yard. He's 7, we've had him for 3 years with 0 pee problems.
He's been to the vet a few months ago to check for a UTI, but I will be taking him again next week. I've put items by the windows, tried to keep the curtains closed, and blocked access to what I can. I keep the door to my office closed when I'm not in it now since the first victim of the spraying incidents was my computer.
Everything is cleaned with enzyme cleaner (Nature's Miracle ultra for cats). I've switched two of the four litter boxes out with Rubbermaid bins. The one in my office was being occasionally used, but then Donatello and Dunlop started peeing that turned into a spray. I have the biggest bins, but since they are very large cats... if Dunlop stands and sprays it even flies over that. (16" tall). My first question - are there any litter boxes that are taller than 16" that I can order online?
Cocoa doesn't use the Rubbermaid bin boxes, so I'm reluctant to get rid of the other two boxes that they all use. The problem is these boxes are only 13" tall so spray goes over the sides. We have Feliway diffusers but they aren't making a difference.
My second question - aside from plastic poly, is there another kind of sheet/material I can put down to protect a surface that's waterproof? I'm worried about my touch-screen stove getting hit and ruined like my coffee maker did.
Tonight I found spray on a cabinet, on the floor, and not by a window, which is making me worry that this is escalating more.
Third question - I'm thinking if part of this is anxiety over the cats, my next step may need to be medication. Has anybody had to medicate their cats for spraying, and if so, how did it go?
Final question - to those of you who need to live with constant pet spray, do you have any tips you can share with me about coping? I've been having anxiety over this. Aside from having things ruined, just when I think I can trust Don again, I find spray in a new place. My spouse is okay so far because I've been able to get the smell out. But the new room that he's spraying in has carpet. If the behaviour continues I don't know if enzyme cleaner will save it. I'm worried that my house will just constantly smell like cat pee and I can't have friends or family over any more.
Thank you for any and all help with this