- Joined
- Oct 16, 2018
- Messages
- 143
- Purraise
- 151
Hi everyone,
I actually have sort of a two-in-one problem that I think are related and I need some advice on how to troubleshoot.
We got a new cat, Maui (3 y/o), about two months ago, and our resident cat, Coffee (2 y/o), is not taking it very well. She's always been a little shy and cautious, but super curious of other cats outside (not aggressive or scared at all, very friendly through the window). We got Maui to hopefully keep Coffee company (once they were adjusted to each other), as S.O. works long hours and I was starting school and am now out of the house for a long time during the day as well.
I know two months is not very long; I realize the introduction could take months or years. If this was the only issue, I wouldn't be too worried about it.
However, Maui pees inappropriately on random furniture or the floor, somewhat indiscriminately. She knows how to use the litter box; she does for all of her #2's, and about half the time for her pee. She rarely pees on the floor or furniture in the same spot twice. I don't know why she is doing it. She has been to the vet and does not have a UTI. She has SEVERAL litter boxes, differing types of litter, box, and location. She has used all of them at some point in time.
The introduction process between the two has been taken slowly; as of now, they get about an hour of supervised time together each night, where there is some hissing from Coffee and, on occasion, a bit of swatting at each other (no claws, just some sass). Some days it seems to be getting a little better, but other days it feels like we're taking steps backwards. During the day, Maui is out in the house and Coffee is in our room. I know this sounds backwards, but Coffee spends most of her day up there and prefers to be in there anyways, and Maui was peeing on things constantly and deliberately when she was locked up in the spare room (fully supplied with everything she needed) and Coffee had free run of the house; now, it is only occasionally.
When they interact, Maui seems completely unbothered by Coffee's aversion to her. If Coffee hisses, she just ignores it. If she growls, she just walks away. When they've swatted at each other, I think it was a case of one got too close or Maui had finally had enough of Coffee's sass (she is all talk anyways, she is a major weenie). Anyways, they aren't together without supervision yet, which, again, is not ideal but it's not the end of the world. It's the inappropriate elimination that I am having a hard time with.
I don't know if these problems are related; I don't know if Maui is more bothered by Coffee than she seems and is taking it out on my furniture. I did call the shelter and ask if this was a known problem, but they said she only did it once or twice when she was particularly (and noticeably) stressed out. They also said she was adopted once, and returned a week and a half later for inappropriate elimination so stress could absolutely be a factor and it is possible that Coffee is stressing Maui out more than she lets on (it is just weird because otherwise she seems perfectly well adjusted). She has been on Zylkene since we got her, and I recently got a prescription for Gabapentin for both of them that I've begun giving them before their meetings. I have not yet noticed a difference on the Gabapentin (other than some rather sleepy kitties, which I guess does make their interactions a bit more low-key), but it hasn't been very long.
I don't know if this is just how she's been forever, since she's already 3 years old this might just be the way she grew up (I do not know her history from before the shelter). I'm not considering giving her up, I just don't know where to begin.
Should I keep pushing forward with their introductions and hope the peeing becomes less of a problem as a result? Should I try to separate them for a while and deal with the urination first, and introduce them after? Any advice would be greatly appreciated; I don't know if crate training is a viable option but I'm open to any and all suggestions!!
Thanks for reading my rant and sorry that it was so long!
I actually have sort of a two-in-one problem that I think are related and I need some advice on how to troubleshoot.
We got a new cat, Maui (3 y/o), about two months ago, and our resident cat, Coffee (2 y/o), is not taking it very well. She's always been a little shy and cautious, but super curious of other cats outside (not aggressive or scared at all, very friendly through the window). We got Maui to hopefully keep Coffee company (once they were adjusted to each other), as S.O. works long hours and I was starting school and am now out of the house for a long time during the day as well.
I know two months is not very long; I realize the introduction could take months or years. If this was the only issue, I wouldn't be too worried about it.
However, Maui pees inappropriately on random furniture or the floor, somewhat indiscriminately. She knows how to use the litter box; she does for all of her #2's, and about half the time for her pee. She rarely pees on the floor or furniture in the same spot twice. I don't know why she is doing it. She has been to the vet and does not have a UTI. She has SEVERAL litter boxes, differing types of litter, box, and location. She has used all of them at some point in time.
The introduction process between the two has been taken slowly; as of now, they get about an hour of supervised time together each night, where there is some hissing from Coffee and, on occasion, a bit of swatting at each other (no claws, just some sass). Some days it seems to be getting a little better, but other days it feels like we're taking steps backwards. During the day, Maui is out in the house and Coffee is in our room. I know this sounds backwards, but Coffee spends most of her day up there and prefers to be in there anyways, and Maui was peeing on things constantly and deliberately when she was locked up in the spare room (fully supplied with everything she needed) and Coffee had free run of the house; now, it is only occasionally.
When they interact, Maui seems completely unbothered by Coffee's aversion to her. If Coffee hisses, she just ignores it. If she growls, she just walks away. When they've swatted at each other, I think it was a case of one got too close or Maui had finally had enough of Coffee's sass (she is all talk anyways, she is a major weenie). Anyways, they aren't together without supervision yet, which, again, is not ideal but it's not the end of the world. It's the inappropriate elimination that I am having a hard time with.
I don't know if these problems are related; I don't know if Maui is more bothered by Coffee than she seems and is taking it out on my furniture. I did call the shelter and ask if this was a known problem, but they said she only did it once or twice when she was particularly (and noticeably) stressed out. They also said she was adopted once, and returned a week and a half later for inappropriate elimination so stress could absolutely be a factor and it is possible that Coffee is stressing Maui out more than she lets on (it is just weird because otherwise she seems perfectly well adjusted). She has been on Zylkene since we got her, and I recently got a prescription for Gabapentin for both of them that I've begun giving them before their meetings. I have not yet noticed a difference on the Gabapentin (other than some rather sleepy kitties, which I guess does make their interactions a bit more low-key), but it hasn't been very long.
I don't know if this is just how she's been forever, since she's already 3 years old this might just be the way she grew up (I do not know her history from before the shelter). I'm not considering giving her up, I just don't know where to begin.
Should I keep pushing forward with their introductions and hope the peeing becomes less of a problem as a result? Should I try to separate them for a while and deal with the urination first, and introduce them after? Any advice would be greatly appreciated; I don't know if crate training is a viable option but I'm open to any and all suggestions!!
Thanks for reading my rant and sorry that it was so long!
