Need help with cat behavior

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ch_squire - 20 May 2004 20:04 GMT

Hello,

We have a five year old cat with some big behavioral problems. He was a
"farm cat" that was taken from the farm at five months old. We adopted him
four years ago from our neighbors, which had give up on him.

From the start, he has had a problem marking his territory (he is fixed).
If we were to leave a blanket on the floor, or when we bring new furniture
into the house, he urinates on it. We have to keep all our doors in the
house closed because he'll do the same thing to our beds.

He is also turning more aggressive towards our other, older male cat. He
spends all night staring out the windows, and if he sees a cat outside, he
will attack our other cat, at times making him bleed.

Recently, he has also started defecating outside the litter box, even if it
is clean. For some reason, he only does this on the lower level of our
house, not on the main floor.

It would be very easy for us to bring him to the shelter. We are moving
into a newer house next month, and don't want him doing the same things
there. Trouble is, at times, he can be the sweetest, most loving cat we've
ever had. I'm concerned that if we just pass our problems on to another
family, they'll just have him destroyed.

Can anyone provide some advice? We've heard all the jokes about the inbred
farm cats, but I'd love to help him if we can.

Thanks,

-Chris

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Gene Royer - 20 May 2004 23:52 GMT

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> -Chris

Lordy. I had an outsider that I caught and neutered and brought him in the
house because he was injured and could not survive on his own. Being an
outsider, he was wont to stake out his territory--even after being neutered.

It is amazing the amount of damage a spraying cat (male or female) can do to
drapes and upholstery. In the three years we had him, he presented a
challenge that we were never able to rise above. We really loved the
little guy; and even when he died from Leukemia we mourned his passing.

I don't know the answer. Cats are creatures of habit; so, if you can change
the habit, you might be able to change the cat. But we never were.

Isn't this an interesting message.

Gene Royer

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~*Connie*~ - 21 May 2004 02:43 GMT

your a little out of my area of info.. (I wont go so far as to say
expertise) I would recommend you do a little research in your area for a
cat behaviorist. They are out there.. and they could offer you some help.

Good luck!

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> -Chris

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Kalyahna - 21 May 2004 03:33 GMT

> Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> into the house, he urinates on it. We have to keep all our doors in the
> house closed because he'll do the same thing to our beds.

Has he been to the vet to rule out a urinary tract infection? What you
describe does sound more behavioral, but the medical needs to be ruled out.

> He is also turning more aggressive towards our other, older male cat. He
> spends all night staring out the windows, and if he sees a cat outside, he
> will attack our other cat, at times making him bleed.

This is redirected aggression and not entirely surprising considering his
history. You may have luck with Feliway dispensers - my sister's cat will
spray under the window unless she has the dispensers going.

> Recently, he has also started defecating outside the litter box, even if it
> is clean. For some reason, he only does this on the lower level of our
> house, not on the main floor.

Is he going right outside the box, or on the wrong floor entirely? There
should, ideally, be a litterbox on each floor of the house. Is it on the
lower level that he sees the other cats?

> It would be very easy for us to bring him to the shelter. We are moving
> into a newer house next month, and don't want him doing the same things
> there. Trouble is, at times, he can be the sweetest, most loving cat we've
> ever had. I'm concerned that if we just pass our problems on to another
> family, they'll just have him destroyed.

You may want to call your local shelter and see if they can offer any
advice. Those of us that work or volunteer at shelters would rather see
problems fixed and cats kept than see more of them come in to us. Otherwise,
see if the shelter or your vet can recommend a certified behaviorist (note
that vets themselves are not necessarily trained in animal behavior).

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lillie - 22 May 2004 15:13 GMT

Sorry, but I don't think that there is a whole lot you can do. Some
male cats mature early and/or the "fix doesn't work" when it comes to
spraying, marking. And once they start, it is hard to get them not to.
He is probably trying to take over the leading role from your other
cat.

There is one other possibility: he might be upset with someone or
something. I have seen this in one of my cats. She is the one closest
to me and she is the one who "takes care of me". Whenever she thinks
that I haven't done my job, when I overstep the rankorder and treat
her sister to something she isn't supposed to have, she pees on
something of mine.( Effective way of training your mum...)

Things MIGHT get better once you move - I would at least give that a
try... And of course, call your local vet for advice...

lillie

>Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
>-Chris

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BarB - 25 May 2004 22:07 GMT

>Hello,
>
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>into the house, he urinates on it. We have to keep all our doors in the
>house closed because he'll do the same thing to our beds.

>Can anyone provide some advice? We've heard all the jokes about the inbred
>farm cats, but I'd love to help him if we can.
>
>Thanks,
>
>-Chris

When you've done everything you can and there's no medical problem
sometimes the only solution is to keep the cat confined except when you are
watching him. Buy the biggest cat condo you can find with several levels
and put it by a sunny window. That's going to be cheaper than new carpets
and drapes. That's going to be a better life than in a shelter.

When you are home, let him out in one room to cuddle and play. You may find
that slowly he can be trusted more and more.

Good luck

BarB

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