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Scared Cat - Problems with using the litter box

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fred@besttechsolution.com - 25 Apr 2006 00:59 GMT
We have 2 cats, one older female who's mostly well behaved, and a
younger cat (3 years old now).

The youngest cat was always hiding, from the time he was a kitten, he'd
hide and was/is very skittish.  This seems to be getting worse with
age.

He's afraid of our ceiling fan, avoiding it like it's going to detach
and chase after him.  Even after a year, he seems to never get used to
it.  He's also very antisocial, running when the doorbell rings or
company comes over.

Earlier this year we discovered he stopped using the litter box, using
the corner of an upstairs bedroom instead.  He's ruined the flooring
and cost us alot of money for repairs.  So, we closed off this room and
focused on the litter box, trying varous locations.  He found a new
area to use in the corner of a downstairs livingroom.  We tried Comfort
Zone with Feliway Plug-In for Cats and it seemed to have no real
affect.  We then purchased a cabinet litter box, with 2 levels so he'd
have more privacy and the litter would be easier to maintain.  This was
hell to get him to just go inside of it, but we eventually got him to
use this half the time.  I've now taken to rearranging the furniture to
try to focus him on the litter box and away from other parts of the
house.  We love our kitty, but I think my wife is losing patience with
him.  We've had him since he was a few months old and he's always been
in a loving household.

Has anyone tried prozac with their cat?  Our vet suggested this the
last time we spoke to him.  Giving drugs to a pet is not my idea of the
right thing to do, but we're running out of options.

Can anyone help save our house and our kitty?
Matthew AKA NMR - 25 Apr 2006 01:36 GMT
Ok Fred here is a couple questions for you.  Sorry if they sound like newbie
questions just covering all the bases!

Has the vet ran a full work up blood and stool sample?
Has the vet ever suggested a animal behaviorist. the reason I am asking this
is if the cat has be given Feliway that usually helps them out.
Have you properly cleaned the area the he goes in?  Cat urine gets deep into
material and Cats are creatures of habit
Is there litter box in a quiet area and not near the food dishes
Have you tried putting multiple boxes down? Some cats like to use one for
each  or used different material for cat litter

There are some other comments below in your original post

> We have 2 cats, one older female who's mostly well behaved, and a
> younger cat (3 years old now).
>
> The youngest cat was always hiding, from the time he was a kitten, he'd
> hide and was/is very skittish.  This seems to be getting worse with
> age.

One of our cats is like that he jumps and every little sound and it has been
getting worse with age.  THe vet told me unless I wnated to put him on
medicine nothing to do about it

> He's afraid of our ceiling fan, avoiding it like it's going to detach
> and chase after him.  Even after a year, he seems to never get used to
> it.  He's also very antisocial, running when the doorbell rings or
> company comes over.

All our cats take offt when the doorbell rings only one will come out to see
who is here.  None of our like a certain ceiling fan   I think it makes a
certain noise that irritates them

> Earlier this year we discovered he stopped using the litter box, using
> the corner of an upstairs bedroom instead.  He's ruined the flooring
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> him.  We've had him since he was a few months old and he's always been
> in a loving household.

Some cats don't like the cabinet boxes.  IMO and IME   a cat needs a quiet
out of the way area for their cat boxes  In all the years I have had cats
none like the hood models.  It took mine almost a year to get used the the
litter maid

> Has anyone tried prozac with their cat?  Our vet suggested this the
> last time we spoke to him.  Giving drugs to a pet is not my idea of the
> right thing to do, but we're running out of options.
>
> Can anyone help save our house and our kitty?

We will do our best to help

Also If  you want to go to the news group rec.pets.cats.health+behav  if you
have it  and post your questions there.  also ping PHIL P  He can answer
most questions special about medications.  I know about valium and diazepam
due to one of my fur balls having epilepsy
Matthew AKA NMR - 25 Apr 2006 02:11 GMT
Fred do you have this news group   rec.pets.cats.health+behav    if so post
your question there  In that group there is a few behaviorist that hang out

If forgot the exact name for  but it is something like the big brother
syndrome.

Each attack that you stated was when your 8 year old hurt the kitten even
unintentially  those cries from the kitten would set off animal instinct in
the other cats I would say.

If I am reading right the cat did not continue the attack  gave the child
and the dog some lesson bites sort to say. You said the bites were severe
and nasty. How severe were the bites actually?.

The chase down the hall  animals during aggression or pumped up will chase
the target  natural instinct all animals do it.

Not saying that anything was done or has been done but has the 8 year old
bothered the other cat before not saying that he did but thinking of all
possibilities for reasons.

Did you witness both the attacks or where they told to you?

The attack on the dog  did it leave scratches or was it attack of the
thousand paw strikes I call it

The above question aren't placing blame or incentives of wrong towards
either the cat, child or yourself.  They are just questions to try to help
solve a situation or understand a situation that we in the newsgroups are
walking blind into.
> We have 2 cats, one older female who's mostly well behaved, and a
> younger cat (3 years old now).
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>
> Can anyone help save our house and our kitty?
Matthew AKA NMR - 25 Apr 2006 02:12 GMT
Sorry don't know why that posted reply here it should have been elsewhere
> Fred do you have this news group   rec.pets.cats.health+behav    if so
> post your question there  In that group there is a few behaviorist that
[quoted text clipped - 59 lines]
>>
>> Can anyone help save our house and our kitty?
Dr. Woodard - 25 Apr 2006 14:48 GMT
>He's afraid of our ceiling fan, avoiding it like it's going to detach
>and chase after him.  Even after a year, he seems to never get used to
>it.  He's also very antisocial, running when the doorbell rings or
>company comes over.
My newest kitten does that too.  The only thing I can thin of is he
was tormented by kids before I got him.  Even now after seven months
old, he still is skitish.  

My theory is he was the runt of the litter, so had to become
aggresive, but is still very skittish.

>Has anyone tried prozac with their cat?  Our vet suggested this the
>last time we spoke to him.  Giving drugs to a pet is not my idea of the
>right thing to do, but we're running out of options.
>
>Can anyone help save our house and our kitty?
My kitten uses the litter box fine, So I can't suggest anything there.
I'd be hesitant to use any medication unless the vet prescribes it.

A does that is human size could kill a cat.  (The average human is 200
pounds, you're giving the same dosage to a 10 pound cat.  No wonder
the cat dies.)
Anna - 25 Apr 2006 16:27 GMT
>Earlier this year we discovered he stopped using the litter box, using

Did you take him to vet for a urine test?  Anytime a cat begins urinating
outside of the litter box, that is the first thing to do.  This can be a sign
of a urinary tract infection.  The cat associates the litter box with pain so
he goes elsewhere.  An untreated UTI, especially in a male cat, can
eventually cause his urethra to become blocked (emergency situation).

>Has anyone tried prozac with their cat?  Our vet suggested this the
>last time we spoke to him.  Giving drugs to a pet is not my idea of the

If it is a behavioural problem, here are two books on behavioural/neurotic
problems. The first, The Cat who Cried for Help, is written by Dr. Nicholas
Dodman, a professor of behaviour pharmacology at Tufts University; there is
information on medication therapy in the book.  The other, Twisted Whiskers,
is written by Pam Johnson, a feline behavioural consultant and it has info.
on using Bach flower remedies rather than drugs (health food store product):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0895947102/104-7747655-5279905?v=glance&n=283155

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553378546/qid=1145977154/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2
_1/104-7747655-5279905?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

fred@besttechsolution.com - 26 Apr 2006 04:03 GMT
Thanks for all your help, suggestions and encouragement!
 
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