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Cat Forum / General Topics / March 2006Help with cat and unacceptable behavior... (x-post)
I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for a fairly annoying situation... We have a cat, Sally. We've had her since the day she was born, as she's from a litter of kittens my cat had (accidently) back in September '04, so she's about a year and a half old now. She's spayed. She was a strictly indoor cat until she would constantly sneak out, and it got so we could not keep her in anymore. I'm not a fan of cats outside, but we now keep her in our back yard with a tie out lead. About 6 months ago, or so, she started digging and peeing in the house plants - anything she could either reach from the ground or even the plants that are up higher, like the ones on the piano. Anything big enough for her to dig in, she'd make a mess in. Quite often she would dig and we'd wake up in the morning or come home during the day to cat pee in plant dirt and the dirt all out of the plant around the pot. THIS behavior is NOT at all acceptable. Just getting rid of the cat or getting rid of the plants is not an option at this point, as we'd like to keep her as part of our family and keep the house plants as well. We want to do what we can to break her of this habit. She refuses to use a litter box, just out of nowhere, and she uses the plants, boxes of toys or outside. Is there ANYTHING we can do? Can she be 'kennel' trained - as the case with a dog? Should we repot all of the plants with new soil or will that be a pointless waste of money? Is there anything on the market to stop cats from peeing in places they shouldn't - something that actually works? No one's sure where this bad behavior has come from. We've had the plants around for as long as the cat. If nothing works, then we might have to start looking for a better home for her, because it's not just the plants, it is also boxes of toys as well. We can get rid of the plants, but we really can't get rid of the toys, and to be honest, I'm getting tired of sweeping up dirt and finding the cat in the plants, and I'm getting more fed up when I have to constantly toss Lego and other toys in the bath tub to wash and sterilize them so they're not filled with cat urine. Should we try a new, different litter box totally? New litter? ANYTHING? We just can't figure out why she's doing this and we've had very luck trying to break this habit for a couple months now. Anything that's worked that we could try would be greatly appreciated! > I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for a fairly annoying situation... > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > that are up higher, like the ones on the piano. Anything big enough for her > to dig in, she'd make a mess in. Go to a home and garden store, buy a few bags of gardening pebbles- they're smooth, round and oval. Put a few in each flower pot or planter around the plant to cover most of the dirt. That should keep her out of the planters. Don't use aquarium gravel. While you're at the garden shop, buy a few small bags of potting soil. Cover the litter in her box with about an inch of the soil until she uses the litterbox regularly. Once she's using the litterbox normally, gradually reduce the amount of dirt until she's using only litter. Don't reduce the amount of dirt by too much or too abruptly- the slower the process the better the chance of a successful transition. Phil >> I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for a fairly annoying situation... >> [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > planters. > Don't use aquarium gravel. I thought aquarium gravel wouldn't be a good choice... We do have lots of that (as we've switched all the aquarium gravel that I hate to sil9 in all the tanks) and I've had a suggestion about rocks earlier, so maybe we will try that. > While you're at the garden shop, buy a few small bags of potting soil. > Cover the litter in her box with about an inch of the soil until she uses [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Phil I never thought to use dirt in her box. Maybe that will help to gradually encourage her to go back to the litter box and away from the plants... Worth a try, anyways! Thanks! "xkatx" <whats-an-email-address@confusion.com> wrote in message > I never thought to use dirt in her box. Maybe that will help to gradually > encourage her to go back to the litter box and away from the plants... Worth > a try, anyways! Thanks! Any idea what caused the change in attitude? Think maybe it was her getting outside and doing her litter business out there? I'd go with Phil's of earth in the litter box idea and see if you can get her to try it out. If she does, then you know what the problem is and you'll also know that eventually, you should be able to wean her back into using the indoor litter box. > "xkatx" <whats-an-email-address@confusion.com> wrote in message >> [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > litter > box. No idea... This is the only thing that seems to have changed. She still has her same attitude and personality. We haven't changed anything on her. Still the same food, litter, surroundings, toys, whatever. I will try the dirt in her box trick. Might help. We are also waiting for a call back - I did call the vet when someone said elsewhere that it could be a UTI if she's peeing on random things (like the plants and toys) She still sleeps on our bed, as always, right up next to me - this is something she seemed to have picked up when I was first pregnant with our daughter, but she's already over 7 months old now, and the cat still sleeps practically on me. Other than that, no one has a clue. Besides the dirt in the litter box being a solution. When was the last time she was taken in for a check up? Have you discussed the problem with a vet? And has she been checked for UTI or crystals? Both of which will cause a cat to change litter habits if they associate the pain of going with a litter box they will start going other places. Celeste >>> I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for a fairly annoying >>> situation... [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > encourage her to go back to the litter box and away from the plants... > Worth a try, anyways! Thanks! > Besides the dirt in the litter box being a solution. When was the last > time she was taken in for a check up? Have you discussed the problem with [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Celeste She had seen the vet right after she was spayed at about 6ish months old, so this was in about March last year - I had a couple concerns about her healing, which turned out to be all in my head and nothing out of the ordinary ;) and then right after this last Christmas. We had no real concerns, but we didn't think it would hurt for her to see the vet just as a regular checkup. I did call the vet and explained what was going on, and, of course, still no word from them. I would assume that there's no real concerns about what I had told them, which is why they didn't call me right back. They would call right back, I know, if they thought there was something serious going on, and I know because I did get a call right back from the vet when we had that litter of kittens and one was not eating at all. >>>> I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for a fairly annoying >>>> situation... [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] >> gradually encourage her to go back to the litter box and away from the >> plants... Worth a try, anyways! Thanks! > I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for a fairly annoying situation... > [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > to break this habit for a couple months now. > Anything that's worked that we could try would be greatly appreciated! You already have several good suggestions here, such as using rocks or pepples (and also *new* potting soil to eliminate any scent that may attract your cat). The suggestion to have a medical checkup was also sound. I saw you comment that your vet did not return your call. The cat should be taken in for a checkup, and specifically request that the urine be tested. Inappropriate urination is one of the most common signs of UTI. I don't know why your vet did not return the call, but that simply cannot be diagnosed over the phone. Finally, I would like to comment on something else in your message. You said you "now keep her in our back yard with a tie out lead." If you mean that you leave her tied outdoors by herself, that is *very dangerous.* A cat should *never* be left tied up. She would have absolutely no protection from a dog or other predators while tied up and and could not escape from an attack. Please do not do this! There are a number of ways to build an inexpensive screened-in shelter if you want your cat to be outside part of the time (and I could post some links if you are interested). MaryL Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'< Duffy: http://tinyurl.com/cslwf Holly: http://tinyurl.com/9t68o Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7 >> I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for a fairly annoying situation... >> [quoted text clipped - 57 lines] > I don't know why your vet did not return the call, but that simply cannot > be diagnosed over the phone. I have already tried this cat spray stuff for plants that's supposed to keep cats from plants... Don't know if it works. Made me gag from the smell and bits of spray that I somehow managed to get in my mouth, but then again, I sprayed the heck out of the plants since the instructions didn't say how much to use, other than use as much as needed, as often as needed... I will be calling them back come morning. This, to me, doesn't warrant calling the emergency, after hours vet. I just don't have the money to take her in to the emergency clinic to be told she's just moody or something, and this is behavior that has gone on for a while without any other symptoms of distress. It's just the plants and boxes of toys... Not beds or clothing or anything else. It also doesn't seem to bother her, but I don't know... She's a cat. She is not a talking cat lol > Finally, I would like to comment on something else in your message. You > said you "now keep her in our back yard with a tie out lead." If you mean [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > outside part of the time (and I could post some links if you are > interested). She's outside when the kids are outside, which means I am so lucky to sit outside - rain or snow, sun and heat - to try and read a book or whatever it may be, unless, of course, she sneaks out. In that case, she ends up turning into just a cat, and if she wants to run away, then fine. I'm not chasing her. There really aren't any predators around, other than other cats. No dogs can get in the yard. It's fenced in with a high fence. We're right in the middle of the city, which makes for no other predators, like a fox, wolf, giant cat-eating snake, coyote or anything. Worst wild animal we see are rabbits hopping along happily in the field across the parking lot. We are also not allowed to put up any type of structure in our back yard. We actually had to take down a small shed - about 3' high, that we had put up to store the kids' toys in during winter. We did, however, keep a small dog run, but that's just small - about 2' high, as our dog is a small one... He can barely walk up the stairs, so this is small. I'm not about to put a cat in something like that, since she'll jump out anyways, and if we put some sort of top on something that is 2' high, well, that's just mean. She goes out when she's being a brat, otherwise, when we actually allow her out, someone is outside, but the yard is safe anyways. My fear, actually, wasn't wild cat-attacking magpies, but I was always scared that the cat could end up wrapping around the fence, patio furniture, bbq, whatever, or trying to climb the fence to fall and strangle or something, which is why we use a harness and do keep an eye on her. > MaryL > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e > Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7 >>> Anything that's worked that we could try would be greatly appreciated! >> [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > beds or clothing or anything else. It also doesn't seem to bother her, > but I don't know... She's a cat. She is not a talking cat lol No, I did not intend to suggest that you go to an emergency vet. I agree that this is not that type of situation. I simply meant that you should get an appointment (or go in without an appointment if your vet takes walk-ins) and not count on the vet to return your call. Sometimes the message doesn't get relayed correctly to the vet, and sometimes the vet and staff feel overwhelmed. Regardless, I think a checkup is called for (but not a trip to the ER). MaryL I'm not a fan of cats outside, but we now keep her >>> in >>> our back yard with a tie out lead. *Please* don't keep her outside tied up. >>> Is there ANYTHING we can do? Can she be 'kennel' trained - as the case >>> No one's sure where this bad behavior has come from. We've had the >>> plants >>> around for as long as the cat. Both my cats prefer to use soil (dirt) to eliminate in as they are inside/outside cats. Use dirt in the box if that's what she prefers. I had to give mine a litterbox overnight as the terriers were coming here after the rats again early. Poor Boyfriend nearly burst before he'd use it, even though it was soil like he's used to. He thinks it's rude to pee or poo inside the house ;-) After being confined since 8 pm-ish last night he finally had to give in at 10 this morning when the dogs were still here.. I felt even more relieved than he did (if that's possible!) Tweed If nothing works, then we might have to >>> start looking for a better home for her, because it's not just the >>> plants, [quoted text clipped - 76 lines] >> Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e >> Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7 > I'm not a fan of cats outside, but we now keep her >>>> in >>>> our back yard with a tie out lead. > > *Please* don't keep her outside tied up. Then she doesn't go outside if she is not tied up. Sorry, the cat would go if it came down to a fine. I will not pay $280 as a fine for each incident my cat is found outside. The rules for the lease here specifically indicate cats and dogs are not to be outside unless contained in your own back yard. I cannot guarantee that the cat will stay outside and ONLY in our back yard, therefore, by rules of where we live, she must be kept indoors or on a leash when outside. I am not about to move because of this rule and what the cat likes or dislikes. This was a rule enforced before we moved here, and it doesn't change because one person doesn't like it. >>>> Is there ANYTHING we can do? Can she be 'kennel' trained - as the case >>>> No one's sure where this bad behavior has come from. We've had the [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > at 10 this morning when the dogs were still here.. I felt even more > relieved than he did (if that's possible!) We have an appointment for her tomorrow in the late morning to see the vet. I am going to pick up some garden rocks to put in the plants, and I am also going to try some tape across all the pots she can reach. See if that helps. I am also going to get new soil for all the plants she's touched, and so far, that cat plant spray stuff seems to be working, as we haven't caught her in the plants since spraying them. I am going to try and put some dirt in her box, but I will try and steer her away from dirt in her box by eventually cutting the amount of soil and adding litter over time. Dirt just tracks all over the house, and she's used litter all the time in the past. > Tweed > [quoted text clipped - 81 lines] >>> Duffy and Holly together: http://tinyurl.com/8b47e >>> Recent pics: http://tinyurl.com/clal7 > Then she doesn't go outside if she is not tied up. Sorry, the cat would go > if it came down to a fine. I will not pay $280 as a fine for each incident [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > likes or dislikes. This was a rule enforced before we moved here, and it > doesn't change because one person doesn't like it. Why can't you keep her inside?  SignatureWeb site: http://www.slywy.com/ Message board: http://www.slywy.com/phpBB2/ Journal: http://slywy.blogspot.com/ >> Then she doesn't go outside if she is not tied up. Sorry, the cat would >> go [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Why can't you keep her inside? We have tried and tried. She was actually strictly indoors, as were all of our cats. Never once went outside and she was happy like that. Never a problem at all. Only recently has she been sneaking out and going outside... I think this started right around when we moved to where we are now, which was in September. She started to try and get out shortly after we moved. No idea why. She was fine indoors before we moved, she was fine indoors after we moved - for a little while, anyways. We started noticing random strays hanging around our yard and I've chased many cats away from our back door, some I've even seen hanging off the screen door. Ever since, she's been a sneaky little thing and the second any door is opened, even to check the mail, she's trying to bolt out the door. She sits and meows to no end at the door, day and night. I don't know where this behavior came from, but when let outside, she's fine. She's usually just happy to sit in the middle of the yard and lay in the sun or whatever it may be. If I sit outside with her and she's tied up, she just lays around like a typical cat. She normally doesn't try and run, and her lead is never pulled, so it's not like she's usually trying to escape. She has enough to go further, yet she seems satisfied just hanging around the yard. The odd time she has snuck out of her harness and she bolts in those cases, which is rare, but most escapes are when someone opens the door - for mail, for someone knocking at the door, bringing in groceries, kids, whatever. I prefer cats indoors. I personally see no reason why a cat *needs* to go outside, in the city especially, and quite frankly, an animal is not worth the fine that comes with it around here, and yes, they do hand out tickets if your dog or cat is caught, and if you refuse to pay the fine, then they can consider that breaking rules stated on your lease. You have to have any and all pets approved first, and one requirement is they must be spayed/neutered and kept indoors or on leashes, or in your yard only - not in common areas roaming as they please. She's just weird. I find most cats are fairly weird and definitely have very strong personalities. We are planning to move out of here for good and move out of the city again. This has nothing at all to do with the animals we have, just a decision DH and I have made. In that case, then whatever. If we lived out of the city and the cat wanted to roam about in the yard, whatever. Not a big deal to me as it doesn't come with just under $300 of a fine each time. > Ever since, she's been a sneaky little thing and the second > any door is opened, even to check the mail, she's trying to bolt out the > door All cats do this, even mine, who knows a boring high-rise apartment hallway is out there. SOP here is to pick him up, open door, turn around, set cat down, and close door. When this is followed, he never gets out. It's tricky if there's only one person and hands are full, but we manage. We sometimes also block the door with the body, somewhat like a football player. SignatureWeb site: http://www.slywy.com/ Message board: http://www.slywy.com/phpBB2/ Journal: http://slywy.blogspot.com/ >> I'm not a fan of cats outside, but we now keep her >>>>> in [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > enforced before we moved here, and it doesn't change because one person > doesn't like it. You have at least 2 options for keeping her in the backyard. But PLEASE TRY SOMETHING besides a lead. You don't know how many pets accidentally strangle themselves (dogs and cats) on leads. You don't want your kids to come home and see that kitty has hung herself, do you? Try a 'cat playpen' . You can build one yourself or purchase one. These a large fenced in enclosures which also have a TOP. Cat breeders use these all the time. Not sure if chicken wire is okay - you'll need to check - but its really just like building a large outdoor kennel for a dog, except it has a lid so the cat can't climb out. Cats love these things. Be sure and give her a least 6 ft by 6 ft of space. Put a climbing post and build some levels out of wood, so she can climb and play. Make her a little shelter (size of cat carrying kennel) which she can go into if it rains. Here are some examples you can buy: (I googled for cat +fences) IMO the best method http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cat_care/fence_me_in.html (Humane Society listing several companies) http://www.petsnap.com/kittywalk1.htm http://www.petsnap.com/kittywalk3.htm http://www.petsnap.com/kittywalk4.htm kit to build http://www.just4cats.com/ Could order plans and build a smaller one if you want to Another alternative, if you association will allow it is cat proof fence toppers. You put these all along the top of your fence. They slant or curl inwards so the cat can't climb over. If you have a tree which overhangs other yards, you would need to encircle the tree at a level before the branches start. http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/cat_care/fence_me_in.html (Humane Society listing several companies) http://www.feralcat.com/fence.html (instructions to build your own) http://www.purrfectfence.com/ http://www.catfencein.com/ (If you association rules don't currently allow them, you might ask for an exception.) Or you can use an invisible fence - similar to the ones used for dogs http://petsafe-warehouse.com/cat_prducts/cat_fences.htm (I really don't like this idea, but its certainly the least visible fence.) There are also ultrasonic sound containment systems - but I'm not sure how well they work So you see, there are lots of ways to let your cat outside. You can keep him in your yard and still allow the outdoor play. -- maryjane PS If you're not willing to try something besides the lead, please find a good home for your kitty. Your family would do better with a dog - they're so much easier to keep in the backyard. And they make nice watch animals. Excuse me if my tone sounds too critical, but I'm really worried about your kitty's safety. But I do understand association rules about loose animals!!! Fortunately my homeowners association wasn't to quick to enforce the rule on cats - and I was able to keep my cat inside 95% of the time. >>> I'm not a fan of cats outside, but we now keep her >>>>>> in [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > http://www.petsnap.com/kittywalk1.htm > http://www.petsnap.com/kittywalk3.htm 1 and 3 look good, as it's not tall. 4 is not appropriate for us, as it's tall. We caught hell here for putting up a small shed, about 4ish feet tall in our back yard that we used for the kids' toys over the winter. We were told we had to take it down and that we are not allowed to have 'structures' of any sort in the yards. Swingsets are alright, toy sheds/garden sheds are not. I actually like the idea of the first and second links above (the kittywalk1 and kittywalk3) kittywalk4 is not possible. We are not even allowed to put up a satellite dish on the fence. Small flower boxes hanging on your side of the fence are alright, but anything that you have to hammer, screw or otherwise attach to your fence is not allowed. We have no trees at all in our back yard, other than small 2'ish Brandon Cedars that we planted in the back yard in the fall. I had actually thought of the invisible fencing. There is nothing at all in the lease about putting an invisible fence up (or I guess down in the ground) We were actually looking at one a little while back for the dog, since we have inconsiderate neighbours that leave their fence AND our fence open (we have shared gates for the back yards - 2 neightbours share one main gate to the common area, and then the one neighbour's fence opens to their yard. Kind of hard to explain) but then we've gotten into the habit of closing the MAIN gate to the common area, and if the neighbours leave their gate open, we don't close it, and there's a couple times we've called the dog out of their yard to come in. Quite frankly, these are, and always have been, very inconsiderate neighbours... They are like a drunken party house on a fairly regular basis, loud music, drunks having fights in OUR back yard, and one time, at about 2 in the morning, they were fighting in our back yard and I was out the next morning to clean up a bunch of broken bottles that they smashed in the kids' sand box and they had broken the lid to the sand box and a couple other smaller outdoor toys. As far as the little caged in area goes, I don't know if the cat would care too much to have such a small area, but if that is offered to her, and she understands that if she wants to go out, THIS is how she will be going out, maybe she'll prefer to go inside. The invisible fence also might be a good one, as it would kill 2 birds with one stone - the dog AND cat would be fine in the yard, and the yard only, without having to worry if the gates are closed. I'll ask DH if a little cat run like the pictures is something he could possibly make. I've seen screens and netting that is made for cats in cases where people might have a balcony, so maybe he can do a frame of some sort and put some netting over it. Might consider making it the max height we're allowed, just to offer the cat a little more room. Would something like this pose problems for the cat if other cats wander in our yard? Maybe some sort of box for hiding plus a small run would be alright? I don't know... Just something for her to hide in if she's outside and another cat comes to the netting, and rather than feeling trapped and cornered, she can hide in a little boxed in area attached to the run or something. > http://www.petsnap.com/kittywalk4.htm > kit to build http://www.just4cats.com/ Could order plans and build a [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > enforce the rule on cats - and I was able to keep my cat inside 95% of the > time. > I'll ask DH if a little cat run like the pictures is something he could > possibly make. I've seen screens and netting that is made for cats in [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > trapped and cornered, she can hide in a little boxed in area attached to > the run or something. Yes, a screened or mesh enclosure like one of these would be a good idea. This would not pose *nearly* as much of a problem as your current tieup if another cat came into the yard. Your cat would be helpless if attacked because he could not run, and in fact could easily become entangled in the lead and possibly strangled. If your cat were in one of these enclosures, he would be in close proximity to the other cat but could not be attacked. Even that would be solved if you had a cat door at one end where the cat could gain access to your house. MaryL >> I'll ask DH if a little cat run like the pictures is something he could >> possibly make. I've seen screens and netting that is made for cats in [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > MaryL But once again, we don't leave the cat unattended ever. The wandering random cat problem is an issue not when our cat is outside, as someone is out to chase of a cat as soon as someone sees it. Cats tend to run when scared away, and there's not enough time for a cat to sneak in to attack our cat. Easy access to our house is not possible. We cannot put in a small cat door or anything like that. I was thinking we might be able to remove the basement screen and possible attach a small run to that basement window, though. This is a temporary thing that would cause no modification to the house, other than taking out a screen - which can easily be put back in, or maybe just a small box or something attached to a run? > <m_kelbell@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message >> Try a 'cat playpen' . You can build one yourself or purchase one. These [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > cat would be fine in the yard, and the yard only, without having to worry > if the gates are closed. ;;;;; > I'll ask DH if a little cat run like the pictures is something he could > possibly make. I've seen screens and netting that is made for cats in [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > trapped and cornered, she can hide in a little boxed in area attached to > the run or something. Yes a little shelter for her is a good idea. (You could even use a cat carrier if she'll go into one voluntarily.) Yes - the cat runs can be hooked up to a window or cat door. I've seen larger cat enclosures - you'll just have to search the web to find them And its possible to build a smaller pen yourself than the big one shown - maybe 4 feet high by 4 by 4. (Maybe the association could live with that. I'd ask before spending any money or time.) Then she'd have room for a climbing post and levels. I don't know how well invisible fences work for cats - they do require you to train the cat (or dog). Obviously easier for dogs. And they don't stop animals from coming INTO the yard to harm your cat. Why don't you ask that question here as a new topic? >Then she doesn't go outside if she is not tied up. Sorry, the cat would go >if it came down to a fine. I will not pay $280 as a fine for each incident [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >likes or dislikes. This was a rule enforced before we moved here, and it >doesn't change because one person doesn't like it. Nothing wrong with taking your cat outside using a harness (never just a collar as that can cause them to choke if they run suddenly) and a tie-out. Just don't leave her out there unattended. Many cats in my city have been killed by dogs this way. Other cats have also attacked cats alone tied up. A few have been stolen by "cat collectors" also (people who roam neighbourhoods, etc. collecting as many cats as they can). > >Then she doesn't go outside if she is not tied up. Sorry, the cat would > >go [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > A few have been stolen by "cat collectors" also (people who roam > neighbourhoods, etc. collecting as many cats as they can). We don't leave her outside alone, since when we put her out, she IS on a harness and out when we are out. The kids play outside in the yard and I sit and read the same line over and over in a book between being bothered and losing my concentration ;) I actually haven't heard of people collecting cats. That right there is beyond me. Why would anyone want more cats?!?!?! lol She's supervised, on a lead and harness and she normally just lazes about doing nothing. I wish we could have a few cat collectors sent over here... The strays all around are enough to drive a person insane. > I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for a fairly annoying situation... > [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > to break this habit for a couple months now. > Anything that's worked that we could try would be greatly appreciated! I would really consider taking her to the vet. My sister had a cat that did the same thing except she didn't own any houseplants. Instead he used the dirty laundry basket. At first she thought she had made him mad or his litterbox was too dirty, but when he persisted she took him to the vet and he did in fact have a UTI. The vet explained to her why this may cause him to avoid his litterbox. Cats are indeed smart, but they don't understand that they have a urinary tract infection and that's why it hurts when they pee. Instead, they sometimes associate the actual litterbox with the pain they feel when urinating, therefore they try to avoid using it. Instinctively they will try the next best thing, which in your case are your houseplants. >> I'm wondering if anyone has any advice for a fairly annoying situation... >> [quoted text clipped - 62 lines] > they will try the next best thing, which in your case are your > houseplants. Silly cats... I'll call the vet again in the morning. This animal has already cost me an arm and a leg, so what the hey? lol >>> Anything that's worked that we could try would be greatly appreciated! >> [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > Silly cats... I'll call the vet again in the morning. This animal has > already cost me an arm and a leg, so what the hey? lol Well, the good news is that if it is UTI, it can usually be treated easily and inexpensively (although your cat will need to closely monitored from now on because many cats have recurring bouts). The really *bad* news is that UTI left untreated can be fatal, and sometimes that can happen in only a short period of time. MaryL >>>> Anything that's worked that we could try would be greatly appreciated! >>> [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > MaryL It's more my 5 year old's cat, even though we're the ones who feeds, cleans and generally maintains her lol The kid gives her love and attention, so this is pretty much the only reason she was allowed to stay. In the end, I do admit I like the cat, and it's just MUCH easier to treat a cat for any problems and to just be safe about health - rather than have it suffer or something and die or live an unhappy life. > Silly cats... I'll call the vet again in the morning. This animal has > already cost me an arm and a leg, so what the hey? lol I know how you feel! Somehow -- it is still a mystery to this day -- my cat managed to break his hip in the middle of the night. I woke up to this god-awful shreik which was him crying out in pain. He was hurt pretty badly and had to have surgery that costed me over $400. Thankfully, he is back to his old self again. I still wish I knew what happened. He was lying in front of the pantry door and above the cabinets is a little space just big enough for a cat to crawl through. The only thing I can figure is he jumped or fell off the top and landed wrong. I guess cats don't always land on their feet. The vet was equally mystified. I got the feeling he didn't beleive that we had no idea what happened. Who knows what kind of situation he got himself into. Cats aren't exactly predictable! A lot of times people don't consider medical expenses when they bring a pet into their home. But just like with children, unexpected things happen. I love my cat to death and wouldn't sacrifice his health for any amount of money, but money doesn't grow on trees and it can be tough sometimes. I hope your vet visit goes well and your kitty gets better soon. Good luck! xkatx wrote the following on 3/23/2006 10:16 AM: > About 6 months ago, or so, she started digging and peeing in the house > plants - anything she could either reach from the ground or even the plants > that are up higher, like the ones on the piano. Anything big enough for her > to dig in, she'd make a mess in. Quite often she would dig and we'd wake up > in the morning or come home during the day to cat pee in plant dirt and the > dirt all out of the plant around the pot. I agree with the others that the first thing to do is get her tested for a UTI. As far as the plants go, repot them in clean soil and sprinkle lots of pepper over the top of the soil. You may need to repeat this every week or so. I had a pair of former feral kittens and had the same problem. The pepper took care of it without doing them any harm. I've also seen plastic spikes for plants and gardens. Not sharp enough to do any damage, but uncomfortable enough to keep the cat off. As far as the toys go, could you store them in covered containers? I realize that is more of a pain than having them open and available, but less of one than having to clean them off all the time. Karen R.
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