| Pet Soiling- Personal Letter and Info Please take the time to read this thoroughly. I’m adding this to my site for pet owners who’s cat has problems using the litter box. I myself just went through a horrible incidence with someone who took one of my retired breeders Midge. She went to a family home with someone I trusted. They promised to give her a loving family and take good care of her. They had her for 3 weeks and I got an email stating I must make arraignments to take her back. She was all the way across the country. She had been peeing all over their stuff. I sent them this info and they didn’t even acknowledge it never mind take her to the vet to find out what was wrong. Luckally I kept an email from a couple who wanted one of my retired breeders. Luckally they only lived ½ hour away. When they had gotten her she was skinny and very timid. Definitely, not the same cat that left my house. She was healthy, out going and a funny cat. They took her straight to the vet and found out she had a severe bladder infection. Her back legs also seemed to be sensitive as if she was kicked or hit. I was totally disgusted to even think what might have happened to her. Midge is now healthy and happy and has NOT peed out side the litter box. I’d like to give a big thank you to Wesley and Mark for understanding and taking the time to rescue Midge. She was dear to my heart and it tore me up to adopt her out and have someone put her through what they did. All I can say now if the cat is soiling please check all avenues before discarding your pet. They can’t speak and tell us what’s wrong. I’ve even known of someone who was looking for a pixie-bob and told me he had to put the last one down due to it peeing on his bed. His excuse was no one would have wanted a cat who didn’t use the litter box. Come to find out, the kitten was out of my Klondike and another female from another cattery. Quite upsetting as well! Then he expected me to sell him another cat. If you have exhausted all avenues and the cat still is soiling please contact the breeder you purchased the kitten from or myself rather than drop it off at a shelter or put it down. We are in the process of setting up a Pixie-Bob rescue. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pixiebob_Rescue/ You can email me to be put on an adoption list. I will have retired breeders as well looking for homes. We put a lot of time, tears, and sweat into each kitten. They are our furry kids and when we sell a kitten we trust the buyer to give them the same type of attention and care as we would. Don’t be insulted if breeders ask for your vets name and number for a reference. We are just checking on your other pets (past and present) health and that you keep your pets vaccinations up to date. Any Questions you may have please feel free to contact and ask me anytime: astonwoodspixies@yahoo.com or (703)491-1702. Also check out the Cat Piddle Pants web site at: www.joybies.com/index.html Feline House Soiling Tips for Identifying and Correcting Feline House Soiling Feline House Soiling For the cat owner, it can be frustrating to live with a wonderful pet that cannot seem to find the way to the litter box. There are many reasons why a cat might not use the litter box. If you take a calm, rational approach to uncovering the cause and treating the problem, your chances for success will be high. Inappropriate Soiling Inappropriate elimination involves the act of squatting to defecate or urinate on any horizontal surface outside the litter box. This often occurs when something about using the box becomes disagreeable. Pinning down the exact cause is very important and may take some careful thought. You need to consider any changes that occurred at the time the problem appeared which can be contributing to the problem. Try using a black light to locate where the cat has soiled and sprayed. Some Reasons Why A Cat May Eliminate Outside of the Litter Box • Medical problems (bladder infection, intestinal upsets, constipation) • The litter box is not cleaned often enough • The type of litter (texture or odor) is disagreeable • The litter box is located in an area with too much traffic • The cat was teased or frightened in or near the box • The litter box is too near the food bowl • Anxiety (long absences by the owner, punishment, new pets, new baby) Could This Possibly Be A Medical Problem? A variety of medical problems can lead to house soiling problems. All attempts to guide your cat back to the litter box are doomed to failure if an underlying medical problem is not diagnosed and corrected. Signs Might Include: • An increase in frequency of urination • Voiding large volumes of urine • Straining or discomfort when eliminating • Blood in the urine • Diarrhea or constipation * I also had a friend who has a male cat the would not stop spraying. She took him to a cat specialist who's diagnosis was swollen anal glands. He had to have his anal glands squeezed. Not recomended to do yourself. It's pretty gross. Not only did he stop spraying immediatly but he also squatted in the litter box while going. If your cat is experiencing these signs, a visit to your veterinarian for a medical evaluation is very important. The doctor may recommend tests, such as a urinalysis, fecal exam, or blood tests. Taking Care of Business Pinpoint and address the cause of the problem. Treatment of inappropriate house soiling problems involves three major considerations: 1. Remove the cause 2. Re-establish the habit of litter box use 3. Prevent the cat from returning to previously soiled areas What to do if The Problem is Litter Box Related • Take immediate control of the problem! • Clean the litter box more often • To help a timid cat, move the litter box from a busy area to a quiet one • In multi-cat households, it may also help to provide one litter box per cat • Confine the cat to a small area, such as a bathroom, along with the litter box. Most cats seem to prefer eliminating in the box rather than soiling the floor. It is then a matter of confining her long enough for a consistent habit to become established. • Only allow your cat out of the confined area when you can supervise at all times. • You can gradually allow more freedom once the litter box has been used in a confined area for one to four consecutive weeks. During the confinement period, remember to play frequently and interact socially with your cat. Let her out often, but only under close supervision. • You might offer different types of litter to find one your cat prefers. It is best to use another box rather than going through a series of changes in one box. • Occasionally, some cats prefer actual sand in the box, mixed with a few handfuls of soil. If this is the case, you can gradually replace the sand mix with cat litter after several weeks. • Removing the odor from the affected area is important. Use a good commercial product that is specifically formulated to work on feline stool and urine odors. Most products need to make contact with the urine or stool. Use as directed by the manufacturer’s instructions. • To be effective on carpeting or other porous surfaces, you may need to apply an ample amount as opposed to lightly spraying the surface. If nothing else is available, a 50:50 mixture of white vinegar and warm water will do a satisfactory job. • Safeguard previously soiled areas by placing motion-detector alarms, food bowls, bedding, or toys on them. Plastic, foil, or double-stick carpet tape can also be used to protect these areas. • If your cat has developed a preference for the bathtub or sink, an inch of water in these locations will curb elimination there. • Moving furniture or closing doors will deny the pet access to previously soiled areas. In some areas, such as in the corners of rooms, you may consider placing a litter box where the cat has been soiling. Spraying: This Land is My Land! Spraying occurs when a cat backs up to an upright surface and directs a stream of urine towards it. This is a marking behavior. Marking may occur when: • Your cat feels his territory is being invaded. • Your cat becomes anxious. • When neighborhood cats visit, when there are too many cats in the home. *NOT SPAYING or NUETERING- If not done before the cat begins to mature (6 months old) it will start marking it's territory. There is no such thing as a male who doesn't spray. Also, if a cat is not nuetered/spayed it may get trichomoniasis. (Venereal disease causing a thick discharge- RX is to nueter/spay animal or it can cause cancer.) Discouraging Stray and Neighbor Cats Outdoor cats can often be the stimulus for spraying. You should discourage stray and neighbor cats from visiting your property by removing anything in the yard that might attract them. Items may include bird feeders, garbage, or food. • Call your animal control officer to pick up stray animals. • When you cannot keep outdoor cats from visiting your property, you should take steps to prevent your cat from seeing them. Keep your cat out of windows or rooms where outdoor cats are visible. • Move furniture away from windows, close drapes or modify window sills so there is no room for your cat to perch or watch outdoors. • Clean urine odor from around doors and windows, both inside and outside. • If other pets in the household are contributing to the problem, separate them from your spraying cat. • If your male cat has not been neutered, considered having it done. Most males stop spraying following the surgery. • For difficult cases, medication may be required to stop your cat from spraying. If you are having a tough time controlling the problem, consult your veterinarian. Medication may not work for every cat. However, for some cats, it may be the only thing that does. What Not To Do Punishment is rarely effective and can make problems worse, especially if it is harsh or delayed. Under no circumstances should you swat or physically punish your cat. For example, rubbing your cat’s nose in the soiled area is ineffective and can heighten the problem. Any rough handling of your cat followed by placement in the litter box may lead to a negative association with the litter box. If you catch your cat eliminating in an inappropriate area, you may squirt her with a water gun or make a noise loud enough to distract her. Try not to let your cat know that you are the source of the correction. If these suggestions do not help, talk to your veterinarian about seeking the help of a qualified pet behavior consultant in your area. Thank you for taking the time to read this. If I could have one wish I the world it would be for animals to talk. That way we wouldn't ignorantly neglect them. If money is an issue and a reason for not taking your pet to the vet it's no excuse. All vets will work out an affordable payment program with you. Just ask. For more info and education please join our PIXIE-BOB yahoo egroup on line. It consist of breeders, pet owners, and people looking for information on the breed. The only dumb question is the one not asked. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PIXIE-BOB/. |
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