pissed

[ragani]

I would like to think I can be an even keeled, unflappable person when it comes to dealing with standard pet issues, but I know that is often just not true. Case in point, after being away from home for over 2 days, I come home and open the door only to find my favorite scarf on the floor (which I know was hung-up when I left) and sopping wet from all the cat pee (not to mention the cable bill sitting next to it).

Gee thanks, Leeloo! I really wanted my Italian imported (personally) two-tone thneed to smell worse than the litter box, especially now that I have even more outfits to wear it with. And with the automatic litter-box looking like a well groomed Japanese garden, I begin to feel that this is a deliberate campaign to piss me off. Well, she does do it to abditus' stuff also, just that mine seems to be the target all that more often.

If it was even humanely possible, we would start by having your vocal cords removed, but I just can't even envision how we could have your bladder removed.

Strike that. That is just my anger and frustration talking.

Anyway, as both abditus and I have read several times before, pets respond better to positive reinforcement. But I ask you this, how do we positively reinforce a cat to NOT pee on stuff that is not the litter box? Sure, we could shower her with treats and attention every time we notice her actually use the litter box. But is that really going to stop her from peeing on anything she sees laying on the ground that looks more comfortable?

Comments

[aiglet.livejournal.com]

We've found that our cats generally do it as an expression of anger. On the other hand, propitiating the kitty gods is a hard and lonesome task, and generally involves sacrificing your entire life. :(

I wish I had some really good solution, but all we've found that helps is buying stock in Nature's Miracle and giving them another box near where they've peed on things. (We have two litter boxes; it helps a little but they still pee on the laundry.)

Good luck, and let me know if anyone has a wonderful suggestion!

[ragani.livejournal.com]

Thanks. We have three litter boxes, including an automated one. She has been peeing in odd places that will not suit having a litter box (right next to the coat hooks at the front door, the kitchen counter!!!!!, on the power strips and UPS under the desk). She seems disturbed to me, and we have eve asked the vet about it, but no one can see how or why, or even anything to do about it.

I hope you kitty has managed to settle in again after the latest upheaval.

closet cure

[mercator-7.livejournal.com]

Believe it or not, sometime a cat will forget the difference between the litter box, and the rest of the world. This doesn’t happen often, but when it does they CAN be retrained and you won’t have to run out and purchase an electric cattle prod to do it.

Put the cat(s) in a small room or cage with enough room for the little box and no more than 50 square feet to walk around. This can be done in a closet , bathroom, or a cage (we used a cheap dog run we bought second hand). Cats are naturally fastidious and do NOT want to mess their perceived living space. Having no other option they will use the litter box. After a week or two they will have recalled what the box is for.

I know that it isn’t easy to sacrifice a closet or bathroom for a two weeks. As I mentioned above, one spring we set up a covered dog run in the back yard. Made clean up pretty easy.

Martin