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las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 913
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 2:17 pm: | 
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My cat used to have issues and after months of trying every possible remedy (and I mean EVERY POSSIBLE REMEDY) we found that solitary confinement for a short time each day made him a much better all around cat. Things that had been happening in places where they shouldn't happen, only occurred in the boxes, and when he behaved really well for consecutive days he'd earn complete freedom. Things invariably happened, hence the solitary would be implemented, and within a day or two he was again the happy guy. It wasn't a punishment, it was structure.
Oddly, when my husband left, his issues stopped completely. And since we moved into the flat, he remained issue-free. Until 11 days ago. And he is now having issues every day.
These things happen during the day, only on upholstered furniture, which I cover (regardless of behavior) with an upside down vinyl tablecloth every day before I leave for work. (And at $4.97 each, times the past eleven days - this is starting to get expensive.)
Nothing inside has changed - same three cats, same behaviors, the boxes are so clean I sometimes thing of using them myself - and we are using litter that he chose when we played our multiple litters in multiple types of boxes game. Actually, I started running about a month ago - that would be the only change.
I assume something is happening nearby during the day - a person, noise, smell - that is causing him anxiety, whereby he sh*t's his pants, but what can I do about that?
He is fifteen, healthy, no changes in bowel/urine, doing very well drinking fresh water and eating and begging. The only relatively new behavior is that about a month ago he started hitting and yelling at me about 4:30 am every morning until I get out of bed to give him fresh water. And I think he said the f-word yesterday when I locked him out of my bedroom.
I know this cat; he is healthy. I don't think this is worthy of a trip to the vet.
My question is, short of a room to provide him with solitude (I can only offer him a dark closet, which I won't do), what can I do to ease his anxiety during the day? And I will not drug him.
Thank you and meow.
- Lynn |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6711
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 2:37 pm: |
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At his age, I'd at least call the vet and ask. And, since he's making it so easy to distinguish whose is whose, take a sample to be tested to rule out a GI thing going on.
Cats do very funny things when they are stressed. And that stress could go on long after the deed. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1761
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 2:38 pm: |
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las --
Hmmm. Only thing that comes to mind -- do your 3 cats now have a much smaller space to be in? (how recent was the change from house to flat?) Maybe they are having territory disputes!
Could you keep him in one room (bedroom?) by himself, with food/water, litter box during the day for a while?
Good luck
Pete |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 915
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 2:52 pm: |
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The move was in May, and the flat is significantly smaller than the house. He's been so good for so long, I thought the smaller space, with so many less options and nooks and crannies, was good for him.
I could esily isolate him in my room with his own box and food and water, but I kind of had this vision of my having a life someday and inviting a man up to my room where the cat just took dump ain't my idea of a good time. (Hold that thought, handsome - I've just got to scoop this thing.)
Yes, G'Tree - you're right. I'll nab a sample.
Jeesh - anxiety and sh*ts a lot - don't know where he picks this stuff up from... |
Wendyn
Supporter
Username: Wendyn
Post Number: 2697
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 2:58 pm: |
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Maybe he just realized he was gay.
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peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 1762
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 2:59 pm: |
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had a Playboy cartoon on the fridge for a long time --(while still married and before the kids got a bit older ;-)
showed two people "coupling" - woman on the bottom (typical Playboy/New Yorker sketch) -- and you see the house cat approaching from the, um, rear...
the caption was, her saying to BF "I hope you like cats"
Yes, the kitties will be everywhere (!)
/p
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las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 916
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 3:00 pm: |
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No, he already knows he's a nancyboy cat. |
doulamomma
Citizen
Username: Doulamomma
Post Number: 933
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 3:24 pm: |
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could the sudden need for a drink of water at 4:30AM mean something, health-wise? Diabetes?
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CLK
Supporter
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 1872
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 3:42 pm: |
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I was thinking the same thing, doulamomma. Kitty should be able to make it through the night without a drink, as long as he had fresh water in his dish at bed time. |
Fight the power
Citizen
Username: Tookiew
Post Number: 72
Registered: 12-2005
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 3:58 pm: |
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Perhaps he has a lead deficiency? |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 917
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 3:59 pm: |
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That gets me nervous. I'll call Dr. Levine. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 919
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 9:50 pm: |
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Wouldn't you know! I spread our poop all over the board and come home to find a clean house. |
ess
Citizen
Username: Ess
Post Number: 1028
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Monday, February 6, 2006 - 11:06 pm: |
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Don was probably embarrassed. Your public declaration made him stop defacating. Too bad you didn't do this earlier, with another housemate, if you catch my drift. |
Pdg
Citizen
Username: Pdg
Post Number: 388
Registered: 5-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 12:20 am: |
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I'm plagued by guilt (still, after almost nine years) of similarly confining and scolding my Kitty in a room after she was very uncustomarily pooping around the house (but peeing just fine in the box.) We had moved into our house after about 10 years in several different apartments - moving homes had never been a problem before.
Long story short, she had a tumor and died within 12 hours of first showing symptoms.
I share this not to scare you, but in the hopes that you might avoid a forever guilty conscience with any punishments/confinement. (Me, I'd make a quick visit to the vet and gratefully pay for a "wasted" visit.)
Best wishes for a happy resolution!!!! |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 3883
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 2:15 am: |
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las
A lot of cats at that age end up with a thyroid problem. Even though he looks healthy, I'd take him to the vet just to be sure. |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 920
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 7, 2006 - 9:36 am: |
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Pdg, I do want you to know I don't scold him. I know he is humiliated by his actions (he's one of those regal, better-than-the-rest-of-us types) and since I believe the anxiety causes him to mess himself, I know yelling will only make him more of a wreck. As far as the solitary, we always made it a game. He could break out when he was ready (by pushing the door, which was never really closed). Sometimes I'd put him in his room and tell him to rest up and come out when he was calm enough, and he'd hang out in there for a couple of hours then come running out as if he was ready to be a good boy. I, too, was racked with guilt, until I saw how that structure really improved his demeanor. Don't feel guilty - you did what you had to do.
Thanks, JTA. We are a few months shy of his checkup date, but I'm going to have all his levels checked out anyway. After all - what cat doesn't love a trip to the vet? |
las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 924
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 - 9:51 am: |
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I've come to find out the condo was having exterior work done the past two weeks, and there have been electricians and masons on the premises almost daily. That could very well account for Al's issue relapses.
The past two days have been clean, and it could be there are no more workers; or due to the fact I am closing off one of the bedrooms (less options can mean less anxiety for a little guy in a big flat); as well, I've been talking to Al before leaving in the morning, reminding him when I will be home (I haven't been doing that of late), promising him that he is safe inside and no one can hurt him. Some cats are more sensitive than others - I think he needs the extra bonding.
Knock on wood, we've had two issue-free days. |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 8
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 3:48 pm: |
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Sounds like you may have found the problem with the electricians, masons, and so on. But a trip to Dr. Levine (the Veterinarian, not the Chiropractor) is still a good idea. Be sure to tell him everything, even if it seems unimportant, as at fifteen years, health problems do occur, and even if given a clean bill, advanced age sometimes comes with problems as you describe.
Your new running regimen could be a cause, due to its effect on your hormones. Cats are very sensitive to a woman's cycle, and if it is changed by something, such as running or pregnancy, unacceptable behavior can result. This is not common, but it does happen. |
Shanabana
Citizen
Username: Shanabana
Post Number: 205
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 10:49 pm: |
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We moved into a much larger home here in South Orange. One of my cats has been pooping in the basement NEXT TO the litter boxes pretty much ever since. We've got a JUMBO sized litter box for each of our 4 cats. I'm at wit's end--or maybe I've just given in. I Thought of giving the cat we suspect is doing it up. Can't do that. She's sweet, young, but nervous. I'm sure it's territorial. Maybe thats why solitary works well for your cat.
All of my cats drink from my water glass in the middle of the night. I don't think that means much--they are pretty nocturnal.
Also, 15 is pretty old for a cat, right? I've lived with older cats and they seem consistently to do wacky things like that when they get aged. All of a sudden one day one cat pooped only on my bed whenever it could get in to the bedroom. The other one peed on furniture. And another licked all the fur from its rear and belly. (Granted those cats, which weren't mine, lacked proper care. They were old, however.)
Love the term--"issues"--by the way. You must be a Brit.
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las
Citizen
Username: Las
Post Number: 936
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 11:15 pm: |
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Thanks, Catman - it actually is quite logical that a cat would be sensitive to our hormones.
Also, Dr. Levine convinced me to try the solitary when I went there near hysterics that I wanted to put the cat on drugs. I'll always be grateful for that advice. (We're going next Saturday.)
Shanabana, with four cats you have got to play the multiple boxes with multiple litters game! Some open, some with covers, move at least one away from the others and bring your little pooper to the new boxes first, to hopefully mark them. The other thing I've found when something happens next to the box is that it was usually my fault: should have scooped sooner...
Nope, I'm not a Brit, but I do think my cat has anxiety, hence the issues. I just want him to feel safe. |
catmanjac
Citizen
Username: Catmanjac
Post Number: 9
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, February 11, 2006 - 2:39 pm: |
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Glad I can be of service, las. My username is because I've been the catman of Jersey Animal Coalition. I currently have eight, have had cats and pets my whole life, and the oldest lived to nineteen. |
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