Friday, August 31, 2012

How to Get a Cat to Stop Peeing in a Certain Place


When it comes to outside-the-litterbox toilet activity, some cats have a spread-the-wealth mentality; every place is fair game. But others develop an attachment to a particular place and will return to it over and over. Here are some ways to convince Kitty not to use a particular place in your house as a substitute litter box.
The first step is to get the spot as clean as possible. Cats rely extensively on their sense of smell, and the more that particular corner of the dining room smells like a litter box, the greater the chance it will be used that way. This can take some time, but it's absolutely essential. In fact in some cases getting the spot thoroughly clean can solve the problem.
Make sure your litter box is meets all the essential "cat criteria": is it clean, easily accessible, and located in a place that's quiet and private? Have you recently changed brands of litter? Try changing back to your old brand. Have you added a new cat to the household? Try setting up a second litter box. The more reasons a cat has to object to the box, the great the chance that she'll keep doing her business in an unauthorized area.
If your box is up to standard and the favorite spot is clean and odor free but the cat keeps returning to it anyway, try one of these solutions:
1. Put a litter box in that spot where the cat keeps urinating. This may seem like a real "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" capitulation, but it's not. If you can get Kitty to use an approved box in that spot, you can gradually move the box away from the spot and hopefully Kitty will follow. Granted, a litter box under your desk may be inconvenient, but if the cat gets the idea and stops soiling the carpet, it's worth it.
2. Cover the spot. If you can cover the spot with something like a china closet, great. If they can't get to the spot they can't pee on it. If you can't make the spot inaccessible, try covering it with something that cats dislike, such as aluminum foil or sticky tape.
3. Make the spot uninviting. If you're thinking there's nothing on earth that could make a spot more uninviting than the lingering aroma of cat pee, you're thinking like a human. From a cat perspective, the smell of citronella, lemon, orange peel, vinegar, or mothballs is much worse.
4. If you can catch the cat approaching the spot, a quick shot with a water pistol or a spray bottle can be a deterrent. It's important to realize that this is NOT a matter of punishing the cat - it's trying to get the cat to associate the cat with something they don't like (being wet).

Reasons Why an Old Cat Is Peeing Outside the Litter Box


There are few things more frustrating than when a cat that was previously using the litter box quite happily suddenly stops using it and urinates around the house instead. Sometimes older cats can stop using the box after a lifetime of being house trained. However, there is generally a good reason, and with a little patience and understanding the problem can usually be resolved.
One of the most common reasons for an older cat refusing to use the litter box is a Urinary Tract infection (UTI). This makes it difficult for your cat to urinate and causes him pain and discomfort. Often the cat will associate the pain with the litter box and will try to find somewhere else to go, in the hope that it won't hurt. A cat with a UTI will also need to urinate much more frequently as a matter of urgency, so may not always be within easy reach of the box.
Signs of a UTI are obvious pain and discomfort on urinating, trying to urinate frequently, circling and scratching for a long time before actually squatting and only producing a small amount of urine at a time. As the infection progresses, the urine may have a pink tinge or be very concentrated. If you suspect that your cat may have a UTI, take him to the vet as soon as possible. Your vet will prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection, and your cat should then be fully house trained once more.
An older cat may also become reluctant to use the litter box if he develops arthritis. If his limbs are affected, he may find it difficult or painful to jump in and out of the litter box and so will find somewhere more accessible instead. Signs that your cat has arthritis include stiffness and signs of pain when walking, reluctance to jump onto higher surfaces and reluctance to be picked up. Your vet will be able to prescribe medication to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis and control the discomfort. You could also provide your cat with a lower sided box which is easier for him to get in and out of.
A change in your cat's routine may also be the cause. This can be a major change such as a house move or a new baby or a much smaller change such as a rearrangement of furniture. Cats are very much creatures of habit and any changes to his routine can cause him a great deal of stress. You will need to give him plenty of reassurance and help him to establish a new routine. Make sure he knows where the litter box is and praise him when he goes to use it. If you have a new addition to the household such as a new cat or dog, make sure your older cat's litter box is sited somewhere private. Cats will generally require a box each, preferably in their own private space.
Older cats can suffer from dementia, so it is possible that he may simply forget where his litter box is or how to use it. Signs of feline dementia include excessive meowing for no reason, especially during the night, and a lack of awareness of where he is. He may also display behaviors such as walking round in a circle or a reluctance to be left alone. Sadly there is no cure for feline dementia, although there is medication that can slow the process. You may simply have to learn to live with it. Try placing the litter box in the spots where your cat tends to urinate; it may be useful to purchase an extra box or two for this purpose.
Hopefully this article will help you to solve the problem of your older cat peeing around the house and rebuild your relationship with him.

Very Angry Cat Pees All Over the House - How to Help Both You and Your Cat


If you have a very angry cat who pees all over the house, then your best solution lies in working out why this has happened. It is only by understanding your cat that you can ever help her, and so you, through this.
Although your cat, and so the cause, is unique, the following ideas may help you to isolate the problem. By knowing a problem, it can be easy to fix.
Cats are not angry by nature. They are much more likely to be fearful than angry. So if you consider your cat is angry, then you have a larger than normal problem. And a cat who pees outside their normal litter tray is giving you enormous hints that all is not well.
All sorts of things can contribute to a problem for one cat which may not even be noticed by another. So start your problem solving by working out when your cat became angry.
What was happening in her life at the time? Some contributing factors may be:
  • a new medical drug
  • a vaccine
  • a move
  • a new family (grief for the old one?)
  • a new baby, pet, partner, house guest, neighbour
  • someone teasing the cat
  • a new food
And so on. The list can be extensive.
If you consider this problem started after administration of a veterinary drug or vaccine, then a visit to a good homeopath may be able to undo this damage.
If a change of circumstances caused the problem, then give your cat time to adapt. Generally, cats like routine and known quantities. They normally dislike change. Give them some breathing space and an abundance of TLC.
Teasing can be one of the most likely causes of an angry cat. So ensure this can't be happening.
Grieving for a past family can take time to overcome. Again, give your cat space and an abundance of love.
It can be very useful talking to your cats, as if they are adult humans. Talk to them as your equal, rather than as your inferior. They understand you very clearly. It humans who are the problem, not understanding them. Talk to them, asking them to help you understand what it is they are trying to tell you. You may be surprised at the thoughts that appear in your mind. Act on them.
Once they know you are taking action, the peeing around the house is likely to stop.
By the way, a diluted white vinegar solution is the best way to remove urine odour.

Cat Peeing on the Carpet? Use This Natural Recipe to Eliminate Cat Odors


Cat pee has a way of offending your nose; the smell tends to linger for hours. If you have, an indoor cat chances are you will have to deal with cat pee odors at some point. Even though felines are very easy to litter box train, they will stray from the box in certain instances, particularly if you are slow in cleaning the litter. Once they have found a new spot for a potty break, you will have real frustrating and smell problem onto on your hands.
Creatures of Habit
Cats are creatures of habit led by their keen sense of smell. Any area that smells like the urine will be fair game and since cat pee odors are particularly hard to get rid of, you can imagine the challenge. All is not lost however, with a few simple tools you can find and erase the urine smells completely with an all-natural cat pee remedy.
Recipe
Ammonia and mercaptan (the chemical skunks spray) are the main ingredients in cat pee. The ammonia is particularly irritating to many people and the mercaptan helps it stick around, seemingly forever. The best home remedy recipe for this toxic combination is:
• 1 teaspoon liquid dish soap
• ¼ cup baking soda
• 1 quart hydrogen peroxide (3%)
When mixing these particular ingredients you want to be extra careful as this mixture has the potential to be unstable. Once it is mixed well, store it in a spray bottle until you locate the offending area.
Clean Up on Aisle Three
Locating the exact urine spot can be difficult, particularly if there are no feces present. One very simple solution is to use a black light. Cat waste will glow brightly beneath a black light, which will allow you to clean the area thoroughly.
Before using any of these solutions, test the mixture on a small area first to ensure the peroxide does not discolor your carpet or rug. Saturate the location thoroughly with your natural cat pee remedy. Soak all areas well and then blot with a towel, allow the rug or carpet to dry and sprinkle pure baking soda over the area.
To summarize, if your cat is peeing on the carpet, all hope is not lost. The above natural recipe is an effective natural way to neutralize and remove cat odor; this recipe will save your carpet as well as your nose hairs! In no time at all your home will smell fresh and clean once more.

How to Stop the Cat From Peeing on Your Bed


There is nothing quite as disheartening as finding that dreaded damp spot on your bed and realizing the cat has done it again. It's a painful reality for many cat owners and many don't know how to find the solution to stop the cat peeing on the bed.
The good news is that there is a solution. It took me a long time and many quilts and mattresses to find the solution to stop my cat peeing on my bed but I eventually found it and I'll tell you how you can too.
First I'll tell you just how bad the situation was with my cat.
The bed wasn't the only place that my cat was peeing. He was peeing on the carpet too.
In fact, he peed so often on the carpet that it rotted the floorboards and ended up costing my wife and I thousands of dollars in repair bills. We were at our wit's end and decided that we would either have to give our beloved cat up or find a solution.
The secret to stopping your cat peeing on the bed depends on your situation but this one tip will almost certainly start you in the right direction.
Add another litter box. To be specific, you should have one more litter box than you have cats.
Cats are very clean animals and they are very picky about their surroundings. It doesn't take much to make them decide to forgo the litter box and pick somewhere like your bed to urinate. By adding more litter boxes, you are giving them more options.
My wife and I ended up keeping our cat and he hasn't peed on our bed (or our carpet for that matter!) in years. We took it upon ourselves to find a solution when we were finally at our wit's end.
We did a lot of reading about how to stop our cat peeing outside the litter box on the Internet and weren't entirely satisfied with what we found. We spent the next several months compiling all the most relevant information and also interviewing veterinarians in our area and around the world.

Why Does My Cat Pee Everywhere?


Whether your cat is old or young, male or female, anxious or mellow, he or she can get the idea that peeing anywhere but the litterbox is a good thing. Many frustrated humans in the past and present have tried nearly everything to figure out why the cat does this - and, of course, to solve the problem.
Here are the first things that you should do when your cat insists on stinking up your house. You'll have to be patient while you work your way through this list, but soon your kitty will be back to doing his or her business in an appropriate place.
  • Your cat needs a full health checkup. In many cases, cats pee right in front of you when they're sick. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common health problems, which your vet can treat. Even if that's not what's wrong with your kitty, your vet can track down, and solve, the problem.
  • Cats who are older or who have health problems (joint pains, for example), can't get in and out of the litterbox like they could when they were younger. Make the litterbox more accessible so that your kitty can get in and out.
  • The litterbox itself might be a problem. If you have more than one cat, you might need to put out additional litterboxes. The type of litter and how much of it you use can be problems. You should also change the cat litter and thoroughly scrub the litterbox. The plastic tends to absorb urine smells, which can turn off housecats.
  • Sometimes cats will act out by peeing all over your favorite things. This can be a sign that they're unhappy about something. Try giving your cat more (positive) attention. Extra playtime with his favorite toy can cure the behavioral issue. You can also ask your vet about a product that will help soothe your kitty: Feliway is one example.
  • Tomcats often spray anything that they wish to mark as their own territory. Sterilization can improve this problem.
  • Elderly kitties can suffer from feline dementia. They honestly don't realize that they're doing something wrong when they pee all over your clean laundry. Buy housebreaking pads - the disposable kind that people use with puppies - and put them down where your kitty pees the most often. This won't convince her to use the litterbox, but cleanup will be much easier compared to what you're doing now.
You should do a few things when your kitty decides to mark something in your house.
  • Never hit the cat or rub her nose in the mess. Cats aren't like human children: they don't understand that what they do is wrong. You can deter behavior as the cat is doing it, but trying to teach the cat after the fact doesn't work very well. Instead of scolding kitty afterward, catch her in the act and spritz her with tap water from a spray bottle.
  • Completely clean the marked territory. Even if you can't smell the cat pee, the cat will. That's her sign to continue peeing there. Visit the pet store for a product that removes all of the pet odors.
  • Give your cat plenty of positive attention. Despite the stereotypes that surround felines, cats do bond with their humans. They want our attention and will go to great lengths to get it from us.
Don't worry: you'll track down and solve the problem soon enough. In the meantime, be as patient as possible. Your solution will come and you can resume the carefree relationship

Is Your Cat Peeing Everywhere? Find Out Why, And Put An End To Your Problem


Cat lovers really love their cats. But, one thing that they don't love is when they have a cat peeing everywhere. When this starts happening, no matter how much you love your cat, it can be difficult not to get really angry and just want to give it away, or take it to a shelter so you don't have to deal with the problem any more.
that is ruffles.
Most people who have ever had cats have probably had the problem of at least one cat abandoning the litter box. In a lot of cases, the cat owner just learns to deal with, and clean the messes as they occur.
This is fine if you don't mind having a house that smells like cat pee. If your cat is peeing everywhere, and you do nothing to stop it besides clean up after it, the odor is eventually going to start sticking around, and it is none too pleasant.
When you have a cat peeing everywhere, it is not only the mess and the smell that you have to worry about.
For example, if you also have small children that are crawling around the floor, chances are that they are going to crawl right through a puddle of cat pee. Or, your cat may be peeing on your clothing or furniture, which can be really difficult to clean and get the smell out of (using fabric fresheners often helps quite a bit).
You need to find out why you have a cat that isn't using it's litter box.
Is there a medical problem that can easily be taken care of?
Are you keeping the litter box clean enough?
Has anything happened recently to cause your cat stress, such as moving or an addition to the family?
These are all things you need to look at in order to take care of the problem of a cat urinating everywhere other than its litter box.