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My sister has a 1 year old male cat (not fixed yet). They have had him since he was 8 weeks old and have not had any problems. He has always been a very well behaved cat. He has always done fine around their dog and two young sons. My sister gave birth to her third son last october and the cat was fine. Didn't seem to mind at all. She recently got a new puppy in January and again the cat was fine.
Well about 2 weeks ago the cat started randomly peeing all around the house. He has always gone in his litter box before this and now pees on anything he can find. Even things that are not on the floor. He has peed on the new babies car seat, blankets, bouncie seat, my brother in laws military uniform, kids toys, dogs bed and so on. They don't understand why he would just start doing this. His behavior hasn't changed otherwise, just the peeing thing.
So my question is why would he just begin this out of no where and what should my sister do to stop it? She does plan to call the vet. Thanks.
Thanks. I figured it was as simple as him needing to be neutered, but just wanted to make sure it wasn't a medical condition. She's calling the vet tomorrow to set up the appt to be neutered.
Thanks to the heads up about the enzyme cleaner.
Thanks to everyone again!
Answer
Hi Brit...unspayed/unneutered animals who become stressed with changes in the home will tend to spray to mark territory and is quite commonly more noted in male cats. Cats sexually mature around the age of 5-7 months and urine spraying is witnessed. It's truly important to mention to your sister to consider having the cat neutered as quickly as possible because spraying becomes a habitual issue which later becomes difficult to resolve even after spay/neuter.
Here's a well written web article about why cats inappropriately soil outside their litter box by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html
Urine Spraying
When your cat rubs against your leg with his face, or scratches his scratching post, he is also depositing his scent from the glands in his cheeks and paws. Another equally normal but less pleasant marking behavior is urine spraying--the deposition of small amounts of urine around a given area. Spraying announces a cat's presence, establishes or maintains territorial boundaries, and advertises sexual availability.
Cats usually spray on vertical surfaces, like the backs of chairs, or walls. They don't squat to spray (as they do to urinate), but the tail lifts and quivers, and small puddles of urine are left in several consistent locations. Cats that spray are usually unneutered males and, to a lesser extent, unspayed females, but 10% of neutered males and 5% of neutered females also spray. In households with more than seven cats, the likelihood of spraying is high.
Cats may spray when they perceive a threat to their territory, such as when a new cat enters the home, or when outside cats are nearby. New furniture and carpet smells can prompt spraying as well. Cats may also spray out of frustration resulting from factors—like restrictive diets, or insufficient playtime—often wrongly perceived by humans as revenge.
How can I stop my cat from spraying?
Because spraying is different than other types of house soiling, different tactics are necessary to manage it. First, because there are often hormonal components to spraying, any intact animal should be neutered or spayed. Next, identify the stimuli that cause your cat to spray. If outside cats are responsible, motion detectors that trigger sprinklers can be used to deter them from coming onto your property. Additionally, you can discourage your cat from looking outside by closing blinds or shades, or by placing double-sided tape or electronic mats that deliver mild shocks onto your windowsills.
Address possible sources of frustration that may be causing your cat to spray. For example, introduce a new diet gradually, or discontinue it until the spraying is under control. Increasing the amount of playtime for an under-stimulated cat may also help ease frustration.
Spraying can also result from territorial disputes between cats in the same household. They may need to be separated and reintroduced slowly, using food treats to reward and encourage peaceful behavior.
Applying odor neutralizers anywhere your cat has sprayed may prevent him from spraying there again. Another useful commercial product is Feliway®, a synthetic pheromone that, when applied to household surfaces, mimics the scent of cat cheek gland secretions. Many cats will not spray on areas that have this scent. (See the end of this brochure for information on where to purchase the above-mentioned products.)
If you are located within the USA nearly all shelters will offer low fee even free spay/neuter services. To locate a shelter nearby you consider visiting the website http://spayusa.org/
Hi Brit...unspayed/unneutered animals who become stressed with changes in the home will tend to spray to mark territory and is quite commonly more noted in male cats. Cats sexually mature around the age of 5-7 months and urine spraying is witnessed. It's truly important to mention to your sister to consider having the cat neutered as quickly as possible because spraying becomes a habitual issue which later becomes difficult to resolve even after spay/neuter.
Here's a well written web article about why cats inappropriately soil outside their litter box by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html
Urine Spraying
When your cat rubs against your leg with his face, or scratches his scratching post, he is also depositing his scent from the glands in his cheeks and paws. Another equally normal but less pleasant marking behavior is urine spraying--the deposition of small amounts of urine around a given area. Spraying announces a cat's presence, establishes or maintains territorial boundaries, and advertises sexual availability.
Cats usually spray on vertical surfaces, like the backs of chairs, or walls. They don't squat to spray (as they do to urinate), but the tail lifts and quivers, and small puddles of urine are left in several consistent locations. Cats that spray are usually unneutered males and, to a lesser extent, unspayed females, but 10% of neutered males and 5% of neutered females also spray. In households with more than seven cats, the likelihood of spraying is high.
Cats may spray when they perceive a threat to their territory, such as when a new cat enters the home, or when outside cats are nearby. New furniture and carpet smells can prompt spraying as well. Cats may also spray out of frustration resulting from factors—like restrictive diets, or insufficient playtime—often wrongly perceived by humans as revenge.
How can I stop my cat from spraying?
Because spraying is different than other types of house soiling, different tactics are necessary to manage it. First, because there are often hormonal components to spraying, any intact animal should be neutered or spayed. Next, identify the stimuli that cause your cat to spray. If outside cats are responsible, motion detectors that trigger sprinklers can be used to deter them from coming onto your property. Additionally, you can discourage your cat from looking outside by closing blinds or shades, or by placing double-sided tape or electronic mats that deliver mild shocks onto your windowsills.
Address possible sources of frustration that may be causing your cat to spray. For example, introduce a new diet gradually, or discontinue it until the spraying is under control. Increasing the amount of playtime for an under-stimulated cat may also help ease frustration.
Spraying can also result from territorial disputes between cats in the same household. They may need to be separated and reintroduced slowly, using food treats to reward and encourage peaceful behavior.
Applying odor neutralizers anywhere your cat has sprayed may prevent him from spraying there again. Another useful commercial product is Feliway®, a synthetic pheromone that, when applied to household surfaces, mimics the scent of cat cheek gland secretions. Many cats will not spray on areas that have this scent. (See the end of this brochure for information on where to purchase the above-mentioned products.)
If you are located within the USA nearly all shelters will offer low fee even free spay/neuter services. To locate a shelter nearby you consider visiting the website http://spayusa.org/
How much extra money should you have under your belt before it is okay to own a pet?
Hungry Tig
I really want a cat, but I most definitely can't afford one right now. But in the next few years, I would love to adopt one. How much extra money should I have coming in every month or year before I should consider it? Covering cost of the cat ($200-600?), the food, the litter and litter box, the puke cleaner, the dishes, the toys, and most importantly, money to be put aside in case a trip to the vet is needed.
Answer
If you get a kitty from a shelter the initial costs would be
Cat: $75-$175
Carrier: $10-$40
Dishes: $20
Litter Box: $20
Toys: $20-$30
Brushes: $10-$30
Bed: $30
Scratching Post: $30-$150
Registration: $20-$40 (depends on where you live)
"Free kitten" add on
Spay/Neuter: $100-$150
Microchip/Tattoo: $50-$100
Vaccinations: $150-$200
On-going Costs
Food: $20-$50/month
Litter: $10-$30/month
Deworming: $20-$30/year or $10-$20/month
Annual check/Vaccinations: $70-$150
It's always good to have an emergency fund in case your fur kid needs to go to the emergency animal hospital or develops an illness that needs to be attended to, diagnosing and treating a problem can get quite expensive but it's worth every penny to keep your friend happy and healthy! I'm glad to hear you are waiting until you are sure you can properly care for a cat, people often cut corners by not getting their kitties fixed or vaccinated or checked regularly or buying cheaper lower quality food/ Good for you!
If you get a kitty from a shelter the initial costs would be
Cat: $75-$175
Carrier: $10-$40
Dishes: $20
Litter Box: $20
Toys: $20-$30
Brushes: $10-$30
Bed: $30
Scratching Post: $30-$150
Registration: $20-$40 (depends on where you live)
"Free kitten" add on
Spay/Neuter: $100-$150
Microchip/Tattoo: $50-$100
Vaccinations: $150-$200
On-going Costs
Food: $20-$50/month
Litter: $10-$30/month
Deworming: $20-$30/year or $10-$20/month
Annual check/Vaccinations: $70-$150
It's always good to have an emergency fund in case your fur kid needs to go to the emergency animal hospital or develops an illness that needs to be attended to, diagnosing and treating a problem can get quite expensive but it's worth every penny to keep your friend happy and healthy! I'm glad to hear you are waiting until you are sure you can properly care for a cat, people often cut corners by not getting their kitties fixed or vaccinated or checked regularly or buying cheaper lower quality food/ Good for you!
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