VERY Inappropriate toileting!!!

[Paula]

My 18 month old cat Kimi has a number of problems too numerous to mention (she's on calming pills for dogs at the moment ...!!!!) but we can cope with all her strange ways ... except in one area where we are at our wits end .... (wait for it) ...she uses the garage roof as her litter tray!!! (I kid you not!) Problem is, we CANNOT stop her from getting up there - we've tried cat repellent, cat silhouette scarers, everything we can think of. So this means every so often I have to climb out of the bathroom window to get the mess off the roof (which is very precarious!)

The most frustrating thing though is that we have a lovely back garden with lots of bushes perfect to use as a toilet area and she won't go near it! So my question is ... how can I get her to use the back garden instead of the garage roof??????

Please help!
Paula

[Traci]

Paula, since you allow her outdoors, you must know you cannot train a cat to eliminate "appropriately" outdoors.

The solution: Acclimate her strictly indoors with a litterbox. Not to mention the outdoor hazards. (numerous posts in this forum on those issues)

Why is she on "calming drugs"? Have you trained your dogs appropriately? (not to terrorize her, to respect her and her boundaries, to train them to know what is off-limits regarding her---her food, her toys, her private areas, her general safety and well-being). Drugs should only be used in extreme situations where a health condition warrants....your post was vague on that, but I never advise using drugs outside of a necessary health condition. Where the dogs are concerned, it is more appropriate to train them, as mentioned above.

[Paula]

Hi Traci

My cat Kimi has been put on drugs on the recommendation of our vet due to her erractic behaviour at home .... i.e. she was very jumpy, nervous, and would bite, scratch and swipe at you for no reason. The vet also said that the drugs might make her feel more relaxed outdoors so she shouldnt feel she 'has' to toilet on the roof for safety.

She has been on the drugs for about 6 weeks we have seen a marked improvement in her behaviour - much more friendly and sociable and seems much more happier out and about. The medication has now run it's course and so far so good .... she seems a lot less stressed - so we're all happy! The only thing that hasn't changed is her toileting habits.. and you're completely right when you say you can't make her 'eliminate appropriately' but I have heard that people have been able to successfully train their cats to go in certain places in the garden (to avoid altercations with angry neighbours) and I was wondering if anyone had any tips.

Thanks for taking the time in replying to my post
Paula
p.s. I don' t have any dogs!

[Traci]

(she's on calming pills for dogs at the moment ...!!!!)

So you mean the medication is for dogs, yes? Has it's use been approved for cats? (what is the med?)

In any event, being allowed outdoors on this medication isn't too adviseable, I'm surprised your vet didn't caution you about that. I simply do not advocate outdoor living for cats period, so I don't know how you're going to train her to eliminate where you want to.

[Paula]

The medication she is on is called "Klomi-kalm" and I believe it is for dogs - but she was only having a quarter of a tiny tablet a day so the dosage was very small. She doesn't seem to be dopey and is very alert to her surroundings so I don't fear for her safety outside (she only goes in the garden and on the garage roof anyway). I'm sure the vet wouldn't have prescribed it if he thought she would have been in danger of outside elements.

To be honest I don't think I could keep her indoors anyway, as she goes mad and gets quite destructive if she has to stay inside for any period of time and personally I think cats get bored if they are cooped up indoors (especially if they have tasted freedom) ...

Paula

[guest]

i'm in total agreement with you on that Paula

[Traci]

Clomicalm is a trycyclic antidepressant, but with fewer side effects than most antidepressants. It's use in cats is off-label.

As for the outdoors, I won't take this any further... I will only say this board doesn't advocate it.