My Mother needs help with 2 cats spraying!

[tignor]

My mother has 2 cats, both over 10 years old. She's had one for only 3 years.

The one she got 3 years ago tried to prove she was the alpha cat and there were constant cat fights. No, I don't know how Mom introduced them. I think she just brought the new cat into the house.

Lately, the male cat has been spraying everywhere. I suggested to her to get a second litter box and put them on different floors of the house. The other day, she caught the female spraying the fireplace They have both been spraying, everything, from carpet to antique furniture to the fireplace. They are both fixed and front declaw.

She has no idea what to do. She has tried to neutralize, she told me, with special cat urine stuff. I've never had this problem with mine. She said they don't use the other litter box. she loves them both and wants to keep both kitties.

I'm not sure if they are up to date on their shots. Will doing this help?

Help her, please! I'll forward any answer you send me (she's not computer savvy), and she's driving me NUTS about this like I'm a vet or something!

She does not want to get rid of her cats. here is an email from her to me earlier today:

I have been reading an opinion to get rid of one of two cats , and several ideas to covering up the odor, and to wash up the area, but what I w a nt is how to stop the problem .!!! I don't want to lose either cat, however everyday now I am scouting around the house wondering where, and what they may do next, and having to crawl around on the floor. That is not going to float with me. I need a nice little old lady who wants an inside cat, who will adore it, never hit it, keep it inside, love it and appreciate it alot, and has not had a cat there, (another cat odor may start the problem all over again), and will keep it for the duration, and will only have the one cat. Any takers? Maybe I will find a home for then both. They are is great health, and will give another probably 5 more years of love. Help, please. MOM .

Help me, any suggestion will be appreciated. She at the end of her rope.

[Ash]

First of all, she should have them checked out by her vet. Sudden change in behaviour, and especially spraying and urinating behaviour, often points to bladder, kidney or other health problems. Cats sometimes use their urine or scent to make their owner aware of that they are not okay.

Given also the cats' age, there could be something going on that has remained undetected so far. In that age, annual blood tests are also highly recommended to see if all organs function properly. If she hasn't had this done recently, tell her to do that FIRST.

You said the spraying has started 'lately'. Is she sure it is spraying and not urine? How far back is 'lately'? Make her think back to that time, if she can come up with something, anything, that could have disturbed the little household, brought any kind of stress into the house. Often owners say, no, there is/was no stress, because for US a particular situation wouldn't be stressful. But for cats, certain disturbances, if they occur often enough, can lead to ongoing tension and ensuing changes in behaviour, for example inappropriate urination or spraying, which is a way for the cat to express her anxiety and discomfort.

Spraying is also often meant as a territorial marking. Has a new cat moved into the neighbourhood and is rummaging around your mother's back yard, or something like that? Her cats, even if they are indoor cats, could hear and sense that intruder and thus start marking the house.

Litter box is another thing to consider. Maybe they don't like the place where the second litter box is located. It should be private and, of course, kept clean. Did she try different kinds of litter, and different boxes? Are they using the first litter box regularly?

Boredom could be a problem. Does you mother engage in ACTIVE wild play with them, so that they can connect and express their natural instincts, like hunting, chasing, and killing (a toy)? Bored cats are problem cats.

First of all, please tell her to have a vet appointment for both of them scheduled, to check for any internal problems. If they are in the clear, consider the other thoughts I mentioned.

I'm sure, other members will have more ideas ....

Good luck! Please keep us updated!

[Traci]

Vet visit first and foremost. Due to their ages, one or both may be suffering a hidden illness that only a vet check and bloodwork can detect. Your mom needs to opt for full bloodwork, including full urinalysis and thyroid function in both cats. Any cat over the age of 7 must have this done annually or bi-annually.

I'd suspect stress in the home, and your mother needs to determine the source of the stress. This is why the vet visit is so important, to rule out potential health illnesses.

Getting rid of one or both cats isn't the solution, and your mother's frustration is showing, thereby prohibiting her from addressing the situation. She adopted the cats for life and must recognize that a health illness or stress in the home needs to be addressed. Whoever told her to get rid of either cat, needs their head examined and is obviously not an animal-lover or knows anything about cats.

The litterboxes need to be in a private area away from heavy foot-traffic, scooped and cleaned on a daily basis and easily accessible. Make sure she is using an enzymatic cleaner that has proven success, such as Nature's Miracle. Other products may claim the same, but many of them are not effective.

If one cat is agressive toward another, enough to cause fighting, your mother needs to address that by taking steps to prevent it from occuring. The instigator should be given a short time-out (only about 10 minutes at a time) in a closed room, at the moment of the agressive behavior, NOT anytime afterward because the cat isn't going to associate the behavior with the time-out. This may need to be approached more than once, but a few time-outs, the cat should learn that the agressive behavior toward the other cat isn't going to reward his behavior. Your mother SHOULD however, reward the agressor with a special treat or playtime for any good behavior.

If she isn't spending enough time with both cats, either as individuals or as a group, she needs to devote more time with them both, engaged in playtime, activity, bonding, such as brushing, etc.

Do NOT show frustration and stress around the cats, as they will pick up on that and WILL react by spraying or not using the litterbox. Time, patience, comittment and a whole lot of love, combined with reducing the stress in the home are the answers.

Again, vet visit immediately.

[tignor]

Answer from mom:

The 2 cats have lots of toys, and one cat plays with them alot, and one cat doesn't play escept to chase the other cat. Yesterday, the cat I've had alittle longer, used the litter box to urinate, after sniffing around where I saw the second one spray, yes spray (female), but a year ago the first one was caught getting ready to spray my fireplace area, and I could tell one had been doing it. I was at the beach for a week, and my daughter came over and fed the cats, etc. That alerted me, because for years I was not aware of this. Lately, a friend pulled up carpet from my bedroom, and told me the corner (where I think only the first one goes to get away from the second one chasing it) was satuated, wet and smelled of cat urine. So they are both doing it after each other. I adopted them when they are a few years old, one at a time, and there is some sort of relation between the two.

[Ash]

Did you tell her to have them checked out by her vet?

[tignor]

Did you tell her to have them checked out by her vet?

Oh, yeah. She's on quite a budget, having lost her job with tons of medical bills in the past year. I told her to call St. Francis of Assissi and ask if they can tell her where to take them if she would qualify for some sort of program, and even offered to pay myself. She loves the cats and it's not like she doesn't want to, but I'm afraid she can't afford it.

Before people rake me over the coals for that, when she took the 2nd cat in she was financially secure.

[Ash]

Well, if you offered to pay there shouldn't be a problem? It's really important that this is done first and foremost. Since you are already actively trying to get answers for her, which I think is great, why don't schedule an appointment with a vet and go with her.

[tignor]

Well, if you offered to pay there shouldn't be a problem? It's really important that this is done first and foremost. Since you are already actively trying to get answers for her, which I think is great, why don't schedule an appointment with a vet and go with her.

Easier said than done...I'm a full time student that lives in another city...I'll call her today.