Cats! This behavior is unacceptable!
September 24, 2013 8:12 AM Subscribe
Cats are deliberately avoiding the litter boxes: how do we get them to stop? (Obligatory photos and snowflake details inside.)
We have two cats, Jack is the black one and Della is the gray one. We've had them from kittenhood; they're about 4 years old at this point.
Historically, they've been great cats, but a few months ago, Jack started pooping on the carpet outside the bathroom. He has always made the most disgusting wet poops, which the vet investigated in his first year and found nothing wrong with. When this had been going on for a little while, Della began peeing there as well. It's disgusting -- the pooping generally happens overnight, and it's literally right in the doorway to the bathroom, so if you're not watching first thing in the morning, you can step on it or close the door over it. This is unacceptable:we have a two-year-old and we have a two-month-old baby who's going to start crawling at some point, and it's not okay to have cat poop or the remnants thereof on the floor. We're at a loss as to how to fix this.
I had not previously made a vet appointment for Jack about this issue because those are just his normal poops, but I'm going to make one today just to check.
Here's what we've tried so far:
1) Enzymatic cleaner. No go.
2) Adding a litter box, so there are three total (two in the tiny bathroom, one in the basement). We even started with the addition on that spot and slowly moved it into the bathroom, since it prevented the bathroom door from closing. Solved the problem temporarily.
3) Put down things on the floor to deter them. Since we have to step over this spot to get to the bathroom, this doesn't last long. Either it gets destroyed, or my toddler picks it up to investigate and it vanishes. And eventually they just begin pooping on the item anyway, or pooping just outside whatever it is.
4) Catching them in the act -- they generally do it while everyone's asleep.
5) Making sure the litter boxes are extra clean -- no effect.
6) Shutting them in the bathroom overnight, which helped with the overnight poops, but not with having happy cats or with the random midday carpet poops that have started happening recently.
One option we've considered but haven't tried is pulling up the carpet -- aside from the carpet now needing to be replaced anyway, there's unfinished oak floor underneath. We'd rather postpone this, since ripping the carpet out of the hallway would put our only bathroom out of commission for the duration.
Clearly something is wrong in cat-land. This isn't, "Oh, we forgot what the litter box is for." The start of this behavior did coincide with:
a) Our toddler turning 2,
b) Cat-adoring housemate & her cat moving out, and
c) An overwhelming amount of familial stress (new baby! assorted deaths and illnesses! new job! It's been a hard year)
The toddler does chase them. We are working on this with him, in the mean time, when he's awake, they mostly live under the couch or under a chair (which they'd never done before). Perhaps giving them a safe space would help?
So, cats: how do they work? Any thoughts we haven't already tried before? And, again, I'm making an appointment with the vet to check general health.
We have two cats, Jack is the black one and Della is the gray one. We've had them from kittenhood; they're about 4 years old at this point.
Historically, they've been great cats, but a few months ago, Jack started pooping on the carpet outside the bathroom. He has always made the most disgusting wet poops, which the vet investigated in his first year and found nothing wrong with. When this had been going on for a little while, Della began peeing there as well. It's disgusting -- the pooping generally happens overnight, and it's literally right in the doorway to the bathroom, so if you're not watching first thing in the morning, you can step on it or close the door over it. This is unacceptable:we have a two-year-old and we have a two-month-old baby who's going to start crawling at some point, and it's not okay to have cat poop or the remnants thereof on the floor. We're at a loss as to how to fix this.
I had not previously made a vet appointment for Jack about this issue because those are just his normal poops, but I'm going to make one today just to check.
Here's what we've tried so far:
1) Enzymatic cleaner. No go.
2) Adding a litter box, so there are three total (two in the tiny bathroom, one in the basement). We even started with the addition on that spot and slowly moved it into the bathroom, since it prevented the bathroom door from closing. Solved the problem temporarily.
3) Put down things on the floor to deter them. Since we have to step over this spot to get to the bathroom, this doesn't last long. Either it gets destroyed, or my toddler picks it up to investigate and it vanishes. And eventually they just begin pooping on the item anyway, or pooping just outside whatever it is.
4) Catching them in the act -- they generally do it while everyone's asleep.
5) Making sure the litter boxes are extra clean -- no effect.
6) Shutting them in the bathroom overnight, which helped with the overnight poops, but not with having happy cats or with the random midday carpet poops that have started happening recently.
One option we've considered but haven't tried is pulling up the carpet -- aside from the carpet now needing to be replaced anyway, there's unfinished oak floor underneath. We'd rather postpone this, since ripping the carpet out of the hallway would put our only bathroom out of commission for the duration.
Clearly something is wrong in cat-land. This isn't, "Oh, we forgot what the litter box is for." The start of this behavior did coincide with:
a) Our toddler turning 2,
b) Cat-adoring housemate & her cat moving out, and
c) An overwhelming amount of familial stress (new baby! assorted deaths and illnesses! new job! It's been a hard year)
The toddler does chase them. We are working on this with him, in the mean time, when he's awake, they mostly live under the couch or under a chair (which they'd never done before). Perhaps giving them a safe space would help?
So, cats: how do they work? Any thoughts we haven't already tried before? And, again, I'm making an appointment with the vet to check general health.
They need specific CatSafe™ places to hide and get away from Toddler Linettasky. A cat tree, shelves, tents, etc.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:18 AM on September 24, 2013
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 8:18 AM on September 24, 2013
This absolutely sounds like stress. Feliway. Keeping the toddler away from the cats/giving them a safe, toddler-free space that isn't hiding all the time.
I'm not sure what happened with the enzymatic cleaner and the litter box in the location they are pooping, but you if you didn't do both at once (clean the floor excessively, put a litter box there and very, very, very slowly move it), it might be worth trying that.
posted by jeather at 8:19 AM on September 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
I'm not sure what happened with the enzymatic cleaner and the litter box in the location they are pooping, but you if you didn't do both at once (clean the floor excessively, put a litter box there and very, very, very slowly move it), it might be worth trying that.
posted by jeather at 8:19 AM on September 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
I think you're on to something with the stress.
One simpler hack that could help, though, is to not have the litter box be "extra clean" - I read somewhere that it is possible to clean a litter box too well, to the point that the cat gets confused ("wait....that looks like the toilet but smells too antiseptic. What the fuck?") and won't use it. So maybe easing off the cleaning just a little bit could help.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:19 AM on September 24, 2013
One simpler hack that could help, though, is to not have the litter box be "extra clean" - I read somewhere that it is possible to clean a litter box too well, to the point that the cat gets confused ("wait....that looks like the toilet but smells too antiseptic. What the fuck?") and won't use it. So maybe easing off the cleaning just a little bit could help.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:19 AM on September 24, 2013
Yep, coming in to suggest Feliway (after ruling out something more sinister by making a visit to the vet).
posted by Halo in reverse at 8:20 AM on September 24, 2013
posted by Halo in reverse at 8:20 AM on September 24, 2013
Jack's problem may have little or nothing to do with the environmental changes. We had a cat who consistently produced creamers (you're welcome for that term, btw) and almost never in a box. This went on for years, stressors or no. Eventually it turned out that she had a digestive disorder, sort of a kitty IBS (don't remember the exact details; memail me if you're curious), which caused both the consistency and the outside-the-box behavior. It finally cleared up after she was put on a special food additive. IIRC the additive isn't Rx only, and can be ordered through Doctors Foster & Smith, but IIRC it's not in your everyday pet supply store either. Maybe another MeFite knows more precisely what I'm talking about.
Tl;dr- take Jack to a different vet and ask about whatever the feline equivalent of IBS is.
Also, Feliway doesn't work with every cat. We found that it made a cat slightly more stressed, and taking him off it made him INTENSELY stressed, and gave it up.
posted by Z. Aurelius Fraught at 8:20 AM on September 24, 2013
Tl;dr- take Jack to a different vet and ask about whatever the feline equivalent of IBS is.
Also, Feliway doesn't work with every cat. We found that it made a cat slightly more stressed, and taking him off it made him INTENSELY stressed, and gave it up.
posted by Z. Aurelius Fraught at 8:20 AM on September 24, 2013
Best answer: Safe space definitely (two spaced widely apart so they have bolt-holes nearby regardless of where they feel the need to flee) regardless of if it's helping the poo problems. High shelves in closets, boxes lined with good-smelling blankets, the tops of things.
Do the litter boxes have to be in the bathroom and basement? Would it be possible to have another one somewhere else entirely? Somewhere with better airflow? Somewhere that is not toddler-friendly enough to smell like them?
Crinkles of aluminum foil on the spot can deter finicky cats (but did not work on my large dumb one) and are relatively simple to replace and not too hellish to trod on in the night.
In addition to the external stress, cats do notice and are uncomfortable when their poop is abnormal, even if that's what they've lived with their whole lives. It could be that yours is kind of going "enough is enough!" about it. This, at least, is definitely treatable with diet changes for an otherwise healthy cat. If your vet shrugs it off, get a different vet.
I think the biggest thing that sticks out to me in your question is the housemate and cat who moved out. Sometimes a cat family that works with three doesn't work with two. Sometimes a human can be the glue, too. Toddlers are capable of being pretty gentle and calming with cats if you work with them on it - possibly the toddler could replace a little bit of the housemate's missed affections, instead of being a source of fear.
posted by Mizu at 8:27 AM on September 24, 2013
Do the litter boxes have to be in the bathroom and basement? Would it be possible to have another one somewhere else entirely? Somewhere with better airflow? Somewhere that is not toddler-friendly enough to smell like them?
Crinkles of aluminum foil on the spot can deter finicky cats (but did not work on my large dumb one) and are relatively simple to replace and not too hellish to trod on in the night.
In addition to the external stress, cats do notice and are uncomfortable when their poop is abnormal, even if that's what they've lived with their whole lives. It could be that yours is kind of going "enough is enough!" about it. This, at least, is definitely treatable with diet changes for an otherwise healthy cat. If your vet shrugs it off, get a different vet.
I think the biggest thing that sticks out to me in your question is the housemate and cat who moved out. Sometimes a cat family that works with three doesn't work with two. Sometimes a human can be the glue, too. Toddlers are capable of being pretty gentle and calming with cats if you work with them on it - possibly the toddler could replace a little bit of the housemate's missed affections, instead of being a source of fear.
posted by Mizu at 8:27 AM on September 24, 2013
Best answer: Cats are weirdly territorial, and they need to feel like they have some control over themselves AND their environment. Now they have neither. You know how, if you bring anything new into the house, they have to check it out? 'What, there's a BOOK on that table now?! That changes EVERYTHING! Let me go sit on it or push it off! There, now it's perfect again.'
Obviously, they cannot sit on baby or push baby out of the crib. So they feel like you are reneging on the Cat Roommate Agreement. And toddler is mobile now and chasing us and who agreed to THAT?!
So now they are Pooping in Protest. If they were people, they'd hold up signs.
Do you have a toddler gate you can put up which will keep your two-year-old out of a room and allow the cats to feel safe during the day in that room? I would load that room with Yay Cat Fun Time stuff, like their favorite toys, maybe a cat tree, and definitely something filled with catnip. Feliway did nothing for one of my cats, but catnip soothes him (he also has a lovey he carries around when he feels neglected, which he alternatively cuddles and attacks. It's a Cat Thing). Also try to spend time in that room with the cats initially, like while your toddler is napping if possible, so the cats start to see that room as their refuge, where they can get attention when they want it, on their terms.
If you can teach toddler that it is the Cat Zone, and we don't follow them when they go into that room for Private Time, you may be able to take the gate down after a little while, and everybody will be much happier. This is a VERY good thing to teach toddlers, as Mom and Dad sometimes need Alone Time for their own sanity. Not just sexysex times, but also those times when you feel like you need a time out from the stress. I would be praising toddler all over the place for being Such a Good Cat Person, too, to reinforce the behavior. Later, when baby is a bit older, you can recruit toddler to teach baby how to be a Good Cat Person, too, and toddler will be even more proud.
Okay, so try the gated off area, and keep shutting them (the cats, not toddler and baby!) up in a bathroom at night, but maybe try to make the bathroom a bit cat friendlier as well. Put a cat bed in there at least, so they can be comfy.
Good luck! I feel for you. A cycle like you are in now is hard to break free of, and it really sucks to find the kind of 'Surprises' they are leaving for you in the middle of the night.
posted by misha at 9:01 AM on September 24, 2013 [6 favorites]
Obviously, they cannot sit on baby or push baby out of the crib. So they feel like you are reneging on the Cat Roommate Agreement. And toddler is mobile now and chasing us and who agreed to THAT?!
So now they are Pooping in Protest. If they were people, they'd hold up signs.
Do you have a toddler gate you can put up which will keep your two-year-old out of a room and allow the cats to feel safe during the day in that room? I would load that room with Yay Cat Fun Time stuff, like their favorite toys, maybe a cat tree, and definitely something filled with catnip. Feliway did nothing for one of my cats, but catnip soothes him (he also has a lovey he carries around when he feels neglected, which he alternatively cuddles and attacks. It's a Cat Thing). Also try to spend time in that room with the cats initially, like while your toddler is napping if possible, so the cats start to see that room as their refuge, where they can get attention when they want it, on their terms.
If you can teach toddler that it is the Cat Zone, and we don't follow them when they go into that room for Private Time, you may be able to take the gate down after a little while, and everybody will be much happier. This is a VERY good thing to teach toddlers, as Mom and Dad sometimes need Alone Time for their own sanity. Not just sexysex times, but also those times when you feel like you need a time out from the stress. I would be praising toddler all over the place for being Such a Good Cat Person, too, to reinforce the behavior. Later, when baby is a bit older, you can recruit toddler to teach baby how to be a Good Cat Person, too, and toddler will be even more proud.
Okay, so try the gated off area, and keep shutting them (the cats, not toddler and baby!) up in a bathroom at night, but maybe try to make the bathroom a bit cat friendlier as well. Put a cat bed in there at least, so they can be comfy.
Good luck! I feel for you. A cycle like you are in now is hard to break free of, and it really sucks to find the kind of 'Surprises' they are leaving for you in the middle of the night.
posted by misha at 9:01 AM on September 24, 2013 [6 favorites]
Feliway really worked for my cat. We got the diffuser and put it in the outlet closest to the litter box area. The issue resolved within a week or two but we used the diffuser for another two months. I was worried the trouble would start up again when we took the diffuser out, but I couldn't afford to keep refilling it. Luckily, there hasn't been a problem since and we stopped using it a couple months ago.
posted by smirkyfodder at 9:02 AM on September 24, 2013
posted by smirkyfodder at 9:02 AM on September 24, 2013
What kind of litter are you using?
When we got our cat, his previous owners had mentioned that he had "difficulties" using the litter box. This basically meant in their experience he was urinating frequently and defecating occasionally outside his box. They were using Feline Pine.
The rescue organization lady recommended that we use ordinary clay litter. Apparently some male cats eventually take issue with the feel and smell of more natural style litters and they'll do anything to avoid it.
The back up suggestion was to try Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter or litter additives.
We did not end up needing the backup.
Good luck!
posted by donut_princess at 9:21 AM on September 24, 2013
When we got our cat, his previous owners had mentioned that he had "difficulties" using the litter box. This basically meant in their experience he was urinating frequently and defecating occasionally outside his box. They were using Feline Pine.
The rescue organization lady recommended that we use ordinary clay litter. Apparently some male cats eventually take issue with the feel and smell of more natural style litters and they'll do anything to avoid it.
The back up suggestion was to try Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter or litter additives.
We did not end up needing the backup.
Good luck!
posted by donut_princess at 9:21 AM on September 24, 2013
There is special "cat attract" litter that smells good and cat-appealing. I bought some when I was having problems with my kitty, and things got muchmuch better. At the same time that I filled her box with this, I also followed some of the other suggestions (scrubbing the box out when changing the litter, and this pet store trip was the same trip when I bought the giant bottle of enzyme cleaner) so I can't swear that it was all due to the litter. BUT, it's a good clumping litter, it smells very fresh to humans and the cat did seem to like it. It's pricier than the petco refillable but cheaper than some brands.
posted by aimedwander at 9:24 AM on September 24, 2013
posted by aimedwander at 9:24 AM on September 24, 2013
Cat safe space. Can you get or make a Cat tower, with some carpeted boxes where they can hide? Perhaps several cat caves, placed in different rooms at different heights. I was able to make a space for my cat, her litter, and her food when my son was a toddler. Nice to not worry about the kid getting into the litter. Especially useful when we, oh, noesssss, got a dog. And I'd go ahead and remove the carpet in the hall, as it's now so marked, it may be irresistible.
posted by theora55 at 9:40 AM on September 24, 2013
posted by theora55 at 9:40 AM on September 24, 2013
Here's what I'd suggest:
1) A fairly substantial high platform, kind of like a ... catwalk. It will be nearly impossible to make it completely toddler-proof, especially as the child grows, so maybe consider making a kind of hidey box that they can crawl inside. Not too small - cats sometimes like small spaces, but not for the kind of extended periods they'll probably spend in there. You might also want to make one side of this "box" hinged and locked, so _you_ can get the cats out in case they are sick or something.
2) Acquire some kind of heavy plastic mat that will fit across the bathroom threshold and be too awkward for a kid to move. I'm thinking of the large plastic mats with rug-grippers on the bottom that they make for offices (to allow chairs to roll easily & protect flooring). If you want, you might even be able to add screws through the mat into the subflooring, so it _can't_ be moved.
If you get a cat tower (which you probably should have, also), be aware that your kid may want to climb it, so avoid placing it near any 1970s glass-topped coffee tables.
posted by amtho at 9:47 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
1) A fairly substantial high platform, kind of like a ... catwalk. It will be nearly impossible to make it completely toddler-proof, especially as the child grows, so maybe consider making a kind of hidey box that they can crawl inside. Not too small - cats sometimes like small spaces, but not for the kind of extended periods they'll probably spend in there. You might also want to make one side of this "box" hinged and locked, so _you_ can get the cats out in case they are sick or something.
2) Acquire some kind of heavy plastic mat that will fit across the bathroom threshold and be too awkward for a kid to move. I'm thinking of the large plastic mats with rug-grippers on the bottom that they make for offices (to allow chairs to roll easily & protect flooring). If you want, you might even be able to add screws through the mat into the subflooring, so it _can't_ be moved.
If you get a cat tower (which you probably should have, also), be aware that your kid may want to climb it, so avoid placing it near any 1970s glass-topped coffee tables.
posted by amtho at 9:47 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Get your 2 year old involved in feeding them and giving them treats so they think of the kid as less of a fleshy monster stalking them day in day out.
Another call for private space that is open and comforting... hopefully you can also spend time with them there, playing with them and reestablishing trust.
posted by haplesschild at 10:01 AM on September 24, 2013
Another call for private space that is open and comforting... hopefully you can also spend time with them there, playing with them and reestablishing trust.
posted by haplesschild at 10:01 AM on September 24, 2013
Yes to lots of high-up hiding spaces - cat tree is good if you can get one the toddler won't climb. But boxes or the like on top of tall bookshelves will also work (bolt the bookshelves to the wall, again as a hedge against climbing toddler). At least one good spot in each room if possible. Bonus points for locations where they can see out a window. Cat highway of ledges they can walk around would be the ultra deluxe model.
Can you lay down something impermeable on the spot? I have some cheapo flexible plastic cutting mats (dollar store) that immediately came to mind, but maybe you have or can find something else. One of those office rolley-chair mats, yeah. Maybe even a section of vinyl roll flooring? It would make a less appealing surface for them, and be easier to clean. Ideally it would be big enough that they can't just scoot six inches over.
Is the bathroom litter box in a place where they can be cornered by the toddler when doing their business? That would make it an unappealing anxious spot, I think. Is there a good place for a box where there are two clear escape routes?
With enzyme cleaners, you need to be careful not to use the other cleaning products first - since those will deactivate the enzymes. If your previous efforts were clean-then-enzyme, might try again in the reverse order.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:50 AM on September 24, 2013
Can you lay down something impermeable on the spot? I have some cheapo flexible plastic cutting mats (dollar store) that immediately came to mind, but maybe you have or can find something else. One of those office rolley-chair mats, yeah. Maybe even a section of vinyl roll flooring? It would make a less appealing surface for them, and be easier to clean. Ideally it would be big enough that they can't just scoot six inches over.
Is the bathroom litter box in a place where they can be cornered by the toddler when doing their business? That would make it an unappealing anxious spot, I think. Is there a good place for a box where there are two clear escape routes?
With enzyme cleaners, you need to be careful not to use the other cleaning products first - since those will deactivate the enzymes. If your previous efforts were clean-then-enzyme, might try again in the reverse order.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:50 AM on September 24, 2013
Misha is spot on and I agree 100% with her post.
posted by Ferrari328 at 11:06 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Ferrari328 at 11:06 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
I thought those cats looked familiar!
I'll drop by in a bit with some Feliway and Cat Attract.
posted by MonsieurBon at 11:27 AM on September 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
I'll drop by in a bit with some Feliway and Cat Attract.
posted by MonsieurBon at 11:27 AM on September 24, 2013 [3 favorites]
Feliway + high spaces are a good suggestion.
Jackson Galaxy (from My Cat From Hell) often tells owners with stressed out cats that they should be able to traverse the living room without touching the ground. Whenever the people on the show follow this suggestion, their cats immediately seem to calm down.
One easy option is to buy a couple of tall cat towers on ebay (75 bucks versus the $150 the pet store will want). I bought this one a few months ago, it's nice and sturdy and the cats love it.
Also, you can put a litter box directly over where he's pooping at night, then remove it during the day. Might not solve the issue, but it will probably help.
posted by zug at 11:43 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
Jackson Galaxy (from My Cat From Hell) often tells owners with stressed out cats that they should be able to traverse the living room without touching the ground. Whenever the people on the show follow this suggestion, their cats immediately seem to calm down.
One easy option is to buy a couple of tall cat towers on ebay (75 bucks versus the $150 the pet store will want). I bought this one a few months ago, it's nice and sturdy and the cats love it.
Also, you can put a litter box directly over where he's pooping at night, then remove it during the day. Might not solve the issue, but it will probably help.
posted by zug at 11:43 AM on September 24, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'd put a baby gate in the bathroom doorway, (assuming, from what you've said, that the litterbox is in the bathroom) so the bathroom becomes one of their safe, kid-free zones. Most cats can easily jump a baby gate.
posted by lemniskate at 12:52 PM on September 24, 2013
posted by lemniskate at 12:52 PM on September 24, 2013
Response by poster: Thanks, everyone. We're going to try turning my partner's office into cat-land, with a gate and high cat-places and a litter box, as well as adding a cat place or two in the living room, in addition to taking Jack to the vet & the cat pheromones. Can't block off the bathroom; the toddler uses it, too.
posted by linettasky at 1:28 PM on September 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by linettasky at 1:28 PM on September 24, 2013 [2 favorites]
I love all the advice above, and can add:
There are toddler gates with a tiny cat-gate, makes it even easier to maintain the safe-cat spot.
When using the enzymatic cleaner, did you pour many ounces and soak the rug and padding, then eventually blot out what you could and then run a fan on it for days? That's what it takes. Or hire a pro?
Ripping out carpet actually takes very little time, it would not remove access to your bathroom. It's very dirty though, and there are tacking strips to deal with.
Our foster-to-adopt cats had stinky pudding-poo as kittens, and after a few rounds of dewormer the foster lady just shrugged and said "they'll probably outgrow it." NOT acceptable. So we tried a 100% meat, organ and bone diet. They have WONDERFUL poo. Wonderful, I say. As in, odorless hard tootsie rolls. (other benefits ensued as well)
Good luck!
posted by Anwan at 1:40 PM on September 24, 2013
There are toddler gates with a tiny cat-gate, makes it even easier to maintain the safe-cat spot.
When using the enzymatic cleaner, did you pour many ounces and soak the rug and padding, then eventually blot out what you could and then run a fan on it for days? That's what it takes. Or hire a pro?
Ripping out carpet actually takes very little time, it would not remove access to your bathroom. It's very dirty though, and there are tacking strips to deal with.
Our foster-to-adopt cats had stinky pudding-poo as kittens, and after a few rounds of dewormer the foster lady just shrugged and said "they'll probably outgrow it." NOT acceptable. So we tried a 100% meat, organ and bone diet. They have WONDERFUL poo. Wonderful, I say. As in, odorless hard tootsie rolls. (other benefits ensued as well)
Good luck!
posted by Anwan at 1:40 PM on September 24, 2013
> I'll drop by in a bit with some Feliway and Cat Attract.
Oh, I forgot about Cat-Attract! That stuff is great. Monsieur Bon is clearly a good friend. The Feliway will help also.
FWIW, I just found a new form of Feliway at the store: an aerosol spray. It will probably work faster than the diffuser.
posted by amtho at 1:52 PM on September 24, 2013
Oh, I forgot about Cat-Attract! That stuff is great. Monsieur Bon is clearly a good friend. The Feliway will help also.
FWIW, I just found a new form of Feliway at the store: an aerosol spray. It will probably work faster than the diffuser.
posted by amtho at 1:52 PM on September 24, 2013
nthing Feliway as a feline stress reducer. It was a miracle cure for us when we had to move with the cats. First move w/o Feliway resulted in cats whining for days, burrowing under mattresses and crawling along the floors lizard style. Second move with Feliway resulted in brief whining and lots of curious exploration right off the bat. So, while this is obviously stress for different reasons you may find that using Feliway will have at least some noticeable impact on the situation.
Further nthing safe and high places. Is there a room in the house that's off limits to the toddler? If so put a cat flap in the door so that cats can get in there and chill for a while. It's fairly easy to mount cat flaps in standard wooden or hollow core doors. If you have or are getting a cat tree of sorts and you have some wall space you could extend that feature by giving them access to a shelf they can climb up or jump up to. Put some pillow on it or something so they can sleep up there.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:37 PM on September 24, 2013
Further nthing safe and high places. Is there a room in the house that's off limits to the toddler? If so put a cat flap in the door so that cats can get in there and chill for a while. It's fairly easy to mount cat flaps in standard wooden or hollow core doors. If you have or are getting a cat tree of sorts and you have some wall space you could extend that feature by giving them access to a shelf they can climb up or jump up to. Put some pillow on it or something so they can sleep up there.
posted by Hairy Lobster at 2:37 PM on September 24, 2013
Most cats can easily jump a baby gate.
Get a wooden one and saw out one of the slats. That's what we did to keep the dogs from getting into the litter box (which they definitely wanted to due to the stinky bon-bons within). Cat is narrow enough to get through the gate, dogs aren't.
posted by kindall at 3:37 PM on September 24, 2013
Get a wooden one and saw out one of the slats. That's what we did to keep the dogs from getting into the litter box (which they definitely wanted to due to the stinky bon-bons within). Cat is narrow enough to get through the gate, dogs aren't.
posted by kindall at 3:37 PM on September 24, 2013
Lot of good suggestions in this thread. Two other things to try:
Sentry Calming Collars--same principle as Feliway, but in a collar rather than a diffuser. Ensures the cat is exposed at all times and you don't have to worry about drafts taking the pheremones out the window.
Cat Attract Litter. Holy CRAP, this has made a HUGE difference in the errant peeing of my roommate's cat. They aren't kidding when they say cats love using this stuff. I have 3-4 cats at any one moment and three litter boxes. When I first introduced it, I made one box of Cat Attract, while the other two boxes were their old litter (Arm & Hammer Essentials, the corn-based stuff). All of the cats--all four--stopped using the other two litter boxes and would only use the Cat Attract box. The kittens I've fostered immediately want to jump in after a fresh change. I preferred the smell of the corn/wheat-based litters, but I can't deny the cats' preferences.
If you REALLY want to boost the attracting power, add this stuff to it too. I've mixed the litter attractant in with normal litter, and it does make a difference. It's not as dramatic as the Cat Attract change, though.
EDIT: oh, other people already mentioned Cat Attract too.
posted by Anonymous at 9:56 PM on September 24, 2013
Sentry Calming Collars--same principle as Feliway, but in a collar rather than a diffuser. Ensures the cat is exposed at all times and you don't have to worry about drafts taking the pheremones out the window.
Cat Attract Litter. Holy CRAP, this has made a HUGE difference in the errant peeing of my roommate's cat. They aren't kidding when they say cats love using this stuff. I have 3-4 cats at any one moment and three litter boxes. When I first introduced it, I made one box of Cat Attract, while the other two boxes were their old litter (Arm & Hammer Essentials, the corn-based stuff). All of the cats--all four--stopped using the other two litter boxes and would only use the Cat Attract box. The kittens I've fostered immediately want to jump in after a fresh change. I preferred the smell of the corn/wheat-based litters, but I can't deny the cats' preferences.
If you REALLY want to boost the attracting power, add this stuff to it too. I've mixed the litter attractant in with normal litter, and it does make a difference. It's not as dramatic as the Cat Attract change, though.
EDIT: oh, other people already mentioned Cat Attract too.
posted by Anonymous at 9:56 PM on September 24, 2013
Sentry calming collars use a different pheromone than Feliway. Feliway's is similar to the scent that cats mark with when they rub their chins/heads on things, and Sentry's is similar to a maternal pheromone.
I just took a Sentry collar off of one cat -- it worked well.
posted by amtho at 10:51 PM on September 24, 2013
I just took a Sentry collar off of one cat -- it worked well.
posted by amtho at 10:51 PM on September 24, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Unfortunately, stress-related cat issues can be very very hard to solve. I had a cat that did this exact same thing. Eventually (due to other reasons), I gave him away, so I cannot say what worked and what didn't because we never had a chance to fix the problem.
But I'd try everything you can to reduce anxiety and stress in the house. Try keeping the cat in a smaller area away from the new baby. Give it attention. Etc etc. Cats are so fickle.
Hope this helps. Definitely try the Feliway.
posted by kbennett289 at 8:16 AM on September 24, 2013