cat problems- HELP!!

[ashling]

ashling's daughter Abby here...

We have a problem. Still in the middle of this frickin' move that is taking forever (and a day), and we got home from running an errand to find my *lovely* little furball decided to pee on my new papazon chair. .. I locked her out of the house (closing all windows, locking all doors- just so she understands the severity of her actions.)... but I'm still trying to figure out how to *fix* the problem at hand-- cat pee on my papazon chair cushion. Aside from the fact that it's a pretty damn comfortable chair- it was a graduation present. It's special damnit! ... And we've got too much going on to have to think about this.

Dad said ya'll would have some suggestions- seeing as how there are so many cat people on here. He also mentioned I might get some rather... interesting suggestions. I'll take 'em all.

Please Help!!

*meow*
- Abby/daughter ashling

[benburch]

1. The move made her insecure.

Keep her in the bathroom for a while with her litter box and food and slowly re-introduce her to her new surroundings.

Go to a pet store and get some "Nature's Miracle" cat urine odor eliminator and treat the cushion. Not only does this remove the odor, but it discourages the cat from spoiling the same cushion again, which otherwise they will do because of the odor.

[ashling]

4. Actually we haven't left yet...

That's the problem. =- / She's had a grand time playing with paper and hopping in and out of boxes... it's just the past day or so that she's been getting edgey. She still seemed fine, though, until we came home this afternoon and found she'd just peed on my chair. =/

Once we get there it'll be easier on all of us and hopefully she'll settle down. ... Thanks for the tip on the Nature's Miracle! =)

[NV Whino]

6. Doesn't matter that you haven't left yet.

She's still picking up stress vibes from you. And there is always the possibility of a physical problem. Take some down time for yourself and your cat. Sit, relax, pet the cat, make soothing noises.

[ashling]

9. yeah.. see..

That's what sort of got me the most edgey. We got home- I saw her.. went to hug her (she loves cuddling) and went over to sit in my chair. She wanted to get up so I let her go. ... Walked into the kitchen. Dad asked how my chair got wet. ... I realized I was either just sitting in cat pee or had somehow managed to not sit in that area of the chair just *barely*. ...
We're tryin' to relax but.. we were supposed to leave on Monday. We're burning time on this trailer we've got. We've still got to make it to TEXAS! Our rent is up Tuesday and the power gets shut off Monday. Everything's kind of crazy. It takes (realistically) a few days to get down there and then I'll only be there a week before my parents take me to college. =( ... Stress abounds. And we're doing the best we can. I know Patches is, too. I just wish that if she'd had a problem she would have come to me before taking drastic action like that. We sit and meow together all the time. I'm offended that she didn't come to me. =(


* dad says I should put a :) so you don't all think i'm totally insane. :freak: I said "would that really be so new/unusual?" He says I'll fit right in. :)

[jukes]

2. felliway

is another useful pet product. synth facial pheromones that calm cats.

[sleepyhead]

3. And remember that you can't really punish her for it

She will have no idea why she is being punished, which will make her even more insecure, and on and on it goes. Do use Nature's Miracle on the chair, make sure she has a clean litter box (maybe even add a second one for now, if you can, until she is more oriented), and if she continues to do it, take her to your vet to check for a bladder infection (which in some cases may be stress-related). By the way, is she spayed? If not, that may be contributing to the problem (territorial marking and all) - have the surgery done as soon as it's practical for you.

[Southsideirish]

5. Jesus H. Christ - you "locked your cat out of the house? " - you

don't deserve to have a cat if retaliation is your game.
There are tons of reasons for the chair incident - maybe the little box is dirty or full up or maybe the cat has a painful bladder problem (did you ever have one? They hurt!!)which is very common when they go in strange places. Look up holistic Vet, Dr. Pitcairn's website - he may have some insight for you or just Google "cat" "urinating" "furniture" in the Google web or Google groups. Sorry if I seem harsh but I can't stand people who are cruel or mean to their pets.
Jeez - just drop it off at the local cat shelter and give it a break.

[sallyseven]

7. Get some resolve and clean the chair spot

Get some stuff at the pet store to prevent further peeing incidents. Kittens are easy to train. Just love her.

[ashling]

8. uhm..

Have you ever seen any of my dad's posts? i'm just posting on his SN 'cause I don't have one on DU, but I read/lurk here all the time.

My cat is what dad calls "an inside kitty with aspirations of being an outside kitty" I love that damn cat. She likes to walk under people's feet (seriously- you walk and it is her entire goal in life to walk directly *under* your feet) and i run to save her every time. I am obsessive about my cat. My cat and I.. well.. sometimes we have issues. But we love each other. We do. I did in fact lock her out of the house. I was pissed off. She knows not to go near my chair. However- yes, true, she may not have understood or whatnot- but you don't know my cat. She's... intuitive and incredibly intelligent. She's a cat. She's..
I'm rambling. We're still packing and no one has had enough sleep. She's been wanting to get outside so I let her out and just... happened to lock the door and windows behind her. Is that so wrong?

[Shoeempress]

11. Get her checked for cystitis.

Although it's usually a problem associates with males due to the small urethra, females get it too. It can be fatal and rather quickly, and is easily treated with a special diet. Have her checked by the vet soon. One of our "clowder" has it and we have kept it under control for about 13 years now.

[Carni]

10. Rubbing alcohol

Try to clean the chair with some type of upholstery cleaner then put some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and spray the cushion
(Do a test spot on your cushion first because alcohol can discolor fabric) The alcohol will take away most of the vile cat urine odor as it dries...they sell a cat odor product at pet stores for this purpose (for about 6 bucks) and all it is is rubbing alcohol!