Just a quick reply as I'm on my way out...

Yash is also very easy going and always in the middle of anything going on -
workmen in the house, visitors etc. Maybe it's not stress as in frightened,
more a case of better make sure this lot know whose house it is in case they
forget (his of course!).

Sorry the dried food can't help, it's such an easy solution in most cases.

Moi


"J1Boss" wrote in message
...
From: "moi"

I nearly missed this thread in my quest for information on Feliway.

Your cat's problem sounds a bit like mine was. Has anything traumatic (in
his terms) happened before he began?

Not even a little. He's an incredibly easy going cat. Loves being held
by
anyone, carried around, gets along great with the other cat and both dogs.
He
has a very low stress life!

The first time we had moved house temporarily whilst some major
renovation
work was done - he peed on the spare bed a couple of times. When we moved
back he stopped.

We had renovation going on here, but he insisted on putting himself in the
middle of it. Snuggling up to the cabinet installers, drywallers,
counter-measurers........ He used his box in the midst of all of it with
no
problem. A good deal of the construction went on in the "cat room". It's
a 12
x 18 laundry room lined with brand new cabinets. The cats eat on the
counter,
their boxes are in an open cabinet, choice of 2 types of litter. He even
used
his box when the room was flooded with 2" of icy water (which precipitated
the
renovation!). He likes to stand in the shower - water doesn't bother him!

Later he got "lost" for 24 hours - he was only about 200 yards away but
he
has no sense of direction! He was upset by the whole affaire particularly
as
he had picked up some sheep ticks. He was ok to begin with but then we
went
on holiday and my parents came to cat sit (as usual). It was also summer,
the patio window was always open and other cats do pass through the
garden.
When we got back it was major pee city for quite a while and we tried
everything - including some wrong things like getting cross if we caught
him
in action.

Skip is an indoor-only kitty - no interest at all in going outside (will
recline in an open doorway and not go out). No interactions with animals
outside his home.

I got so frantic I was contemplating spending a fortune for a cat "psy" -
but before I did I followed a link on his web site which explained why
cats
do this and what to do about it. The main thing that worked for us
instantly
was putting lots of small bowls of dried cat food all around the house -
food = security.

Can't do that in a house with 2 large dogs! ;-D

The next thing was to get rid of the cat pee smell but not
to replace it with another unfamiliar smell that he may find threatening
and
want to cover up. It also said to rub his face and then rub your hands
over
the areas to transfer the pheromones - this is where the Feliway comes
in.

I've been using Feliway, but not consistently. I'm going to get some
diffusers.

Of course getting angry just make's things worse as they become more
stressed.

While I am not pleased by his behavior, he doesn't get yelled at. Anytime
I've
seen him start to paw at something that indicates he may be about to
squat,
he's been interrupted and directed towards his box, but not scolded.

The dried food really worked but you have to put up with lots of little
bowls around the house.

Which is totally impossible here.

I suggest you try and find what is making him stressed, dried food all
over
the place (don't forget water, but just in one place will do) and
something
with enzymes to get rid of previous accident smells - I use Shout stain
remover.

I can't find any stress in his life! Truly, I can't find many more
relaxed
cats. He's totally non-vocal, plays with the other pets, sleeps with me
every
night, and is on my lap a good deal of the rest of the day.

Food is not an option, neither are additional water bowls (all pets
currently
share one large one, which is located to avoid water splashing, etc). I
may
get him a fountain though - need to read some threads in whether cats seem
to
like those or not. I have been using Simple Solution Cat Urine
Eliminator,
which is enzyme-based, and have used Nature's Miracle as well.

Good luck, it's not nice however much you love them, nobody wants their
house to smell of cat pee.

Moi

Absolutely! It's a frustrating problem. I adore this kitty and have no
intention of getting rid of him in any fashion, just because of this
problem.
I know we can conquer it, I just need to find the right combo of steps.


Janet Boss
Best Friends Dog Obedience
"Nice Manners for the Family Pet"
Voted "Best of Baltimore 2001" - Baltimore Magazine
www.bestfriendsdogobedience.com