So how much did you spend to do what the good doctor says in addition
to the $395 counseling fee?

Do you have legal permission to post the diagnosis on a public forum?

pam (Mary) wrote in message ...
I just spent $395 to go to a cat behavioral psychologist. Patches spraying was
driving me nuts. Last week he peed on the bed and sprayed the side of it. He
does not have a urinary tract infection. He only sprays near where Mimi likes
to sit and sleep so I knew it had something to do with her. They don't hate
each other but they're not good friends either.

The doctor spent two hours counseling me about Patches and Mimi so he could
understand why Patches was spraying. Patches was spraying because he's upset by
outdoor cats spraying the outside of the house. He's also not that comfortable
with Mimi. I thought I'd share this counseling session so that it might help
others (and they could save the $395!) So far I've done everything the doctor
said to do and Patches hasn't sprayed. It's only been a week. I'll keep you
updated in another few weeks to see if he really stops spraying for good. I
transcribed the below from the big behavioral prescription he gave me.

Dr. Polsky http://www.drpolsky.com

Behavioral therapy interview

Problem: Cat is spraying to communicate. He is upset by other cats spraying the
outside of the house. He is upset by other inside cat. He is basically not very
confident psychologically so he sprays.

Solution: Keep outside cats away from the house so they can't spray the
exterior doors and upset him. Make spraying cat feel more comfortable with
other cat. Make it so he doesn't have to compete for resources, has his own cat
tree, extra litter boxes. Make it so he eventually will like the other cat more
by associating closeness to the other cat with positive things such as food,
brushing, play time. Make previously sprayed areas unattractive by cleaning and
making it impossible for him to spray there again.

A. Increase number of litter boxes from one to four so cat won't feel
competition for resources. Switch to sand litter which they both prefer. Keep
very clean. Two boxes in the living room, one in the office, one in the dining
room.

B. Keep music room closed. Cat was spraying in there and it's easy to block off
that room for the time being.

C. Feed both cats at very close distance, bowls touching. You may have to
slowly move the bowls together. This will make the sprayer associate the other
cat with good things such as food.

D. Brush cat at close distance to other cat so he will associate good things
with the other cat. He likes being brushed.

E. Teach cats to come in command for food treat together so they associate each
others presence with good things.

F. Mutual play sessions in each others presence. Include both of them playing
with a toy.

G. Mutual grooming. Hold finger with petromalt or other yummy food on finger.
Put finger near other cat. Let spraying cat lick food off finger very close to
other cat. Eventually put finger on other cat then put food on other cat so he
can lick off. This should encourage mutual grooming.

H. Provide ample marking locations for spraying cat so he can rub his face and
scratch on posts or brushes to mark using his scent glands instead of spraying.


I. Add a cat tree for spraying cat in location that doesn't have view of
street. View of street may upset him if he sees other cats or dogs. He needs
his own cat tree to sit on because other cat is on other tree.

J. Abut previously marked areas with upside down carpet runners with the sharp
plastic points up so he can't back up and spray areas again.

K. Keep outside cats away from exterior of house with ultrasonice devices,
upside down carpet runners so they can't spray exterior doors and mousetraps
(won't hurt cats, just scare them.)

L. Use Feliway where he has sprayed before. Clean sprayed areas with
anti-icky-poo enzymatic cleaner.

M. Drug administration. buspirone (Buspar Rx)
5-10 mg. BID (2.5 x day).

http://www.petalia.com.au/templates/...m?Story_No=305
http://www.hssv.org/behavior/cat/cat_spray.htm
http://www.ivis.org/advances/Behavio...r_frm.asp?LA=1