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What Can I Do To Help This Cat?
I recently adopted a 5 year old dsh/declawed/spayed female who was taken from
her home when the owner threatened to dump her in the street. She was put into a waiting shelter for one month before I adopted her. I've had 2-cat combos twice before with little problem...now, I have big problems. My resident cat is a 10 lb. dsh/neutered/declawed alpha male who lost his companion 3 months ago. He's claimed every part of the apartment since then. The new girl was an only cat and is a sweetheart. I brought her into my bedroom (w/a cage) and introduced the two. It went ok until the second day when my boy jumped on her. I kept them apart since then. She has exclusive use of my bedroom. Problem 1: She has peed on the bed..the sheet..my quilts 3x so far and deficated on my quilt. I cleaned the mattress as best as I could with a diluted bleach solution, but she peed again and again. While I was cleaning (when she threw up - problem 2) she peed on the bed again. I don't know what to do. Currently there's the litterbox that was always there AND the litterbox that is in her cage. She used the box twice for peeing but is not consistant. After peeing in the box, she deficated next to the box. I put large garbage bags over where she peed on the bed. So...she peed on the garbage bag. Shall I keep her caged? How can I stop her from going on my bed. Can I teach her to use the litterbox exclusively? Problem 2: She doesn't keep food down. I feed her a little more than a teaspoon of food at a time. When I feed her at breakfast and lunch, she vomits by dinnertime. Originally, she was given Fancy Feast. I changed it to Friskies (regular, not shredded or chunks), but she threw that up too. All food given to her had fish or turkey as the first ingredient, not by-products or water. I had her at the vets for 3 days so they could monitor this situation. She was x-rayed and declared fine. Supposedly, she DID keep food down at the vet's office AND at the month-long stay at the shelter. They fed her Friskies. She had 5 teeth extracted before I got her and one tooth extracted after I got her. Dry food isn't an option. Problem 3: My resident cat cries from the other side of the door. I haven't slept more than an hour an a time since the new cat arrived. (two weeks ago - except for the 3 days she was at the vets). The inital arrangement was that she was kept in the cage (in my bedroom) while my resident cat checked her out. They met nose-to-nose (through the cage) and there was no hissing. So, I let her out of the cage and he kept his distance for a short time. Pretty soon, she hissed at/batted him..so he did the same. Then he started jumping on her (a habit he had with his former companion..she didn't like it but she was twice the size of this new cat and defended herself). I felt that made her ill so I banished him from the bedroom. I visit her in the bedroom often (even though I can't sleep on the bed). She appears to be very affectionate and nuzzles me constantly. I make sure the resident cat gets plenty of lovin', too...but sleep has been out of the question. I placed over 15 calls to the vet who treated her, my regular vet, a pet columnist, three cat rescue faciities, two members of the rescue group who handled this adoption, and other pet people. Perhaps she was given away because she had these problems. Who knows? I ordered Feliway (to help the cats co-exist) but I don't know if that'll work. I don't know how to solve any of the above problems. Perhaps she isn't meant for a 2 cat household. It breaks my heart, but I am turning psychotic from lack of sleep. Any advice here or email at would be so appreciated. Thank you. |
#2
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Hi ,
I'm sorry you're having a rough time . How long have you had the new cat ? It can take a couple weeks for them to get used to each other .. These links will take you to archived posts on the Think Like a cat forum . You can also search the archives or join the forum yourself. Cat to cat aggression http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv...t/?msg=14085.1 Introducing new cat http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv...t/?msg=13954.1 You could have two litter trays with types of different litters. Cats wee outside the litterbox when upset or stressed but she could also have cystitis or urinary tract infection . Housesoiling . A very thorough article by behaviourist http://www.apbc.org.uk/ARTICLE10.htm Links to Litterbox/Inappropriate elimination problems http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/P...erboxhelp.html Alison Links to animal information websites http://mysite.freeserve.com/petinfolinks/ "Luvskats00" wrote in message ... I recently adopted a 5 year old dsh/declawed/spayed female who was taken from her home when the owner threatened to dump her in the street. She was put into a waiting shelter for one month before I adopted her. I've had 2-cat combos twice before with little problem...now, I have big problems. My resident cat is a 10 lb. dsh/neutered/declawed alpha male who lost his companion 3 months ago. He's claimed every part of the apartment since then. The new girl was an only cat and is a sweetheart. I brought her into my bedroom (w/a cage) and introduced the two. It went ok until the second day when my boy jumped on her. I kept them apart since then. She has exclusive use of my bedroom. Problem 1: She has peed on the bed..the sheet..my quilts 3x so far and deficated on my quilt. I cleaned the mattress as best as I could with a diluted bleach solution, but she peed again and again. While I was cleaning (when she threw up - problem 2) she peed on the bed again. I don't know what to do. Currently there's the litterbox that was always there AND the litterbox that is in her cage. She used the box twice for peeing but is not consistant. After peeing in the box, she deficated next to the box. I put large garbage bags over where she peed on the bed. So...she peed on the garbage bag. Shall I keep her caged? How can I stop her from going on my bed. Can I teach her to use the litterbox exclusively? Problem 2: She doesn't keep food down. I feed her a little more than a teaspoon of food at a time. When I feed her at breakfast and lunch, she vomits by dinnertime. Originally, she was given Fancy Feast. I changed it to Friskies (regular, not shredded or chunks), but she threw that up too. All food given to her had fish or turkey as the first ingredient, not by-products or water. I had her at the vets for 3 days so they could monitor this situation. She was x-rayed and declared fine. Supposedly, she DID keep food down at the vet's office AND at the month-long stay at the shelter. They fed her Friskies. She had 5 teeth extracted before I got her and one tooth extracted after I got her. Dry food isn't an option. Problem 3: My resident cat cries from the other side of the door. I haven't slept more than an hour an a time since the new cat arrived. (two weeks ago - except for the 3 days she was at the vets). The inital arrangement was that she was kept in the cage (in my bedroom) while my resident cat checked her out. They met nose-to-nose (through the cage) and there was no hissing. So, I let her out of the cage and he kept his distance for a short time. Pretty soon, she hissed at/batted him..so he did the same. Then he started jumping on her (a habit he had with his former companion..she didn't like it but she was twice the size of this new cat and defended herself). I felt that made her ill so I banished him from the bedroom. I visit her in the bedroom often (even though I can't sleep on the bed). She appears to be very affectionate and nuzzles me constantly. I make sure the resident cat gets plenty of lovin', too...but sleep has been out of the question. I placed over 15 calls to the vet who treated her, my regular vet, a pet columnist, three cat rescue faciities, two members of the rescue group who handled this adoption, and other pet people. Perhaps she was given away because she had these problems. Who knows? I ordered Feliway (to help the cats co-exist) but I don't know if that'll work. I don't know how to solve any of the above problems. Perhaps she isn't meant for a 2 cat household. It breaks my heart, but I am turning psychotic from lack of sleep. Any advice here or email at would be so appreciated. Thank you. |
#3
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Since she DID keep food down and used the box 1) at the shelter for one month and 2) at the vets for 3 days, I believe it is not medical. Don't assume that there is no medical issue based on the above. A UTI can crop up in a day, not to mention the fact that at the vets she was confined to a very small area and peeing in the litterbox was probably her only choice. Please get her urine checked to rule out a medical cause. That is the *only* way to be sure. Assuming it's behavioral, when indeed it might be medical and causing her pain and discomfort, would not be right. Megan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
#5
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wrote in message ... Don't assume that there is no medical issue based on the above. A UTI can crop up in a day, not to mention the fact that at the vets she was confined to a very small area and peeing in the litterbox was probably her only choice. Please get her urine checked to rule out a medical cause. That is the *only* way to be sure. Assuming it's behavioral, when indeed it might be medical and causing her pain and discomfort, would not be right. Megan Abosulutely , peeing on plastic is a sign of cystitis , as is peeing in the bath and on smooth surfaces . Alison "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
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#9
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wrote in message ... Don't assume that there is no medical issue based on the above. A UTI can crop up in a day, not to mention the fact that at the vets she was confined to a very small area and peeing in the litterbox was probably her only choice. Please get her urine checked to rule out a medical cause. That is the *only* way to be sure. Assuming it's behavioral, when indeed it might be medical and causing her pain and discomfort, would not be right. Megan Abosulutely , peeing on plastic is a sign of cystitis , as is peeing in the bath and on smooth surfaces . Alison "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
#10
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wrote in message ... Don't assume that there is no medical issue based on the above. A UTI can crop up in a day, not to mention the fact that at the vets she was confined to a very small area and peeing in the litterbox was probably her only choice. Please get her urine checked to rule out a medical cause. That is the *only* way to be sure. Assuming it's behavioral, when indeed it might be medical and causing her pain and discomfort, would not be right. Megan Abosulutely , peeing on plastic is a sign of cystitis , as is peeing in the bath and on smooth surfaces . Alison "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
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