Peeing on couch - time to lock him up?

korey99 wrote:
Hey all-
SNIP
Here's the background. My big neutered male cat occassionally pees
on the couch downstairs. It all started about two years ago.
SNIP
I _think_ that's all the pertinent background information. It's not
really a HUGE problem, having to clean up the couch once a month or
so, but I'm sure we'll all be happier if we can take care of this
problem.

Thanks,
Korey

Korey. If you have family or guests sit or sleep on that couch, you should
be tied up outside and hosed by a Clydesdale. :^(

Alex wrote:
"bigbadbarry" wrote in message
oups.com...

korey99 wrote:
Hey all-

I've read here a suggestion to stop cats from peeing in
inappropriate
places is to lock them in a small room with a litterbox to retrain
Thanks,
Korey

I doubt he needs re-trained, but this probably works cause he hates
the lockdown..lol

Incorrect elimination (peeing) will never be cured by a punishment
regime (which the lockdown resembles to me), it will just cause more
stress which could be the initial problem.

How old is this cat? Older animals don't have the muscle control so
if the couch is some way away from the litterbox he might not make it
in time. I would agree with one or more additional litterboxes
around the house.

Yeah well .... let's make the whole house one large litter box. SICK cats
lose bladder control, forget *old*.

That's what we have- he's a big orange sweety. He's 17+ lbs and when
we stretches out he can reach 4 inches higher than the kitchen counter.
Scared me to death the first time he tapped me on my shoulder when I
was sitting in a chair!

Thanks, but I really don't think so. Downstairs is a warm finished
space, and the only time anyone goes down there is to do laundry. 99
out of 100 times he uses the provided litter boxes, so I'm somewhat
stumped. One litterbox is in the relatively secluded bathroom, and the
other is in the corner of the family room. Well, maybe he's doing this
at night - does he need a nightlight, or is a cat's night vision really
as good as I've been told it is?

Korey

"korey99" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks, but I really don't think so. Downstairs is a warm finished
space, and the only time anyone goes down there is to do laundry. 99
out of 100 times he uses the provided litter boxes, so I'm somewhat
stumped. One litterbox is in the relatively secluded bathroom, and the
other is in the corner of the family room. Well, maybe he's doing this
at night - does he need a nightlight, or is a cat's night vision really
as good as I've been told it is?


Were you replying to my post, Korey? You did not include a snippet
so I cannot tell. If you are, then no, it does not sound like a two-exposed
or confined spot for the box is the problem.

What kind of scent might be on the couch? Another pet's,
or a cleaning fluid that might smell like ammonia? Another
good question is, who sits in that spot a lot, or, what human
might that spot on the couch smell like? I have read that cats
who eliminate on the bed or laundry or regular chair of a certain
person are trying to send that particular person a message.

In article vvKie.4789$WG.3902@attbi_s22, enlightened us
with...
One of
them loves to 'spray' the back of the litterbox so it runs down and the
litter sticks to the back of the box. when he goes, he (yes, he's been
neutered since about 3.5 months of age, and he'll be 2 this August) *really*
goes, sounds like he's let loose with a firehose in there. All of our
litterboxes are the 'hooded' kind, too, or we'd be cleaning cat-pee from all
the walls, and since 5 of the 8 are diggers, we'd have litter all over the
house .

Oh, man, just like mine!
Jeffrey sprays the back sometimes, and they all dig like crazy.
Hooded boxes are SO my friend.

/ and I have the super-duper sized boxes even my dog can fit in...
// why yes, I *did* find that out the hard way

--
--
~kaeli~
"Working in any industry tends to give one a proctologist's
view."
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

"korey99" wrote in message
ups.com...
That's what we have- he's a big orange sweety. He's 17+ lbs and when
we stretches out he can reach 4 inches higher than the kitchen counter.
Scared me to death the first time he tapped me on my shoulder when I
was sitting in a chair!


Aha, now this time I know you are replying to me because I posted re
a big orange boy. He sounds like a really big boy!

It's rarely sat on (the basement is rarely used) but like I said it's
covered in plastic then we put a cover over it. When it gets sprayed
we launder the cover and treat with enzymatic cleaner, as well as clean
the plastic with pinesol. When guests come we put them upstairs in the
office.

I don't need convincing that I have a problem on my hands, nor do need
to be reminded that this cat I adore is negatively impacting my life
and the lives of my friends/family. I need a lasting solution.

Yes, I was replying to your post Mary - I'm using google, and it
doesn't allow quoting, at least not using the method of replying I've
found. Doesn't your news reader using a thread-type view?

Maybe my cat hates people from Taiwan. When we got the new couch
(actually just a cheapo futon from Walmart), he peed on it before
anyone had spent any length of time sitting there. I understand that
that instance could have been a reaction to something new and
unfamiliar, but I'm inclined to believe that it's at least in part due
to habit, since it was located in the same location as the old couch
that he enthusiastically defiled. BTW- I also thoroughly treated the
carpet in that area with the enzymatic cleaner as well.

Korey

"korey99" wrote in message
oups.com...
Yes, I was replying to your post Mary - I'm using google, and it
doesn't allow quoting, at least not using the method of replying I've
found.

All you have to do is cut and paste a small section of the post to
which you are replying. Highlight, control-x, control v. Or using your
mouse.

Doesn't your news reader using a thread-type view?

It probably does, but I don't use that view as I hate it.


Maybe my cat hates people from Taiwan. When we got the new couch
(actually just a cheapo futon from Walmart), he peed on it before
anyone had spent any length of time sitting there. I understand that
that instance could have been a reaction to something new and
unfamiliar, but I'm inclined to believe that it's at least in part due
to habit, since it was located in the same location as the old couch
that he enthusiastically defiled. BTW- I also thoroughly treated the
carpet in that area with the enzymatic cleaner as well.


I think it is time to isolate him. Just make sure he has lots
of toys and enough space between food and water and
litter box and visit him a lot. In appropriate peeing can be
one of the toughest problems there is.