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.

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.

writes

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

It's 2 weeks (minus the 3 days she was at the vets)...I thought it was much
longer - not being able to sleep in my bedroom since she came - after the first
night, that is....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. I also feed her tiny amounts of food at a time..She still gets sick.
I changed the food 3x..perhaps the change is doing her in also. I will try a
science diet/iams brand and see what happens. Also, she peed on the mattress
and the garbage bags I use to cover the damaged mattress.

Since I no longer want to punish my resident cat (by banning him) and her week
long stay in my bedroom - without the other cat - has not produced positive
results, I will cage her and allow the cat to come back into his bedroom.
Hopefully, she will use the box in the cage (she did...2x) and get the idea. I
felt that keeping her caged was cruel...Placing her elsewhere might be
worse..so, I'll try it.

Anyone else (with multiple cats) have experience with keeping the newbies
caged? She does cry in the cage - but it's either that or having my resident
cat cry outside the door. Me? I need a week long stay at a mental hospital.

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

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

writes

... peeing on plastic is a sign of cystitis , as is peeing
in the bath and on smooth surfaces..

Many guesses can be made regarding what is wrong here. She did make on the
mattress and then on the plastic bag I used to cover the peed on spot. I'm
guessing that she didn't make on the floor and I missed seeing it. She DID use
the box early this morning while in the cage.

The vet was advised of everything I posted here. If things don't improve, I
will go back to the vet for further tests.

writes

... peeing on plastic is a sign of cystitis , as is peeing
in the bath and on smooth surfaces..

Many guesses can be made regarding what is wrong here. She did make on the
mattress and then on the plastic bag I used to cover the peed on spot. I'm
guessing that she didn't make on the floor and I missed seeing it. She DID use
the box early this morning while in the cage.

The vet was advised of everything I posted here. If things don't improve, I
will go back to the vet for further tests.

writes

... peeing on plastic is a sign of cystitis , as is peeing
in the bath and on smooth surfaces..

Many guesses can be made regarding what is wrong here. She did make on the
mattress and then on the plastic bag I used to cover the peed on spot. I'm
guessing that she didn't make on the floor and I missed seeing it. She DID use
the box early this morning while in the cage.

The vet was advised of everything I posted here. If things don't improve, I
will go back to the vet for further tests.

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

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