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Scottie the sprayer
A little over a year ago, we had 3 cats, Cory, Scottie, and Abbey.
Then on 3/27/04, Cory went to the RB at age 18. We then had Scottie, a feral 7 year old, and Abbey, 3. All neutered or spayed, of course, and totally indoor cats. About a month after Cory died, Scottie started, for the first time in his life, to spray one of our doors leading to the outside, to the carport, specifically. I assumed it had some complex relationship to Cory having previously been "top cat" and Scottie now feeling he had to defend his territory. Our neighborhood has a huge amount of cats, both stray and outdoor cats with homes. I think a lot of people feed them so none are ever too scraggly looking and many are quite hefty. We too, feed them and have for the 10 years we've lived here. I do get some of them neutered but, for the most part, I don't know who has a home and who doesn't. I know for a fact that 3 of the cats who snack here have homes. It's just that kind of neighborhood where most people let their cats out, unfortunately. Well, Scottie never seemed bothered by the outdoor cats although, now and then, there will appear one that seems to get him in an outrage. But I assume that it was something about the outdoor cats that got him to begin spraying, combined with the loss of Cory. I diligently sprayed Feliway and the problem would go away until I got lax about the Feliway and then he would spray again. So I would do the Feliway again until I, once again, got lax. I believe the pkg. insert says something about doing it faithfully for a month. Whatever it says, that's what I did. So, for the most part, as long as I continually sprayed Feliway, he wouldn't spray. Then, in July, we got Marbles (also neutered, of course). Well, 9 months later he still is separated from Scottie and Abbey, for the most part. A couple of months ago, Scottie started spraying that outside door again. Sometimes the Feliway will stop it for a few days but now, even if I diligently spray the Feliway, he still will do it every 3 days or so. We have a throw rug by that door, which I keep washing with Nature's Miracle or another enzymatic cleaner that I can't remember the name of right now. Then he won't spray for a couple of days after it's washed. I imagine we track in the outdoor scents and some of those outdoor cats spray out in the carport so he can smell them anyway. He's always sniffing over by that door. I'm going to get a new rug later today, one that is primarily more of a mat, so that it can be easily washed off. Maybe that will help or maybe not. I really don't think that Scottie's issue is with Marbles since it predated his arrival. I'm sure it has more to do with the outdoor cats. I would hate to quit feeding them now that they are used to it and to say I should get them all trapped and neutered seems impractical since there is a never-ending supply and I don't know if they are strays or cats with homes anyway. A few years ago, I did inadvertently get a neighbor's cat neutered, thinking he was a stray. I guess right now it may be worse because of it being spring and I'm sure some of the outdoor cats have raging hormones. But it's getting annoying. It's bad enough we have to keep Marbles and the others separated but now we also have the lovely scent of cat spray wafting through the house when we get home from work. I suppose I could try to get Scottie on meds but I hate to do that. He's very feral acting and doesn't pill well and gets freaked out when you try to do it. Why, after 7 years, did those outdoor cats start bothering him? We've been feeding them since before we got Scottie. He, in fact, is one of the ones we used to feed outside. Is there any solution other than quitting feeding the outdoor cats? Or getting them all neutered, which would be quite a job, very time-consuming and pricey, and, like I said, many of them have homes. And, yes, I also have a Feliway diffuser as well as spraying twice a day. Oh, and if the throw rug is not by the door, he doesn't find it quite as attractive to spray there. He will occasionally but the rug seems to make it more delightful. We could not have a rug there at all but more dirt would get tracked thru the house. Maybe the odor is not getting washed out well enough and a new rug without fabric on it might alleviate the problem somewhat but that's the only plan I ahve right now. Any ideas? Candace |
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"Candace" wrote in message oups.com... A little over a year ago, we had 3 cats, Cory, Scottie, and Abbey. Then on 3/27/04, Cory went to the RB at age 18. We then had Scottie, a feral 7 year old, and Abbey, 3. All neutered or spayed, of course, and totally indoor cats. About a month after Cory died, Scottie started, for the first time in his life, to spray one of our doors leading to the outside, to the carport, specifically. I assumed it had some complex relationship to Cory having previously been "top cat" and Scottie now feeling he had to defend his territory. Our neighborhood has a huge amount of cats, both stray and outdoor cats with homes. I think a lot of people feed them so none are ever too scraggly looking and many are quite hefty. We too, feed them and have for the 10 years we've lived here. I do get some of them neutered but, for the most part, I don't know who has a home and who doesn't. I know for a fact that 3 of the cats who snack here have homes. It's just that kind of neighborhood where most people let their cats out, unfortunately. Well, Scottie never seemed bothered by the outdoor cats although, now and then, there will appear one that seems to get him in an outrage. But I assume that it was something about the outdoor cats that got him to begin spraying, combined with the loss of Cory. I diligently sprayed Feliway and the problem would go away until I got lax about the Feliway and then he would spray again. So I would do the Feliway again until I, once again, got lax. I believe the pkg. insert says something about doing it faithfully for a month. Whatever it says, that's what I did. So, for the most part, as long as I continually sprayed Feliway, he wouldn't spray. Candace Candace, Since the Feliway spray seemed to work, I suggest that you try using the Feliway plug-in dispensers (get at least two; place one close to the door where Scotty sprays and a second one in an area where Scotty frequently can be found). The reason I am recommending the dispenser is that is continually releases premeasured amounts, and you don't need to worry about forgetting to use it. One refill will last for a month to 6 weeks. Do *not* get the plug-in "with D.A.P." because that formulation is for dogs. Here are 3 sources: http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_search_results.html http://www.petfooddirect.com/store/petproducts.asp? http://search.store.yahoo.com/cgi-bi...tg uys.com%2F MaryL |
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"Candace" wrote
Oh, and if the throw rug is not by the door, he doesn't find it quite as attractive to spray there. He will occasionally but the rug seems to make it more delightful. We could not have a rug there at all but more dirt would get tracked thru the house. Maybe the odor is not getting washed out well enough and a new rug without fabric on it might alleviate the problem somewhat but that's the only plan I ahve right now. Any ideas? I have no idea how true this is, but I read somewhere (maybe here?) that rubber-backed rugs give off some kind of odor that just begs cats to pee on it. Maybe try a rug with no backing, if that's what you have. -- -Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net "Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG |
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"KellyH" wrote in message ... "Candace" wrote Oh, and if the throw rug is not by the door, he doesn't find it quite as attractive to spray there. He will occasionally but the rug seems to make it more delightful. We could not have a rug there at all but more dirt would get tracked thru the house. Maybe the odor is not getting washed out well enough and a new rug without fabric on it might alleviate the problem somewhat but that's the only plan I ahve right now. Any ideas? I have no idea how true this is, but I read somewhere (maybe here?) that rubber-backed rugs give off some kind of odor that just begs cats to pee on it. Maybe try a rug with no backing, if that's what you have. -- -Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net "Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG Yes, that is true. Many rubber-backed rugs have an odor (probably not noticeable to hoomins) that acts as a natural cat-attractant. Some even have a type of fish residue as part of the manufacturing process. I learned years ago to avoid all such rugs, just on the off-chance that it would cause inappropriate urination -- which is much harder to stop than to avoid in the first place. MaryL |
#6
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#7
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"Karen" wrote in message ... in article %lF3e.58962$3z.32306@okepread03, MaryL at AKE-OUT-THE-LITTER wrote on 4/2/05 4:51 PM: "KellyH" wrote in message ... "Candace" wrote Oh, and if the throw rug is not by the door, he doesn't find it quite as attractive to spray there. He will occasionally but the rug seems to make it more delightful. We could not have a rug there at all but more dirt would get tracked thru the house. Maybe the odor is not getting washed out well enough and a new rug without fabric on it might alleviate the problem somewhat but that's the only plan I ahve right now. Any ideas? I have no idea how true this is, but I read somewhere (maybe here?) that rubber-backed rugs give off some kind of odor that just begs cats to pee on it. Maybe try a rug with no backing, if that's what you have. -- -Kelly kelly at farringtons dot net "Wake up, and smell the cat food" -TMBG Yes, that is true. Many rubber-backed rugs have an odor (probably not noticeable to hoomins) that acts as a natural cat-attractant. Some even have a type of fish residue as part of the manufacturing process. I learned years ago to avoid all such rugs, just on the off-chance that it would cause inappropriate urination -- which is much harder to stop than to avoid in the first place. MaryL I can sure smell it. I hate rubber backed matts. I think it smells just like cat pee. Haven't gotten one for years, but then I am kind of sensative to "plastic" smells. Others are "sensative" to falling on their asses, hence the popularity of rubber-backed rugs. I think you've fallen on your head one time too many, kook. |
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