Possible solution for peeing problems

There is an interesting article in today's Newsday (Sept 20), called
"Crate News for Solitary Kitties". No link because I can't find it on
the website yet. The thrust is that cats are primarily solitary
creatures and don't mind being put into a crate. Free access to a
crate, and even being locked in when the humans are away, is not
necessarily a bad thing, as long as it is large enough to accomodate a
litter box.

She (Denise Flaim) goes on to state that a vet named Myrna Millani of
New Hampshire has used crates to provide a permanent refuge from other
resident cats as well as stressful household situations. In
particular, it has been effective for "elimination problems", when the
human is not around to supervise. Soon the potty habits were under
control. She recommends washing out the crate and spritzing it with
Feliway in preparation. I saw nothing else about the size of the
crate.

If you crate train your cats, that becomes their personal territory
and the rest of the house is neutral ground. This is useful for
multi-cat households with clashing cats.

Your attitude counts too. If you have negative feelings about crating
and think of it as putting your cat in jail, don't do it. Animals pick
up cues from us

Anyway, that's what the article says. I think it won't go over big
with those that feel that keeping a cat indoors is horrible, but,
well, let the darts fly.

I've seen this advice offered from several behaviourists , I think
using a crate could be handy for retraining a cat to wee in its litter
box and for introducing cats.
I don't think it would be fair to leave a cat alone in a crate all day
permanently while an owner is at work which I feel could happen.
It's not a permanent solution. People could use a crate to control
a situation without solving the problem . I know may dogs are kept
like this and I think it's a shame.
Alison

"dgk" wrote in message
...
There is an interesting article in today's Newsday (Sept 20), called
"Crate News for Solitary Kitties". No link because I can't find it
on
the website yet. The thrust is that cats are primarily solitary
creatures and don't mind being put into a crate. Free access to a
crate, and even being locked in when the humans are away, is not
necessarily a bad thing, as long as it is large enough to accomodate
a
litter box.

She (Denise Flaim) goes on to state that a vet named Myrna Millani
of
New Hampshire has used crates to provide a permanent refuge from
other
resident cats as well as stressful household situations. In
particular, it has been effective for "elimination problems", when
the
human is not around to supervise. Soon the potty habits were under
control. She recommends washing out the crate and spritzing it with
Feliway in preparation. I saw nothing else about the size of the
crate.

If you crate train your cats, that becomes their personal territory
and the rest of the house is neutral ground. This is useful for
multi-cat households with clashing cats.

Your attitude counts too. If you have negative feelings about
crating
and think of it as putting your cat in jail, don't do it. Animals
pick
up cues from us

Anyway, that's what the article says. I think it won't go over big
with those that feel that keeping a cat indoors is horrible, but,
well, let the darts fly.

I've seen this advice offered from several behaviourists , I think
using a crate could be handy for retraining a cat to wee in its litter
box and for introducing cats.
I don't think it would be fair to leave a cat alone in a crate all day
permanently while an owner is at work which I feel could happen.
It's not a permanent solution. People could use a crate to control
a situation without solving the problem . I know may dogs are kept
like this and I think it's a shame.
Alison

"dgk" wrote in message
...
There is an interesting article in today's Newsday (Sept 20), called
"Crate News for Solitary Kitties". No link because I can't find it
on
the website yet. The thrust is that cats are primarily solitary
creatures and don't mind being put into a crate. Free access to a
crate, and even being locked in when the humans are away, is not
necessarily a bad thing, as long as it is large enough to accomodate
a
litter box.

She (Denise Flaim) goes on to state that a vet named Myrna Millani
of
New Hampshire has used crates to provide a permanent refuge from
other
resident cats as well as stressful household situations. In
particular, it has been effective for "elimination problems", when
the
human is not around to supervise. Soon the potty habits were under
control. She recommends washing out the crate and spritzing it with
Feliway in preparation. I saw nothing else about the size of the
crate.

If you crate train your cats, that becomes their personal territory
and the rest of the house is neutral ground. This is useful for
multi-cat households with clashing cats.

Your attitude counts too. If you have negative feelings about
crating
and think of it as putting your cat in jail, don't do it. Animals
pick
up cues from us

Anyway, that's what the article says. I think it won't go over big
with those that feel that keeping a cat indoors is horrible, but,
well, let the darts fly.

On Mon, 20 Sep 2004 20:31:43 +0100, "Alison"
wrote:


I've seen this advice offered from several behaviourists , I think
using a crate could be handy for retraining a cat to wee in its litter
box and for introducing cats.
I don't think it would be fair to leave a cat alone in a crate all day
permanently while an owner is at work which I feel could happen.
It's not a permanent solution. People could use a crate to control
a situation without solving the problem . I know may dogs are kept
like this and I think it's a shame.
Alison

I wish I could get the article. There was an interesting bit on cats
diving into bags. Mine do it all the time. I have to rip off the
handles so they can't choke themselves. But they do like to crawl into
any little space and I can see the logic in them seeing them as caves.

There was just a whole thread of a cat, Rutherford I think, with
peeing problems. I didn't see this idea mentioned.

What I can't figure out is how a cat can have an area that is theirs
when it is really impossible to keep other cats out. One of mine
really likes a particular level on one of the cat trees, but once in a
while another furry beast gets there first.

Oh well, I can't figure them out. I think they just try to drive us
nuts.

On Mon, 20 Sep 2004 20:31:43 +0100, "Alison"
wrote:


I've seen this advice offered from several behaviourists , I think
using a crate could be handy for retraining a cat to wee in its litter
box and for introducing cats.
I don't think it would be fair to leave a cat alone in a crate all day
permanently while an owner is at work which I feel could happen.
It's not a permanent solution. People could use a crate to control
a situation without solving the problem . I know may dogs are kept
like this and I think it's a shame.
Alison

I wish I could get the article. There was an interesting bit on cats
diving into bags. Mine do it all the time. I have to rip off the
handles so they can't choke themselves. But they do like to crawl into
any little space and I can see the logic in them seeing them as caves.

There was just a whole thread of a cat, Rutherford I think, with
peeing problems. I didn't see this idea mentioned.

What I can't figure out is how a cat can have an area that is theirs
when it is really impossible to keep other cats out. One of mine
really likes a particular level on one of the cat trees, but once in a
while another furry beast gets there first.

Oh well, I can't figure them out. I think they just try to drive us
nuts.