I don't know how to give away my cat of 7 years. I am having a very hard time. How do I make it easier for him

Question

My cat of 7 years is peeing on everything. I had a baby a year ago and things have been fine, but just recently he is peeing everywhere. I feel terrible, but I know I cannot keep him. How do I make it easier on him and I?

Answer 1

Have you had him to the vet? One of the biggest reasons cats stop using the box is that they have a medical problem...uti, stones, etc. that they are tyring to alert you too. Often that is the only sign. If he hasn't been to the vet, see if you can get him in ASAP....male cats can get a complete blockage of the urinary tract if problems are treated quickly...and it can be fatal. If he stops urinating or is having trouble, it is an EMERGENCY...find a vet that has emergency hours and get him in IMMEDIATELY. Now, if medical problems are ruled out, there are things that you can do to get him peeing in the box again. Some are, make sure you have one more box than cats (1 cat=2 boxes), avoid automated boxes, use unscented clumping litter, make sure the box is scooped at least once a day, and replace all litter and wash the box every 1-2 weeks. Wherever he's going needs to be treated with a cat urine neutralizer, such as Nature's Miracle. Also, if he's not neutered, he could be marking his territory. This could also just plain be that he's afraid of the baby now that it's likely more mobile or that he's seeking your attention. Try to give him a space that's just his, give him lots of attention, and retrain him to use his box. I have a friend going through this as well and I know it's not an easy decision. Hopefully, one of the above will work and you won't need to make that decision. Your vet will probably have some more ideas for you.

Answer 2

I am not going to quarrel with your decision to re-home your cat.
This is the #1 problem with cats (and dogs) that are surrendered to shelters. It is an understandably intolerable situation for humans to bear.

I am not quite clear whether the cat manifested this problem more or less right after the baby was brought into the family or if it is something that developed later. And you must check the cat through a vet for a urinary infection of irritation if crystals are forming and making it painful for your cat to urinate. A medical condition is #1 priority for you to look into. These urinary problems can also be brought on by stress, so it could have developed a little later because of that.

Please go to www.littlebigcat.com and read some articles there by Jean Hovfe, DVM. The last one there is "Your Cat and Your New Baby". She has four articles there on litterbox issues. Dr. Hovfe is of course a veterinarian and her partner at the site is a cat behaviorist. They do private consultations too. Read about that. It can cost up to $100. It can be worth it if you want to keep the cat. I do sense that you are not happy about having to find him a new home. At the very least you could try Hovfe's Stress Stopper remedy and that is $16.95 with no shipping,handling or taxes. It will come in the mail in about a week with instructions for use. Please at least try this as you are looking for a home for the cat. Even send the bottle with him to his new home.

If you will take time to read the articles and/or try the Stress Stopper you will be better able to help a new owner deal with his problems and make the cat's transition to a new home less stressful, which will relieve your feelings of guilt if nothing else.

I wish you had the kind of shelter like the San Francisco SPCA has. I was a volunteer there and trained with the "behavior" cats. No animal looses its life if they have to be surrendered.

Unfortunately that isn't available many places in the US.

Answer 3

Did you take him to the vet? Cat's will pee to get your attention (boy, does it.) that something is wrong. It's usually a digestive or urinary problem that can be fixed easily.

If you have taken him and nothing's wrong physically, it may be he's jealous of the baby. The time you spent with the cat is being taken up with the child. Animals, sometimes, don't like the loss of attention. The cat's marking his territory to warn the kid that he was there first. (That just brought to mind that if the cat is not "fixed", he may be thinking the baby is a rival. If he is still "intact", get him neutered, that could also fix the problem.)

Where I was originally going....It may sound strange but rub the baby's clothing, toys, bedding, etc, on the cat. Get the cat's scent on all of the baby's things. It will help the cat realize that the baby is his too, and is not a rival, but is his "possession". Why pee on your own stuff?

Try those things before giving the cat up. I think it'll be an easy problem to solve.

Answer 4

Your cat is also your baby, and before you make the final decision to give him away, do everything you can do to stop the peeing first.
I would suggest a trip to the vet, if he has any type of urinary tract infection he will not pee in his litter box. They associate the litter box with the pain the infection is causing them.
If he has no infection, he may be jealous of the new baby, this would be a bit trickier. You will have to combine more attention to the cat, with discipline when he pees in the wrong place. Cats are like children, and a child who feels as if they are lacking attention will mis-behave just to get the attention, even if it is negative attention.
The one thing I can say for sure is that I have three cats, and if one of them were doing that, I would try to figure out why, before I got rid of him. I feel that once you take the animal, it's yours for the rest of the animals life, so please try not to give him away.

Answer 5

Your cat of 7 years is jealous of your new baby. The cat is marking everywhere trying to establish territory rights.

It is real easy to start paying all attention to new baby and having no time for cat. That is very sad.

I would run an ad in the paper and give him very high marks and recommendations. That is the least you could do for him. The Humane society will keep him for so long and then put him to sleep if no one adopts.

Cold hard facts of life.

Darryl S.

Answer 6

If you can try to find a friend you can get to take your cat other option would be a no kill animal shelter where they will find your cat a new home. Has the cat been Spayed?
your cat may be doing this in reaction to the baby but I have no cure to offer other than relocating to a relatives home or making it an OUTside cat as much as possible.
If you find a friend or relative to take your cat you can still visit it from time to time.

Answer 7

There is a special dry cat food that is good at correcting some bladder problems. Also a vet may help if that doesn't. Don't give away your cat of 7 years until you try to resolve the problem.

Answer 8

put an add in the local paper, and make flyer's of a cat being given away for adoption, and put a couple each in petsmart, Pickering freed, pet-co, and other animal stores. before you give him away, talk to your vet about this issue, and ask if the peeing might be for attention.

Answer 9

i suspect your cat is going through a jealousy stage and has picked up a mood habit to show u that he or she is not happy with the new arrival your best bet is to try a new home as this behavior may not change make sure its not a urinary tract infection before you do though ok sometimes if you love someone enough you will let them go

Answer 10

Have you checked with a vet to make sure its not an infecton? Some animals have a hard time adjusting to new babies or any new addition to your home. Just dont bring him to the pound and find a good home maybe one you can visit him at. Good luck.