Do I put my cat to sleep?

Question

We have a 10 year old domestic short hair cat who is uriniating--and destroying our house. She is very sweet to us but EXTREMELY aggressive to others. We recently took her to the vet and they had to sedate her just to examine her. After many tests they told us that she is physically fine--so her problem is emotional. I just can't put her to sleep, I would feel horrible. We have called many No-Kill shelters and they are all full. One said they would look at her and if she was healthy and friendly they would put her up for adoption. That won't happen since she is so aggressive. Has anyone else had to deal with this? Also, since shehas been urinating we have to use Nature's Miracle and Odorsout--which fortunately help the smell but she continues to go in the same spots. We have tried mothballs, sprays, you name it. HELP!!!

Answer 1

Since she is distroying and urinating everywhere, limit her territory to one or two rooms. This will keep her from tearing up everything in the house and a cat feels less stressed when they have less territory to worry about. She might fight you about it at first, but it's for hers and the houses own good.

Now, since the vet didn't find anything physically wrong. What could make her be so destructive? Well, if you adopted her or she was a stray it is possible that she is just now reacting to those memories because she is becoming older and has more trouble doing things.
When she acts up, put her in a dim room by herself and let her calm down. Preferably, she should be use to this room so use one of the rooms she is restricted to. Cats feel a lot safer when they are warm and in a dark enviroment(with some light).

After she has calmed down, sit on the floor or a chair and wait for her to come to you. If she doesn't, leave and try again later. If she is still upset or is pouting, you might scare her more by trying to grab her.
If she does come to you, scratch her favorite spot like on the head or under the chin.

Her being agressive towards others is based on her not experiencing socialization with others when she was younger. This is why many vets and trainers tell you to allow her to be around different animals and people so that they are not agressive later in life. Another possibility about the agression is not having to deal with other pets in the house so she will automatically be territorial about everything including you.


As a cat gets older, it is better for her and you to limit her wandering space so that 1. She doesnt hurt herself 2. She doesnt urinate out of her box.


Be sure to place her litter, food, and water in the new space you provide her.

Answer 2

You bring up several interesting points.

First, call the SPCA and other animal groups and ask if they have someone who can advise you of things to try. In my town, we do have that.

When she urinates, does she just go to a spot and do it all at once or does she go many different places and go a tiny bit? Perhaps a second opinion for a different vet is in order also. Some are much better at diagnosing and treating FUS than others.

There are medications that can mellow out an animal. Like in humans, there are contraversies surrounding this. A tranqualizer might be appropriate for things like a trip to the vet. There is also a product called Feelaway, but it is probably too weak for your problem.

You mention the no-kill shelters turning you down. A lot of people think that tradional shelters are horrible. Well, you need help and the no-kills won't help because they are full. That is one of the drawbacks of no-kill. Too often they simply can't do anything to help a problem because of their constraints.

Answer 3

Is there a way you can confine the cat in one area like the garage ? If I were you, I'd invest in an enclosure for the cat - one of those chainlink kennels with tarpaulin roofs meant for dogs. Make it cat proof by covering certain spots with chicken wire. I have one which I made into an outdoor enclosure for my cats. Put a little "hpuse" there for the cat where she can keep dry. Obviously, if it is too cold out there, tyou have to bring her in the house - but put her in the bathroom or laundry. Don't let her have the run of the house until her urinating problem is resolved. I am thinking that something is probably upsetting your cat. Was there a recent new addition to the family like a baby or another pet? Did someone leave? I have heard that some people have attempted to deal with this problem by first addressing the cat's emotional condition. They give catnip or one of those bottled calming essences. Therapy also includes lots of play time, attention, soothing the cat's "nerves" with flower essences or catnip and keeping stressful situations away from the cat until the cat regains emotional balance.

Answer 4

Wow! That's a tough one.

I'd suggest keeping her until room at a no kill shelter opened up, or talking to your local SPCA or Humane Society for another solution.

Another approach would be asking your vet if there are any acceptable medications for cats to curb the aggressiveness, like a mild sedative or Prozac or something

Unfortunately you have a problem with really no acceptable solution. I hope it all turns out OK.

Answer 5

That's a tough one. 3 years ago I had to put my cat of 14 years to sleep. She was sick though. It was still very tough. Maybe you should see another vet to get a second opinion on whether your cat may have a medical problem.
Otherwise, maybe you can put an ad in the local paper. To try and find someone who could take her. Like someone in the country. So she could be outside maybe. Just a thought.

Answer 6

No, don't do it. I've had several aggressive cats. Normally they become aggressive and urinate places they shouldn't because of changes in their environment. I have one who used to reach out and dig his claws as far into you as he could for more than a month. After a while I noticed he only did it to certain people, and then noticed they showed him no attention. Once they started showing him affection, whether he clawed them or not he started to settle down. Evaluate everything before you give him up. Find out if your vet has any mood altering drugs for kitties.

Answer 7

I HAVE THE SAME EXACT STORY!!
last year..i had a cat that was around 2 years old...everytime my friends came over...he would attack them...and when i try to stop him..he would attack me...or sometimes..when we try to play with him..he bites aggressively

few months later..he started urinating all over the house...it smelled really bad...sadly...i tried everything....but no use....my last resort was to try to find a no kill shelter..but no luck...so i had to give it away to any shelter....but i didn't want to know if it got put to sleep...too scared to know the truth...

cat are very territorial animals..especially male cats...they are basically marking their territory....and whoever comes to his territory (visitors)....he goes crazy......

i really don't know what to tell you but...i got new 2 kittens...i treated them really differently then my other cat i had before....first i neutered/spayed it in a early age (6-8months) might prevent the urinating.....and i treat them like a total princess/prince....now their 1 years old...and they're nothing like my other cat...i guess its the cats environment that makes out their personality....

Answer 8

If possible, go to your library and see if they have the book "Outwitting Cats" by Wendy Christensen. She goes over all of those problems you're having and gives a lot of good ideas of what could be causing it and how to stop it. Plus it has lots of interesting things about cats that you might not know.

Answer 9

Sometimes the vets can give medicine to help with emotional problems. Have you looked into that?

Answer 10

If you can't think of any reasons for her behavior (different pets,food,litter,box,people) then maybe you should try a different vet for a second opinion.