Apparently my cat is depressed. I know, I know, stop anthropomorphizing him. But he is peeing outside the litterbox, he's older and notoriously stubborn. I've read that introducing a new environment can help them get into better spirits (and stop peeing). Does anyone have any positive or negative stories to share and any helpful tips??
Thanks!!
2007-07-08 11:05:03 · 8 answers · asked by jessicalab01 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Some responses: he doesn't have a urinary tract infection, and he has a history of peeing. He used ot belong to my sister and after they had to replace the carpets, they asked me to try to "rehabilitate" him. He only pees by doors, both closets and doors to outside. I can get the harness on him but he won't walk around, but its only been 2 days. I just want to make sure I won't do irreparable damage to him by introducing him to the outside and having him either get so scared that he gets sick or that he will want to go outside all the time.
2007-07-08 15:38:36 · update #1
oh jessica!
I take my 16 yr old cat for car rides sometimes.
Most of the time, I get her a new toy with cat nip, and that does the trick.
also peeing outside the box, could be a urinary tract infection.
check it out.
2007-07-08 11:10:33 · answer #1 · answered by Denise W 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That's something I haven't heard before. But, I walk my cat all the time. Make sure he's in a harness, NOT just a collar. Cats are squirmy things, aren't they?
My cat doesn't go very far at all. Cats are not like dogs. Dogs follow you. You follow cats. Cats stop at every few steps to smell whatever is there. Then they will just sit down a look around. Be patient. Let the cat tell you where he wants to go. Figure on a very few minutes the first time. Then pick him up and take him back inside. Do this at about the same time every day...or each time you take him out. I take my cat out 3-4 times a week. It helps that we live in the mountains. There's lots of stuff for him to see. Don't let your cat get too close to trees and other things he can climb. You might lose him if he climbs a tree and goes chasing a bird.
2007-07-08 18:18:09 · answer #2 · answered by Lucy S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some outdoor time can give him some new stuff to experience, but keep him on leash. You don't need to walk him, just be there to keep him out of trouble and make sure he's in a safe area. "Walking" them is a matter of following behind and that's pretty boring considering they don't do it like a dog.
Make sure you don't change litter brands, some hate the perfumes in brands they don't regularly use and will go outside the box.
Is he standing close to the edge of the box? Two of ours are IN the box but stand up so high the pee goes over the side and onto the paper and floor, not their fault, but not good for me who has to clean it up. When I lowered the amount of litter in the box it got their backside down low enough it didn't happen again.
If he pees on the bed or carpet, have the vet check for a urinary infection--cats with those end up having to pee so much they don't see the point of going back to the box, or it just comes out, it's not their fault.
"New" environments may also cover things like putting a bird feeder outside a window he likes to sit in. That gives him something to watch. The videos for cats are good, they do keep ours entertained, but some like that more than others. A goldfish in a bowl is usually interesting to a cat too.
2007-07-08 18:17:46 · answer #3 · answered by hudsongray 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. Check your cat for a urinary tract infection or urine crystals. The symptoms sound more like that and it is dangerous, because males can block and not be able to pee. So have a urine analysis asap.
2. Walking a dog is not pleasant for him. He will be stressed even more. I tried to do this with my cat, thinking that he would enjoy a walk. Turns out he kept trembling, and when he was scared he got loose from the harness which I thought was safely adjusted till then (it never is, cats can get loose from anything!), and he ran away. Thankfully he stopped and hid in some bushes before he was run over by a car, and I managed to catch him. He trembles every time he gets outside the house ever since.
3.So please check your cat's health and leave him in his house. cats don't like changes of their environment.
2007-07-08 18:11:58 · answer #4 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cat have feelings too! You aren't Anthropomorphizing if you know your cat well. Many things can bring a kitty down. It's people who say stuff like that who don't know animals and who are so arrogant they think animals can't feel. But you know better! :)
Take your cat to the vet to make sure he doesn't have a UTI. These can be deadly to cats and male cats get them easier than females. They will pee anywhere because it so hard to do and then they leak. It's very painful for them.
If you are going to take him outside make sure he has all his shots. Especially FIV. Feline leukemia. It's very contagious.
Get a harness that fits him securely and comfortably and put it on him while he's in the house so he gets used to it. He'll roll around for a while. It's kinda of funny, you may want to tape it!
After a while he'll just forget it. My cat knows if I have her harness, she's going outside! But she's scared of most everything and that is fine since I want her to be afraid because she's an inside kitty and if she gets out without me and is afraid, she'll stick near the door,which is good too.
I've also started taking her for rides in the car. She enjoys it. She's nervous at first but soon is very happy to be with me. She has a little separation anxiety.
2007-07-08 18:42:46 · answer #5 · answered by Posey P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know to train them to walk on a leash you have to start that when they are still kittens.If the cat is older sometimes all the things you mentioned just comes with there age.I would maybe try some cat nip or something like a kitty climber.Also make sure the blinds are open for him to look out at the birds and whatever else.My cats love to look outside.MEOW!
2007-07-08 19:34:02 · answer #6 · answered by kittens 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have leash trained a few cats myself, it takes some time but it works very well. My one cat, wanted to go outside but every time he did he would get lost & couldn't find his way back & I don't have the heart to keep him locked inside. So I went out and bought a harness & started to leash train him like a dog. It took a while, but it worked. He walks like a dog on a leash now & he loves it! Good luck!
2007-07-08 18:09:30 · answer #7 · answered by fourpawsandtailrescue 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i dont think so cuz to me that looks funny that why they made kitty litter but some people just lets their pet out by their selfs but they have to know where they live
2007-07-08 18:11:19 · answer #8 · answered by clilcciara 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋