Question:
Jeff- All the suggestions I’ve read so far seem to be very good ones-especially rolling up the futon and sticking it in a closet while you’re gone. I am a petsitter here in the Philadelphia area, and I find that cats are very sensitive to who is around them, what they see, what they hear, etc. Consider having a professional pet-sitter come every day-give new food, freshen the water, play or cuddle and *scoop the litter*! Even though your cats may be ok with every-few-days litter changes while you are home,; they might get stressed out while you’re away and pee "innappropriately". The bucks you will spend for this service (cheaper than boarding) will be a good investment toward your peace of mind – while you are gone & when you walk in the door. Good Luck-I bet cat urine smell is even stronger after a 16-hour trip! * -Cindy Miller * * "…You can be right * * or * * you can be happy… * – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My suggestions are: > *Leave a radio softly playing while you’re away. I tried it once when I > was on a business trip, and it seemed to help. > *Leaving a shirt or sweater out that you’ve worn so your kitties can be > near something that smells like you > Rene
Response:
Thanks, Cindy. I didn’t get to talk much to the woman who was looking in on them because she called in sick so I wasn’t able to get any details about what she did and observed. The only thing noted in our brief conversation was that the cats hid from her. That doesn’t surprise me at all since they hide from most people whether I’m here or not. I know me being away for a lengthy period is highly stressful for these cats because they are so accustomed to me and only me being here every night. I’ll find out more from her when she returns to work (hopefully) tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m planning to take them to the vet tomorrow for urinary tests. In the past, once I was home, the inappropriate urinating stopped immediately. Tonight one of them did it on the futon again even though I’d just scooped their litter boxes and added fresh litter. It seems that either I didn’t get the futon mattress cleaned sufficiently or one of them has a physical problem this time. Time to get a definite answer on the latter it seems. > All the suggestions I’ve read so far seem to be very good ones-especially > rolling up the futon and sticking it in a closet while you’re gone. > I am a petsitter here in the Philadelphia area, and I find that cats are > very sensitive to who is around them, what they see, what they hear, etc. > Consider having a professional pet-sitter come every day-give new food, > freshen the water, play or cuddle and *scoop the litter*! > Even though your cats may be ok with every-few-days litter changes while you > are home,; they might get stressed out while you’re away and pee > "innappropriately". > The bucks you will spend for this service (cheaper than boarding) will be a > good investment toward your peace of mind – while you are gone & when you > walk in the door. > Good Luck-I bet cat urine smell is even stronger after a 16-hour trip!
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
My suggestions are: *Leave a radio softly playing while you’re away. I tried it once when I was on a business trip, and it seemed to help. *Leaving a shirt or sweater out that you’ve worn so your kitties can be near something that smells like you Rene
Response:
> Nooooo, your cats are forced to use dirty boxes. I seriously doubt it > has anything to do with being content.
If they weren’t content to use the boxes as I manage them, they would let me know by not using them on a regular basis when I’m not away on vacation as they have done before. > Scooping the litter once a day is not an "all day" affair, or > "pampering". It is what a responsible pet owner does.
Some cats obviously demand more out of the cleanliness of a litter box than mine do currently. That’s not to say mine won’t decide at some point that they want theirs cleaned more often, but until then I will do what seems to work for us now. Pamper is to treat with extreme or excessive care and attention. If the cat doesn’t mind having the litter scooped but every few days, then scooping more often is pampering. Not saying pampering is necessarily a bad thing here, just not what I’m doing in this case. > If given a choice between a clean box and a dirty box, I know which one > they’ll pick. Would you want to use a toilet that has been used for > several days, but hasn’t been flushed?
The issue isn’t what I want out of a toilet. The issue is what the cats want out of theirs. You claim to know much about what my cats want out of a litter box. It would probably amaze you that I’ve watched these two use an unemptied box when a clean one was available. Go figure. > < Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary.> > They still deserve to have a responsible pet owner that cleans their > boxes once a day.
So any pet owner who has come to an arrangement that works for him/her and his/her cat(s) that differs from you and yours is automatically irresponsible? Broad strokes to be painting with in a diverse world. > You might want to change petsitters, too. A good and responsible petsitter > scoops the boxes daily and gives the cats attention.
The reason I asked this woman to do it instead of the guy who did it previously was specifically for the scooping issue. I won’t know exactly what this sitter did as far as scooping and attention giving until I see her at work tomorrow. Judging by the heft of the bag of litter, I know she scooped it more than once while I was away. For all I know at this point, she could have scooped it every day and the cats still peed on the futon. I’ll know more details tomorrow. — Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get >some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and >Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon >whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly >stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to >or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving >to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 >hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the >floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this >time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I >had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them >during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go >four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they >stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even >with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use >the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The >only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess >every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little >pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions >greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
Hi: Have urinalyses on both cats been done when you return from vacations, to make sure the problem isn’t medical? Ruling out a medical reason for inappropriate urination is always the first thing to do, even if you’re convinced the problem is behavioral. Here is a direct quote from Dr. Sue Kestenman, DVM, on female urinary problems. It might be relevant in your case: >Female cats will generally cope better with crystal formation, and unless >they get a bacterial infection as a result of crystal irritation, they may >not let an owner know they are in pain. Although I’d love to say this is
because the female of any species is just tougher, I have to admit that in this case, the female cat’s urethral opening is much wider than the male’s, so the crystals pass without so much cutting and scratching. If you have a female cat, beware of attributing occasional litter mistakes to her being "mad" that you have been away or have not given her much attention. This explanation is the one I hear most often as the reason a trip to the vet has been delayed for weeks or even years. Girl cats are only going to have pain occasionally, so their mistake with urination may not repeat for a month or so. If you have been away, your cat may not have been eating or drinking as much as usual, and this simple disruption in her routine may be enough to allow more crystals to settle in her bladder (since not drinking as much concentrates the crystal numbers); therefore, her next urination may be a "mistake". This coincidence often makes people state that their cat urinates vindictively when they leave for a weekend. I wish again that I could defend the female of the species and say that they are just brilliant enough to think this plan through, but in reality, virtually every one of these kitties will have an abnormal urinalysis. If let go too long without treatment, kidney infections and disease can ensue, running the risk of shortening the cat’s life span. (Please note that male cats may initially show this occasional inappropriate urination or spraying as well, but they will generally progress more rapidly to regular signs of discomfort. >Whereas girls can literally have problems for years that owners blame on anger, boys tend to
progress to more frequent litter box errors within months). >A word about BEHAVIORAL inappropriate urination: Some cats do resent > litter brand changes, a spraying stray growling through the >window, or a new cat in the home, etc. But, keep in mind that these are the EXCEPTION,
amounting to about 10% of urination problems. If your cat has a normal >urinalysis, there are numerous behavioral therapies and drugs that can
correct behavioral urination problems. [end of quote] I also wanted to mention that your cats may prefer litter boxes that are cleaned out every day. Some cats won’t use a box that has even one "deposit" in it. Would it be possible for your petsitter to come over every day? Good luck. Becky
Response:
Second sentence should read "…in addition to smelly, dirty litter boxes, they have to deal with the stress of you being away". M.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I thought so. Then, at the very least, please understand that, in addition > to smelly, dirty litter boxes, they, in addition, have to deal with the > stress of you are away. This is what probably becomes too much for them. > They might tolerate dirty boxes when you are around, which is sheer luck, > but it is not something cats like – very much the opposite. I presume, from > your loud and clear attitude, that the pet sitter comes whenever, but does > not stay and play, groom, put out fresh water and food on a daily basis, let > alone more often. That would be making the human "prisoners" of your cats I > gather. Well, we see the world of sharing our homes with cats very > differently and, for the sake of your cats, I am sorry about that. Your > views on the basics of litter-box hygiene gives me insights on how you view > other aspects of living with cats and it does not surprise me that you have > no understanding about why your cats are urinating outside their boxes while > you are away. They are communicating loudly and clearly and you are refusing > to listen. > M. > Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their > cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I > am > fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped > every > few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more. A good > thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire. > Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine > aren’t. Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes > to > a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them > urinating > or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few > days > as I do. Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary. > > I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous > pet > > sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped > "mid-week", > > meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do > not > > scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you > > enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously > > clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they > do. > > If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. > > M. > — > Jeff Traigle > http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
>Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their >cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case,
I don’t scoop after each use of the box but I do do it once a day. And I don’t find myself feeling like a prisoner *L* more like saving myself from any probable poop or pee incident anywhere outside of the box 
Call it a prevention measure *hehehe*. — elsa ^..^ http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/louie.htm for the scoop on pee and poop: http://poop-pee.homepage.com/ show your cats off to the rest of the world at: http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/cattitude.htm
Response:
Yikes! Wish I would have seen this first.
<Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I am fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped every few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more.> Nooooo, your cats are forced to use dirty boxes. I seriously doubt it has anything to do with being content. < A good thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire.> Scooping the litter once a day is not an "all day" affair, or "pampering". It is what a responsible pet owner does. <Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine aren’t.> If given a choice between a clean box and a dirty box, I know which one they’ll pick. Would you want to use a toilet that has been used for several days, but hasn’t been flushed? <Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes to a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them urinating or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few days as I do.> You’ve been LUCKY so far, but your luck WILL run out. < Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary.> They still deserve to have a responsible pet owner that cleans their boxes once a day. You might want to change petsitters, too. A good and responsible petsitter scoops the boxes daily and gives the cats attention. Megan
Response:
An interesting idea, but I have voicemail, not an answering machine. They obviously do miss me when I’m away. They’re being very affectionate, purring and rubbing against me. > Everyone else has already offered excellent suggestions, so I don’t > have much to add. I suppose they miss you very much when you’re away and > perhaps don’t realize that you’re coming back. It may sound silly, but > do you call and leave messages on the answering machine for them? > Perhaps at least hearing your voice would reassure them a bit. > I have a little Siamese cat whose name is Imp, also! I usually call > her Impy, though. > Juliette http://www.fnord.com/~juliette
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
Hi Jeff, Here is a possible solution. Go to Walmart and buy a waterproof matress pad to fit your bed size. Before you leave, cover the futon (bedding and all) with it. They can pee on it and nothing will soak through to the bedding. It they do, you can take it off upon your return, wash it and use it again the next time you go somewhere. Megan
Response:
I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous pet sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped "mid-week", meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do not scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they do. If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. M.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get > some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and > Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon > whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly > stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to > or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving > to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 > hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the > floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this > time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I > had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them > during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go > four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they > stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even > with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use > the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The > only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess > every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little > pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions > greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
Response:
Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I am fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped every few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more. A good thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire. Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine aren’t. Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes to a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them urinating or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few days as I do. Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary. > I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous pet > sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped "mid-week", > meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do not > scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you > enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously > clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they do. > If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. > M.
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
I thought so. Then, at the very least, please understand that, in addition to smelly, dirty litter boxes, they, in addition, have to deal with the stress of you are away. This is what probably becomes too much for them. They might tolerate dirty boxes when you are around, which is sheer luck, but it is not something cats like – very much the opposite. I presume, from your loud and clear attitude, that the pet sitter comes whenever, but does not stay and play, groom, put out fresh water and food on a daily basis, let alone more often. That would be making the human "prisoners" of your cats I gather. Well, we see the world of sharing our homes with cats very differently and, for the sake of your cats, I am sorry about that. Your views on the basics of litter-box hygiene gives me insights on how you view other aspects of living with cats and it does not surprise me that you have no understanding about why your cats are urinating outside their boxes while you are away. They are communicating loudly and clearly and you are refusing to listen. M.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their > cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I am > fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped every > few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more. A good > thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire. > Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine > aren’t. Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes to > a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them urinating > or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few days > as I do. Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary. > I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous pet > sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped "mid-week", > meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do not > scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you > enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously > clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they do. > If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. > M. > — > Jeff Traigle > http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
I’m with this one. When I used to leave my girl alone, she was "popped in on" by a friend who would hang out here every night taking advantage of my prepaid video rentals, quiet space, and kitchen full of snacks & booze. Previously, when I had left my sweetie alone she would wreck things, lots of things, but once she had someone to hang with for a few hours she was ok. Good luck. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > Do you have a friend’s house that they could stay at for the week? > That way they wouldn’t be home alone. Or better yet, a friend that > could stay at your place for the week. What about taking the mattress > off the futon and folding the futon up so they won’t even want to go on > it. Put the mattress in a room they can’t go in. > I can’t think of anything else at the moment but I will keep thinking. > Diane > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Then maybe make a tape the sitter could play?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> An interesting idea, but I have voicemail, not an answering machine. They > obviously do miss me when I’m away. They’re being very affectionate, purring > and rubbing against me. > Everyone else has already offered excellent suggestions, so I don’t > have much to add. I suppose they miss you very much when you’re away and > perhaps don’t realize that you’re coming back. It may sound silly, but > do you call and leave messages on the answering machine for them? > Perhaps at least hearing your voice would reassure them a bit. > I have a little Siamese cat whose name is Imp, also! I usually call > her Impy, though. > Juliette http://www.fnord.com/~juliette > — > Jeff Traigle > http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get >some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and >Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon >whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly >stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to >or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving >to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 >hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the >floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this >time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I >had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them >during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go >four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they >stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even >with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use >the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The >only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess >every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little >pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions >greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
But are you absolutely 110% sure that any of your cats are not suffering from a urinary tract infection or anything the like? Take both of them to the vet pronto just to rule out any health problems that may be causing either or both to be doing this (despite the fact that they do it only when you’re on vacation) – this shouldn’t be left to chance. Secondly, could it be that despite the fact they do this only whilst you’re away, that the futon still contains ‘trace’ hints of their previous marking/urination? If so, you really have to make sure that the futon is clean or replace it altogether. If they can detect a hint of their own scent they will continue to spray/urinate over the same area. Are they both sterilised? Are they male or female ? Your theory about them being stressed is a valid one (although do please get them checked up at your vet first) – therefore, have you considered trying Feliway? If they feel territorial against one another whilst you are away that may bring on the marking/urination. You can read more about Feliway with the links provided at this site: http://poop-pee.homepage.com/#14 I can tell you from personal experience though, that only a month ago or so we left for a week’s holiday in France – but we came back to discover their only problem was that our catsitter only changed/refilled their litter halfway and so they both defecated on the kitchen floor (thank god *L* – easier to clean!) – but one of our critters Louie at the age of 4.5 months began marking our bed as well – we had her checked out and she was free of any urinary tract infection but she was not spayed yet (we wanted to wait until she was six months old) – she remarked the spot because I hadn’t washed the comforter (quilt) properly enough – after someone in these NG’s helped me out with similar advice and after she was spayed the problem stopped completely! I wish you much success in solving the problem – it can be frustrating but if you first rule out any health problems with the cats then work on other solutions, I am more than sure the problem will be solved. For cleaning hints also see the page link listed above. Cheerio — elsa ^..^ http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/louie.htm for the scoop on pee and poop: http://poop-pee.homepage.com/ show your cats off to the rest of the world at: http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/cattitude.htm
Response:
Hi, Do you have a friend’s house that they could stay at for the week? That way they wouldn’t be home alone. Or better yet, a friend that could stay at your place for the week. What about taking the mattress off the futon and folding the futon up so they won’t even want to go on it. Put the mattress in a room they can’t go in. I can’t think of anything else at the moment but I will keep thinking. Diane * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Both are sterile. They are brother and sister. I’ve used odor removers on the futon mattress upon arriving home after each incident. The comforter and mattress cover have both been washed and bleached on those and other occasions also. This has been happening prior to me getting the futon also. They ruined two fairly new pillows one Christmas when they peed all over my bed. Same symptom there though… I cleaned it up as completely as I could and they never did anything like it again until the next vacation. With that comment, it occurs to me they seem to target the places I was using to sleep in at the time. I’ll check out the link for further cleaning tips though and about Feliway. Thanks. — Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
Imp and > Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon > whenever I go on vacation for a week or so.
Everyone else has already offered excellent suggestions, so I don’t have much to add. I suppose they miss you very much when you’re away and perhaps don’t realize that you’re coming back. It may sound silly, but do you call and leave messages on the answering machine for them? Perhaps at least hearing your voice would reassure them a bit. I have a little Siamese cat whose name is Imp, also! I usually call her Impy, though. Juliette http://www.fnord.com/~juliette
Response:
I thought about moving the futon mattress so they couldn’t get on it. Might try that also. There’s always the risk that they would find the next place they most associate my presence with to use however. Carpet would be a whole lot easier to clean than the futon mattress and coverings though so it would be an improvement if only a small one. As for the cats staying with a friend, there’s really not any they could stay with. The two coworkers who have checked on them have cats of their own. Besides, if you think these guys are stressed by my absence, you should see them around other people. I’d hate to think what they would do in a strange house with other strange animals. Also not practical currently to have sitters staying at my place. Thanks. > Hi, > Do you have a friend’s house that they could stay at for the week? > That way they wouldn’t be home alone. Or better yet, a friend that > could stay at your place for the week. What about taking the mattress > off the futon and folding the futon up so they won’t even want to go on > it. Put the mattress in a room they can’t go in. > I can’t think of anything else at the moment but I will keep thinking. > Diane
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
Response:
Jeff- All the suggestions I’ve read so far seem to be very good ones-especially rolling up the futon and sticking it in a closet while you’re gone. I am a petsitter here in the Philadelphia area, and I find that cats are very sensitive to who is around them, what they see, what they hear, etc. Consider having a professional pet-sitter come every day-give new food, freshen the water, play or cuddle and *scoop the litter*! Even though your cats may be ok with every-few-days litter changes while you are home,; they might get stressed out while you’re away and pee "innappropriately". The bucks you will spend for this service (cheaper than boarding) will be a good investment toward your peace of mind – while you are gone & when you walk in the door. Good Luck-I bet cat urine smell is even stronger after a 16-hour trip! * -Cindy Miller * * "…You can be right * * or * * you can be happy… * – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My suggestions are: > *Leave a radio softly playing while you’re away. I tried it once when I > was on a business trip, and it seemed to help. > *Leaving a shirt or sweater out that you’ve worn so your kitties can be > near something that smells like you > Rene
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Thanks, Cindy. I didn’t get to talk much to the woman who was looking in on them because she called in sick so I wasn’t able to get any details about what she did and observed. The only thing noted in our brief conversation was that the cats hid from her. That doesn’t surprise me at all since they hide from most people whether I’m here or not. I know me being away for a lengthy period is highly stressful for these cats because they are so accustomed to me and only me being here every night. I’ll find out more from her when she returns to work (hopefully) tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m planning to take them to the vet tomorrow for urinary tests. In the past, once I was home, the inappropriate urinating stopped immediately. Tonight one of them did it on the futon again even though I’d just scooped their litter boxes and added fresh litter. It seems that either I didn’t get the futon mattress cleaned sufficiently or one of them has a physical problem this time. Time to get a definite answer on the latter it seems. > All the suggestions I’ve read so far seem to be very good ones-especially > rolling up the futon and sticking it in a closet while you’re gone. > I am a petsitter here in the Philadelphia area, and I find that cats are > very sensitive to who is around them, what they see, what they hear, etc. > Consider having a professional pet-sitter come every day-give new food, > freshen the water, play or cuddle and *scoop the litter*! > Even though your cats may be ok with every-few-days litter changes while you > are home,; they might get stressed out while you’re away and pee > "innappropriately". > The bucks you will spend for this service (cheaper than boarding) will be a > good investment toward your peace of mind – while you are gone & when you > walk in the door. > Good Luck-I bet cat urine smell is even stronger after a 16-hour trip!
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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My suggestions are: *Leave a radio softly playing while you’re away. I tried it once when I was on a business trip, and it seemed to help. *Leaving a shirt or sweater out that you’ve worn so your kitties can be near something that smells like you Rene
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> Nooooo, your cats are forced to use dirty boxes. I seriously doubt it > has anything to do with being content.
If they weren’t content to use the boxes as I manage them, they would let me know by not using them on a regular basis when I’m not away on vacation as they have done before. > Scooping the litter once a day is not an "all day" affair, or > "pampering". It is what a responsible pet owner does.
Some cats obviously demand more out of the cleanliness of a litter box than mine do currently. That’s not to say mine won’t decide at some point that they want theirs cleaned more often, but until then I will do what seems to work for us now. Pamper is to treat with extreme or excessive care and attention. If the cat doesn’t mind having the litter scooped but every few days, then scooping more often is pampering. Not saying pampering is necessarily a bad thing here, just not what I’m doing in this case. > If given a choice between a clean box and a dirty box, I know which one > they’ll pick. Would you want to use a toilet that has been used for > several days, but hasn’t been flushed?
The issue isn’t what I want out of a toilet. The issue is what the cats want out of theirs. You claim to know much about what my cats want out of a litter box. It would probably amaze you that I’ve watched these two use an unemptied box when a clean one was available. Go figure. > < Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary.> > They still deserve to have a responsible pet owner that cleans their > boxes once a day.
So any pet owner who has come to an arrangement that works for him/her and his/her cat(s) that differs from you and yours is automatically irresponsible? Broad strokes to be painting with in a diverse world. > You might want to change petsitters, too. A good and responsible petsitter > scoops the boxes daily and gives the cats attention.
The reason I asked this woman to do it instead of the guy who did it previously was specifically for the scooping issue. I won’t know exactly what this sitter did as far as scooping and attention giving until I see her at work tomorrow. Judging by the heft of the bag of litter, I know she scooped it more than once while I was away. For all I know at this point, she could have scooped it every day and the cats still peed on the futon. I’ll know more details tomorrow. — Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get >some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and >Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon >whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly >stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to >or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving >to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 >hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the >floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this >time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I >had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them >during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go >four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they >stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even >with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use >the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The >only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess >every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little >pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions >greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
Hi: Have urinalyses on both cats been done when you return from vacations, to make sure the problem isn’t medical? Ruling out a medical reason for inappropriate urination is always the first thing to do, even if you’re convinced the problem is behavioral. Here is a direct quote from Dr. Sue Kestenman, DVM, on female urinary problems. It might be relevant in your case: >Female cats will generally cope better with crystal formation, and unless >they get a bacterial infection as a result of crystal irritation, they may >not let an owner know they are in pain. Although I’d love to say this is
because the female of any species is just tougher, I have to admit that in this case, the female cat’s urethral opening is much wider than the male’s, so the crystals pass without so much cutting and scratching. If you have a female cat, beware of attributing occasional litter mistakes to her being "mad" that you have been away or have not given her much attention. This explanation is the one I hear most often as the reason a trip to the vet has been delayed for weeks or even years. Girl cats are only going to have pain occasionally, so their mistake with urination may not repeat for a month or so. If you have been away, your cat may not have been eating or drinking as much as usual, and this simple disruption in her routine may be enough to allow more crystals to settle in her bladder (since not drinking as much concentrates the crystal numbers); therefore, her next urination may be a "mistake". This coincidence often makes people state that their cat urinates vindictively when they leave for a weekend. I wish again that I could defend the female of the species and say that they are just brilliant enough to think this plan through, but in reality, virtually every one of these kitties will have an abnormal urinalysis. If let go too long without treatment, kidney infections and disease can ensue, running the risk of shortening the cat’s life span. (Please note that male cats may initially show this occasional inappropriate urination or spraying as well, but they will generally progress more rapidly to regular signs of discomfort. >Whereas girls can literally have problems for years that owners blame on anger, boys tend to
progress to more frequent litter box errors within months). >A word about BEHAVIORAL inappropriate urination: Some cats do resent > litter brand changes, a spraying stray growling through the >window, or a new cat in the home, etc. But, keep in mind that these are the EXCEPTION,
amounting to about 10% of urination problems. If your cat has a normal >urinalysis, there are numerous behavioral therapies and drugs that can
correct behavioral urination problems. [end of quote] I also wanted to mention that your cats may prefer litter boxes that are cleaned out every day. Some cats won’t use a box that has even one "deposit" in it. Would it be possible for your petsitter to come over every day? Good luck. Becky
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Second sentence should read "…in addition to smelly, dirty litter boxes, they have to deal with the stress of you being away". M.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I thought so. Then, at the very least, please understand that, in addition > to smelly, dirty litter boxes, they, in addition, have to deal with the > stress of you are away. This is what probably becomes too much for them. > They might tolerate dirty boxes when you are around, which is sheer luck, > but it is not something cats like – very much the opposite. I presume, from > your loud and clear attitude, that the pet sitter comes whenever, but does > not stay and play, groom, put out fresh water and food on a daily basis, let > alone more often. That would be making the human "prisoners" of your cats I > gather. Well, we see the world of sharing our homes with cats very > differently and, for the sake of your cats, I am sorry about that. Your > views on the basics of litter-box hygiene gives me insights on how you view > other aspects of living with cats and it does not surprise me that you have > no understanding about why your cats are urinating outside their boxes while > you are away. They are communicating loudly and clearly and you are refusing > to listen. > M. > Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their > cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I > am > fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped > every > few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more. A good > thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire. > Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine > aren’t. Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes > to > a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them > urinating > or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few > days > as I do. Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary. > > I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous > pet > > sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped > "mid-week", > > meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do > not > > scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you > > enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously > > clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they > do. > > If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. > > M. > — > Jeff Traigle > http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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>Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their >cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case,
I don’t scoop after each use of the box but I do do it once a day. And I don’t find myself feeling like a prisoner *L* more like saving myself from any probable poop or pee incident anywhere outside of the box Call it a prevention measure *hehehe*. — elsa ^..^ http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/louie.htm for the scoop on pee and poop: http://poop-pee.homepage.com/ show your cats off to the rest of the world at: http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/cattitude.htm
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Yikes! Wish I would have seen this first.
<Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I am fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped every few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more.> Nooooo, your cats are forced to use dirty boxes. I seriously doubt it has anything to do with being content. < A good thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire.> Scooping the litter once a day is not an "all day" affair, or "pampering". It is what a responsible pet owner does. <Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine aren’t.> If given a choice between a clean box and a dirty box, I know which one they’ll pick. Would you want to use a toilet that has been used for several days, but hasn’t been flushed? <Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes to a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them urinating or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few days as I do.> You’ve been LUCKY so far, but your luck WILL run out. < Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary.> They still deserve to have a responsible pet owner that cleans their boxes once a day. You might want to change petsitters, too. A good and responsible petsitter scoops the boxes daily and gives the cats attention. Megan
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An interesting idea, but I have voicemail, not an answering machine. They obviously do miss me when I’m away. They’re being very affectionate, purring and rubbing against me. > Everyone else has already offered excellent suggestions, so I don’t > have much to add. I suppose they miss you very much when you’re away and > perhaps don’t realize that you’re coming back. It may sound silly, but > do you call and leave messages on the answering machine for them? > Perhaps at least hearing your voice would reassure them a bit. > I have a little Siamese cat whose name is Imp, also! I usually call > her Impy, though. > Juliette http://www.fnord.com/~juliette
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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Hi Jeff, Here is a possible solution. Go to Walmart and buy a waterproof matress pad to fit your bed size. Before you leave, cover the futon (bedding and all) with it. They can pee on it and nothing will soak through to the bedding. It they do, you can take it off upon your return, wash it and use it again the next time you go somewhere. Megan
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I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous pet sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped "mid-week", meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do not scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they do. If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. M.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get > some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and > Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon > whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly > stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to > or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving > to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 > hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the > floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this > time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I > had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them > during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go > four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they > stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even > with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use > the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The > only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess > every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little > pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions > greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
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Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I am fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped every few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more. A good thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire. Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine aren’t. Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes to a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them urinating or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few days as I do. Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary. > I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous pet > sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped "mid-week", > meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do not > scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you > enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously > clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they do. > If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. > M.
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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I thought so. Then, at the very least, please understand that, in addition to smelly, dirty litter boxes, they, in addition, have to deal with the stress of you are away. This is what probably becomes too much for them. They might tolerate dirty boxes when you are around, which is sheer luck, but it is not something cats like – very much the opposite. I presume, from your loud and clear attitude, that the pet sitter comes whenever, but does not stay and play, groom, put out fresh water and food on a daily basis, let alone more often. That would be making the human "prisoners" of your cats I gather. Well, we see the world of sharing our homes with cats very differently and, for the sake of your cats, I am sorry about that. Your views on the basics of litter-box hygiene gives me insights on how you view other aspects of living with cats and it does not surprise me that you have no understanding about why your cats are urinating outside their boxes while you are away. They are communicating loudly and clearly and you are refusing to listen. M.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their > cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I am > fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped every > few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more. A good > thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire. > Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine > aren’t. Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes to > a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them urinating > or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few days > as I do. Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary. > I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous pet > sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped "mid-week", > meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do not > scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you > enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously > clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they do. > If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. > M. > — > Jeff Traigle > http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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I’m with this one. When I used to leave my girl alone, she was "popped in on" by a friend who would hang out here every night taking advantage of my prepaid video rentals, quiet space, and kitchen full of snacks & booze. Previously, when I had left my sweetie alone she would wreck things, lots of things, but once she had someone to hang with for a few hours she was ok. Good luck. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > Do you have a friend’s house that they could stay at for the week? > That way they wouldn’t be home alone. Or better yet, a friend that > could stay at your place for the week. What about taking the mattress > off the futon and folding the futon up so they won’t even want to go on > it. Put the mattress in a room they can’t go in. > I can’t think of anything else at the moment but I will keep thinking. > Diane > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
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Then maybe make a tape the sitter could play?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> An interesting idea, but I have voicemail, not an answering machine. They > obviously do miss me when I’m away. They’re being very affectionate, purring > and rubbing against me. > Everyone else has already offered excellent suggestions, so I don’t > have much to add. I suppose they miss you very much when you’re away and > perhaps don’t realize that you’re coming back. It may sound silly, but > do you call and leave messages on the answering machine for them? > Perhaps at least hearing your voice would reassure them a bit. > I have a little Siamese cat whose name is Imp, also! I usually call > her Impy, though. > Juliette http://www.fnord.com/~juliette > — > Jeff Traigle > http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get >some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and >Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon >whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly >stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to >or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving >to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 >hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the >floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this >time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I >had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them >during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go >four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they >stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even >with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use >the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The >only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess >every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little >pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions >greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
But are you absolutely 110% sure that any of your cats are not suffering from a urinary tract infection or anything the like? Take both of them to the vet pronto just to rule out any health problems that may be causing either or both to be doing this (despite the fact that they do it only when you’re on vacation) – this shouldn’t be left to chance. Secondly, could it be that despite the fact they do this only whilst you’re away, that the futon still contains ‘trace’ hints of their previous marking/urination? If so, you really have to make sure that the futon is clean or replace it altogether. If they can detect a hint of their own scent they will continue to spray/urinate over the same area. Are they both sterilised? Are they male or female ? Your theory about them being stressed is a valid one (although do please get them checked up at your vet first) – therefore, have you considered trying Feliway? If they feel territorial against one another whilst you are away that may bring on the marking/urination. You can read more about Feliway with the links provided at this site: http://poop-pee.homepage.com/#14 I can tell you from personal experience though, that only a month ago or so we left for a week’s holiday in France – but we came back to discover their only problem was that our catsitter only changed/refilled their litter halfway and so they both defecated on the kitchen floor (thank god *L* – easier to clean!) – but one of our critters Louie at the age of 4.5 months began marking our bed as well – we had her checked out and she was free of any urinary tract infection but she was not spayed yet (we wanted to wait until she was six months old) – she remarked the spot because I hadn’t washed the comforter (quilt) properly enough – after someone in these NG’s helped me out with similar advice and after she was spayed the problem stopped completely! I wish you much success in solving the problem – it can be frustrating but if you first rule out any health problems with the cats then work on other solutions, I am more than sure the problem will be solved. For cleaning hints also see the page link listed above. Cheerio — elsa ^..^ http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/louie.htm for the scoop on pee and poop: http://poop-pee.homepage.com/ show your cats off to the rest of the world at: http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/cattitude.htm
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Hi, Do you have a friend’s house that they could stay at for the week? That way they wouldn’t be home alone. Or better yet, a friend that could stay at your place for the week. What about taking the mattress off the futon and folding the futon up so they won’t even want to go on it. Put the mattress in a room they can’t go in. I can’t think of anything else at the moment but I will keep thinking. Diane * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
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Both are sterile. They are brother and sister. I’ve used odor removers on the futon mattress upon arriving home after each incident. The comforter and mattress cover have both been washed and bleached on those and other occasions also. This has been happening prior to me getting the futon also. They ruined two fairly new pillows one Christmas when they peed all over my bed. Same symptom there though… I cleaned it up as completely as I could and they never did anything like it again until the next vacation. With that comment, it occurs to me they seem to target the places I was using to sleep in at the time. I’ll check out the link for further cleaning tips though and about Feliway. Thanks. — Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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Imp and > Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon > whenever I go on vacation for a week or so.
Everyone else has already offered excellent suggestions, so I don’t have much to add. I suppose they miss you very much when you’re away and perhaps don’t realize that you’re coming back. It may sound silly, but do you call and leave messages on the answering machine for them? Perhaps at least hearing your voice would reassure them a bit. I have a little Siamese cat whose name is Imp, also! I usually call her Impy, though. Juliette http://www.fnord.com/~juliette
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I thought about moving the futon mattress so they couldn’t get on it. Might try that also. There’s always the risk that they would find the next place they most associate my presence with to use however. Carpet would be a whole lot easier to clean than the futon mattress and coverings though so it would be an improvement if only a small one. As for the cats staying with a friend, there’s really not any they could stay with. The two coworkers who have checked on them have cats of their own. Besides, if you think these guys are stressed by my absence, you should see them around other people. I’d hate to think what they would do in a strange house with other strange animals. Also not practical currently to have sitters staying at my place. Thanks. > Hi, > Do you have a friend’s house that they could stay at for the week? > That way they wouldn’t be home alone. Or better yet, a friend that > could stay at your place for the week. What about taking the mattress > off the futon and folding the futon up so they won’t even want to go on > it. Put the mattress in a room they can’t go in. > I can’t think of anything else at the moment but I will keep thinking. > Diane
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
Response:
Jeff- All the suggestions I’ve read so far seem to be very good ones-especially rolling up the futon and sticking it in a closet while you’re gone. I am a petsitter here in the Philadelphia area, and I find that cats are very sensitive to who is around them, what they see, what they hear, etc. Consider having a professional pet-sitter come every day-give new food, freshen the water, play or cuddle and *scoop the litter*! Even though your cats may be ok with every-few-days litter changes while you are home,; they might get stressed out while you’re away and pee "innappropriately". The bucks you will spend for this service (cheaper than boarding) will be a good investment toward your peace of mind – while you are gone & when you walk in the door. Good Luck-I bet cat urine smell is even stronger after a 16-hour trip! * -Cindy Miller * * "…You can be right * * or * * you can be happy… * – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > My suggestions are: > *Leave a radio softly playing while you’re away. I tried it once when I > was on a business trip, and it seemed to help. > *Leaving a shirt or sweater out that you’ve worn so your kitties can be > near something that smells like you > Rene
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Thanks, Cindy. I didn’t get to talk much to the woman who was looking in on them because she called in sick so I wasn’t able to get any details about what she did and observed. The only thing noted in our brief conversation was that the cats hid from her. That doesn’t surprise me at all since they hide from most people whether I’m here or not. I know me being away for a lengthy period is highly stressful for these cats because they are so accustomed to me and only me being here every night. I’ll find out more from her when she returns to work (hopefully) tomorrow. In the meantime, I’m planning to take them to the vet tomorrow for urinary tests. In the past, once I was home, the inappropriate urinating stopped immediately. Tonight one of them did it on the futon again even though I’d just scooped their litter boxes and added fresh litter. It seems that either I didn’t get the futon mattress cleaned sufficiently or one of them has a physical problem this time. Time to get a definite answer on the latter it seems. > All the suggestions I’ve read so far seem to be very good ones-especially > rolling up the futon and sticking it in a closet while you’re gone. > I am a petsitter here in the Philadelphia area, and I find that cats are > very sensitive to who is around them, what they see, what they hear, etc. > Consider having a professional pet-sitter come every day-give new food, > freshen the water, play or cuddle and *scoop the litter*! > Even though your cats may be ok with every-few-days litter changes while you > are home,; they might get stressed out while you’re away and pee > "innappropriately". > The bucks you will spend for this service (cheaper than boarding) will be a > good investment toward your peace of mind – while you are gone & when you > walk in the door. > Good Luck-I bet cat urine smell is even stronger after a 16-hour trip!
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
My suggestions are: *Leave a radio softly playing while you’re away. I tried it once when I was on a business trip, and it seemed to help. *Leaving a shirt or sweater out that you’ve worn so your kitties can be near something that smells like you Rene
Response:
> Nooooo, your cats are forced to use dirty boxes. I seriously doubt it > has anything to do with being content.
If they weren’t content to use the boxes as I manage them, they would let me know by not using them on a regular basis when I’m not away on vacation as they have done before. > Scooping the litter once a day is not an "all day" affair, or > "pampering". It is what a responsible pet owner does.
Some cats obviously demand more out of the cleanliness of a litter box than mine do currently. That’s not to say mine won’t decide at some point that they want theirs cleaned more often, but until then I will do what seems to work for us now. Pamper is to treat with extreme or excessive care and attention. If the cat doesn’t mind having the litter scooped but every few days, then scooping more often is pampering. Not saying pampering is necessarily a bad thing here, just not what I’m doing in this case. > If given a choice between a clean box and a dirty box, I know which one > they’ll pick. Would you want to use a toilet that has been used for > several days, but hasn’t been flushed?
The issue isn’t what I want out of a toilet. The issue is what the cats want out of theirs. You claim to know much about what my cats want out of a litter box. It would probably amaze you that I’ve watched these two use an unemptied box when a clean one was available. Go figure. > < Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary.> > They still deserve to have a responsible pet owner that cleans their > boxes once a day.
So any pet owner who has come to an arrangement that works for him/her and his/her cat(s) that differs from you and yours is automatically irresponsible? Broad strokes to be painting with in a diverse world. > You might want to change petsitters, too. A good and responsible petsitter > scoops the boxes daily and gives the cats attention.
The reason I asked this woman to do it instead of the guy who did it previously was specifically for the scooping issue. I won’t know exactly what this sitter did as far as scooping and attention giving until I see her at work tomorrow. Judging by the heft of the bag of litter, I know she scooped it more than once while I was away. For all I know at this point, she could have scooped it every day and the cats still peed on the futon. I’ll know more details tomorrow. — Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get >some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and >Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon >whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly >stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to >or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving >to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 >hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the >floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this >time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I >had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them >during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go >four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they >stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even >with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use >the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The >only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess >every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little >pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions >greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
Hi: Have urinalyses on both cats been done when you return from vacations, to make sure the problem isn’t medical? Ruling out a medical reason for inappropriate urination is always the first thing to do, even if you’re convinced the problem is behavioral. Here is a direct quote from Dr. Sue Kestenman, DVM, on female urinary problems. It might be relevant in your case: >Female cats will generally cope better with crystal formation, and unless >they get a bacterial infection as a result of crystal irritation, they may >not let an owner know they are in pain. Although I’d love to say this is
because the female of any species is just tougher, I have to admit that in this case, the female cat’s urethral opening is much wider than the male’s, so the crystals pass without so much cutting and scratching. If you have a female cat, beware of attributing occasional litter mistakes to her being "mad" that you have been away or have not given her much attention. This explanation is the one I hear most often as the reason a trip to the vet has been delayed for weeks or even years. Girl cats are only going to have pain occasionally, so their mistake with urination may not repeat for a month or so. If you have been away, your cat may not have been eating or drinking as much as usual, and this simple disruption in her routine may be enough to allow more crystals to settle in her bladder (since not drinking as much concentrates the crystal numbers); therefore, her next urination may be a "mistake". This coincidence often makes people state that their cat urinates vindictively when they leave for a weekend. I wish again that I could defend the female of the species and say that they are just brilliant enough to think this plan through, but in reality, virtually every one of these kitties will have an abnormal urinalysis. If let go too long without treatment, kidney infections and disease can ensue, running the risk of shortening the cat’s life span. (Please note that male cats may initially show this occasional inappropriate urination or spraying as well, but they will generally progress more rapidly to regular signs of discomfort. >Whereas girls can literally have problems for years that owners blame on anger, boys tend to
progress to more frequent litter box errors within months). >A word about BEHAVIORAL inappropriate urination: Some cats do resent > litter brand changes, a spraying stray growling through the >window, or a new cat in the home, etc. But, keep in mind that these are the EXCEPTION,
amounting to about 10% of urination problems. If your cat has a normal >urinalysis, there are numerous behavioral therapies and drugs that can
correct behavioral urination problems. [end of quote] I also wanted to mention that your cats may prefer litter boxes that are cleaned out every day. Some cats won’t use a box that has even one "deposit" in it. Would it be possible for your petsitter to come over every day? Good luck. Becky
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Second sentence should read "…in addition to smelly, dirty litter boxes, they have to deal with the stress of you being away". M.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I thought so. Then, at the very least, please understand that, in addition > to smelly, dirty litter boxes, they, in addition, have to deal with the > stress of you are away. This is what probably becomes too much for them. > They might tolerate dirty boxes when you are around, which is sheer luck, > but it is not something cats like – very much the opposite. I presume, from > your loud and clear attitude, that the pet sitter comes whenever, but does > not stay and play, groom, put out fresh water and food on a daily basis, let > alone more often. That would be making the human "prisoners" of your cats I > gather. Well, we see the world of sharing our homes with cats very > differently and, for the sake of your cats, I am sorry about that. Your > views on the basics of litter-box hygiene gives me insights on how you view > other aspects of living with cats and it does not surprise me that you have > no understanding about why your cats are urinating outside their boxes while > you are away. They are communicating loudly and clearly and you are refusing > to listen. > M. > Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their > cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I > am > fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped > every > few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more. A good > thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire. > Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine > aren’t. Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes > to > a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them > urinating > or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few > days > as I do. Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary. > > I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous > pet > > sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped > "mid-week", > > meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do > not > > scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you > > enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously > > clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they > do. > > If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. > > M. > — > Jeff Traigle > http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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>Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their >cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case,
I don’t scoop after each use of the box but I do do it once a day. And I don’t find myself feeling like a prisoner *L* more like saving myself from any probable poop or pee incident anywhere outside of the box Call it a prevention measure *hehehe*. — elsa ^..^ http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/louie.htm for the scoop on pee and poop: http://poop-pee.homepage.com/ show your cats off to the rest of the world at: http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/cattitude.htm
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Yikes! Wish I would have seen this first.
<Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I am fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped every few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more.> Nooooo, your cats are forced to use dirty boxes. I seriously doubt it has anything to do with being content. < A good thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire.> Scooping the litter once a day is not an "all day" affair, or "pampering". It is what a responsible pet owner does. <Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine aren’t.> If given a choice between a clean box and a dirty box, I know which one they’ll pick. Would you want to use a toilet that has been used for several days, but hasn’t been flushed? <Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes to a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them urinating or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few days as I do.> You’ve been LUCKY so far, but your luck WILL run out. < Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary.> They still deserve to have a responsible pet owner that cleans their boxes once a day. You might want to change petsitters, too. A good and responsible petsitter scoops the boxes daily and gives the cats attention. Megan
Response:
An interesting idea, but I have voicemail, not an answering machine. They obviously do miss me when I’m away. They’re being very affectionate, purring and rubbing against me. > Everyone else has already offered excellent suggestions, so I don’t > have much to add. I suppose they miss you very much when you’re away and > perhaps don’t realize that you’re coming back. It may sound silly, but > do you call and leave messages on the answering machine for them? > Perhaps at least hearing your voice would reassure them a bit. > I have a little Siamese cat whose name is Imp, also! I usually call > her Impy, though. > Juliette http://www.fnord.com/~juliette
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
Hi Jeff, Here is a possible solution. Go to Walmart and buy a waterproof matress pad to fit your bed size. Before you leave, cover the futon (bedding and all) with it. They can pee on it and nothing will soak through to the bedding. It they do, you can take it off upon your return, wash it and use it again the next time you go somewhere. Megan
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I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous pet sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped "mid-week", meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do not scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they do. If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. M.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get > some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and > Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon > whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly > stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to > or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving > to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 > hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the > floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this > time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I > had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them > during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go > four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they > stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even > with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use > the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The > only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess > every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little > pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions > greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
Response:
Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I am fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped every few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more. A good thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire. Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine aren’t. Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes to a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them urinating or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few days as I do. Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary. > I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous pet > sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped "mid-week", > meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do not > scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you > enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously > clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they do. > If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. > M.
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
I thought so. Then, at the very least, please understand that, in addition to smelly, dirty litter boxes, they, in addition, have to deal with the stress of you are away. This is what probably becomes too much for them. They might tolerate dirty boxes when you are around, which is sheer luck, but it is not something cats like – very much the opposite. I presume, from your loud and clear attitude, that the pet sitter comes whenever, but does not stay and play, groom, put out fresh water and food on a daily basis, let alone more often. That would be making the human "prisoners" of your cats I gather. Well, we see the world of sharing our homes with cats very differently and, for the sake of your cats, I am sorry about that. Your views on the basics of litter-box hygiene gives me insights on how you view other aspects of living with cats and it does not surprise me that you have no understanding about why your cats are urinating outside their boxes while you are away. They are communicating loudly and clearly and you are refusing to listen. M.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Though I’ve read posts from people who apparently are prisoners to their > cats’ litter boxes, having to scoop them after every use in some case, I am > fortunately not. My cats are content to use the boxes that are scooped every > few days instead of demanding that they be cleaned daily or more. A good > thing since I can’t stay home all the time pampering such a feline desire. > Just because your cat may be more demanding, don’t blame me because mine > aren’t. Other than when I leave on vacation or the time I moved the boxes to > a place the cats didn’t like, I have never had a problem with them urinating > or defecating anywhere other than in the boxes just scooping every few days > as I do. Cats are as different as people. Your mileage may vary. > I’m sorry, am I missing something here? You mentioned that the previous pet > sitter never scooped the litter. That this new person scooped "mid-week", > meaning that she did not come in on a daily basis and that you also do not > scoop daily and "usually let them go four or five days? Please can you > enlighten me here because if the litter boxes are not kept meticulously > clean on a daily basis, I am not surprised your cats react the way they do. > If I’ve completely misinterpreted your message, please clarify. > M. > — > Jeff Traigle > http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
I’m with this one. When I used to leave my girl alone, she was "popped in on" by a friend who would hang out here every night taking advantage of my prepaid video rentals, quiet space, and kitchen full of snacks & booze. Previously, when I had left my sweetie alone she would wreck things, lots of things, but once she had someone to hang with for a few hours she was ok. Good luck. — Peace freedom & justice Deanna
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi, > Do you have a friend’s house that they could stay at for the week? > That way they wouldn’t be home alone. Or better yet, a friend that > could stay at your place for the week. What about taking the mattress > off the futon and folding the futon up so they won’t even want to go on > it. Put the mattress in a room they can’t go in. > I can’t think of anything else at the moment but I will keep thinking. > Diane > * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * > The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Then maybe make a tape the sitter could play?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> An interesting idea, but I have voicemail, not an answering machine. They > obviously do miss me when I’m away. They’re being very affectionate, purring > and rubbing against me. > Everyone else has already offered excellent suggestions, so I don’t > have much to add. I suppose they miss you very much when you’re away and > perhaps don’t realize that you’re coming back. It may sound silly, but > do you call and leave messages on the answering machine for them? > Perhaps at least hearing your voice would reassure them a bit. > I have a little Siamese cat whose name is Imp, also! I usually call > her Impy, though. > Juliette http://www.fnord.com/~juliette > — > Jeff Traigle > http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get >some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and >Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon >whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly >stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to >or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving >to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 >hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the >floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this >time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I >had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them >during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go >four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they >stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even >with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use >the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The >only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess >every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little >pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions >greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
But are you absolutely 110% sure that any of your cats are not suffering from a urinary tract infection or anything the like? Take both of them to the vet pronto just to rule out any health problems that may be causing either or both to be doing this (despite the fact that they do it only when you’re on vacation) – this shouldn’t be left to chance. Secondly, could it be that despite the fact they do this only whilst you’re away, that the futon still contains ‘trace’ hints of their previous marking/urination? If so, you really have to make sure that the futon is clean or replace it altogether. If they can detect a hint of their own scent they will continue to spray/urinate over the same area. Are they both sterilised? Are they male or female ? Your theory about them being stressed is a valid one (although do please get them checked up at your vet first) – therefore, have you considered trying Feliway? If they feel territorial against one another whilst you are away that may bring on the marking/urination. You can read more about Feliway with the links provided at this site: http://poop-pee.homepage.com/#14 I can tell you from personal experience though, that only a month ago or so we left for a week’s holiday in France – but we came back to discover their only problem was that our catsitter only changed/refilled their litter halfway and so they both defecated on the kitchen floor (thank god *L* – easier to clean!) – but one of our critters Louie at the age of 4.5 months began marking our bed as well – we had her checked out and she was free of any urinary tract infection but she was not spayed yet (we wanted to wait until she was six months old) – she remarked the spot because I hadn’t washed the comforter (quilt) properly enough – after someone in these NG’s helped me out with similar advice and after she was spayed the problem stopped completely! I wish you much success in solving the problem – it can be frustrating but if you first rule out any health problems with the cats then work on other solutions, I am more than sure the problem will be solved. For cleaning hints also see the page link listed above. Cheerio — elsa ^..^ http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/louie.htm for the scoop on pee and poop: http://poop-pee.homepage.com/ show your cats off to the rest of the world at: http://arnhem.telekabel.nl/~c35065/cattitude.htm
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Hi, Do you have a friend’s house that they could stay at for the week? That way they wouldn’t be home alone. Or better yet, a friend that could stay at your place for the week. What about taking the mattress off the futon and folding the futon up so they won’t even want to go on it. Put the mattress in a room they can’t go in. I can’t think of anything else at the moment but I will keep thinking. Diane * Sent from RemarQ http://www.remarq.com The Internet’s Discussion Network * The fastest and easiest way to search and participate in Usenet – Free!
Response:
Both are sterile. They are brother and sister. I’ve used odor removers on the futon mattress upon arriving home after each incident. The comforter and mattress cover have both been washed and bleached on those and other occasions also. This has been happening prior to me getting the futon also. They ruined two fairly new pillows one Christmas when they peed all over my bed. Same symptom there though… I cleaned it up as completely as I could and they never did anything like it again until the next vacation. With that comment, it occurs to me they seem to target the places I was using to sleep in at the time. I’ll check out the link for further cleaning tips though and about Feliway. Thanks. — Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
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Imp and > Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon > whenever I go on vacation for a week or so.
Everyone else has already offered excellent suggestions, so I don’t have much to add. I suppose they miss you very much when you’re away and perhaps don’t realize that you’re coming back. It may sound silly, but do you call and leave messages on the answering machine for them? Perhaps at least hearing your voice would reassure them a bit. I have a little Siamese cat whose name is Imp, also! I usually call her Impy, though. Juliette http://www.fnord.com/~juliette
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I thought about moving the futon mattress so they couldn’t get on it. Might try that also. There’s always the risk that they would find the next place they most associate my presence with to use however. Carpet would be a whole lot easier to clean than the futon mattress and coverings though so it would be an improvement if only a small one. As for the cats staying with a friend, there’s really not any they could stay with. The two coworkers who have checked on them have cats of their own. Besides, if you think these guys are stressed by my absence, you should see them around other people. I’d hate to think what they would do in a strange house with other strange animals. Also not practical currently to have sitters staying at my place. Thanks. > Hi, > Do you have a friend’s house that they could stay at for the week? > That way they wouldn’t be home alone. Or better yet, a friend that > could stay at your place for the week. What about taking the mattress > off the futon and folding the futon up so they won’t even want to go on > it. Put the mattress in a room they can’t go in. > I can’t think of anything else at the moment but I will keep thinking. > Diane
– Jeff Traigle http://www-personal.si.umich.edu/~traigle/
Response:
Well, after putting up with this for a couple of years now, I need to get some ideas on how to best attack the problem. Here’s what happens… Imp and Tiger, who are a little more than 3 years old now, urinate on my futon whenever I go on vacation for a week or so. This appears to be strictly stress-related because they do not urinate in inappropriate places prior to or after these vacations. I just returned from a week away for Thanksgiving to discover they did it again so, instead of coming home to relax after 16 hours on the road, I have to clean the mess so I have some place besides the floor to sleep later tonight. I had a different person check in on them this time and she was kind enough to scoop their litter boxes while I was gone. I had hoped that would make a difference since the person I had checking them during previous vacations never scooped the litter. I usually let them go four or five days, but that’s about all the longer it can go before they stop using the boxes to let me know they need cleaned. Unfortunately, even with her cleaning the boxes mid-week, they still got stressed enough to use the futon. So, my question is for any ideas what I can do about this. The only thing I can think of that would keep me from coming home to this mess every vacation is to board them while I’m away, but that gets a little pricey at $10/cat/day. I don’t know what else to try though. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. I’ll be gone for another week at Christmas.
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