apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have a cat who is jealous that I got a second one. Since then (4 years! :( ) he has inappropriate litter habits, a.k.a pooping on the kitchen floor. I haven't found a way to get him to stop, and I can't get rid of either cat.

Thankfully, it's #2, so it's easy to spot and clean up. If it were urine, I don't know what I would do?! Put him down? give him away? Give the other one away? None of these options seem good. *sigh*

Christine - talk to your vet, it might be time to consult a behaviorist.

When we got our absolutely-wonderful-in-every-way cat from the shelter 2 years ago, they told us about the ridiculous circumstances by which she had arrived. Apparently, the previous owners had had her for 6 years but then had a baby. Our cat really loves people and likes to get right up in your face and the new mother thought that, like the old myth, the cat would steal the baby's breath and possibly kill it. It blows my mind that someone still believes this superstition and got rid of such a good-natured cat because of it.

I recently (2-1/2 months back) took in a traumatized foster cat I'm of course hoping to keep who is lovey and healing wonderfully in many ways BUT is a biter -- usually that comes from DON'T LEAVE ME or PLAY WITH ME NOW, but he always draws blood and has clocked even every guest (mainly on our lower legs, only occasionally a hand/arm when it appears in view too quickly or surprisingly). While he's become very affectionate and better-behaved overall, there's no knowing when the biting will happen and I've tried to follow all the "training"/"behavior" suggestions. But OUCH. My legs look like I'm a teenaged cutter!

I have two cats, and neither of them understand that they are not supposed to go on the kitchen table. I'm not home 8 hours a day so there's no way for me to stop it while I'm gone and then they must just get in the habit of doing it when I'm there. I've tried yelling, spraying water, slamming my hand on the table, nothing.

One of them also has a peculiar problem, he loves to chew on plastic. You wouldn't believe how much plastic you have in the house, we try to get rid of it or close it up but he still finds it. Plastic bags, diapers, food wrappers, he'll chew on anything he can get his hands on. He's quick, so if you turn your back for a second he's after it, and he'll search it out and find it in the most random places, including the trash! He has toys, so I don't know what else to do short of going minimalist.

Elizabeth and Christine, you guys might look into Feliway diffusers. It releases happy-kitty pheremones, helping to calm cats and it often helps end behavior problems. I couldn't find a diffuser in time so I had to use the spray. Although Zoe hated the actual spraying action, she did seem to benefit from it in the end.

Oh boy, is there a word limit on these comments? I adopted my cat Franny about six years ago because she was oh so sweet at the shelter. Of course, when we got her home it turned out she had worms and a sinus infection, so as soon as she was cured, goodbye Miss Nice Kitty. She's pretty good with my husband and I - somewhat affectionate, doesn't try to claw our eyes out, etc. But she's gradually gotten worse and worse with other people. When people come over, we have to warn them, "Don't try to pet her, don't talk to her, don't even look at her," but no one seems to listen, and they're all shocked when she hisses at them. Needless to say it's pretty difficult to get anyone to cat sit while we're away. Oh, and she also loves to scratch on our new Crate & Barrell sofa, and our Anthropologie sofa.

The one thing I'll give her credit for is despite the fact that we adopted a dog a few months ago, who she battles with constantly, she has not taken it out on us. I was envisioning cat urine all over everything, but so far so good. I think it just makes her appreciate us all the more.

My roommate's dog howls for long periods of time when she feels lonely. I'm talking all night. When she gets excited, she'll poop on the floor (or in your bed, if that's feasible). Despite my roommate's best intentions and hard work (including 3 rounds of puppy school at PetSmart), the dog still takes running leaps at your food/your face.

One of my cats (which lives here but isn't mine -- that never helps) flips out if I go into a room and close the door. He flings himself at the door and cries until I let him in. I'm not in the habit of locking myself away from my pets, except for the other thing about this cat: he LOVES playing fetch, and if he gets it into his head that it's time for you to throw his toy, he will not leave you alone. (E.g.: if I'm sleeping in the middle of the night, he'll actually drop the toy repeatedly on my face.) I think he's made the connection that pushy fetch demands lead to closed doors, but it's kind of sad to see him using all his willpower to resist dropping his toy on my keyboard, book, or lunch, just because he knows the consequences!

I got my newest cockatiel from a rescue shelter and we bonded very quickly. He seemed to get separation anxiety when I went into another room and would start screeching. Now he even does it when I'm in the same room but apparently not giving him enough attention. He has also taken to doing flybys around me to get noticed. My biggest concern is that we live in an apartment and the noise could bother the neighbors enough to put us out on the street.

gquaker...
I know with my dogs, who both howled, that if we don't make a big deal about leaving and just walk out the door (put coat/shoes and gathered up everything out of their view),they sometimes don't realize we are going and don't howl because they expected us back. We also leave the TV on if we leave a room and go somewhere in the house they can't be and it has tricked them into thinking we're coming back so they don't get anxious. It might also help to have the dog sleep with and have access to something that smells like your roommate (old tshirt or pillowcase) for comfort and security. At night, sometimes completely ignoring them works too though that can take a long time.

As for the pooping, some breeds are more likely to do that than others. My one dog had surgery and can't always feel and therefore, control herself. We learned to not let her get excited so when we come home, we completely ignore her and avoid eye contact rather than playing into it. Then we wait until she's calm to greet her. We also don't make a big deal out of feeding or treat or walk time as they won't get as excited if they don't sense excitement in you.

My cat was great for six years and now she has started to poop on the floor next to her clean, non-scented litter, which is well-lit, and has no cover.

It is infuriating.

Also, same kitty--pooper, knocks over any glasses with liquid in them if you leave them unattended for 30 seconds. She has kitty radar or something. She also cries and cries anytime you go in the kitchen that she's hungry. (I don't feed her except at mealtimes and have never.)

i have an 11 year old cat and recently my boyfriend and i decided to get a kitten, partially to keep it company, and partially just to get a kitten. my cat hates it and just hides under the bed all day. any time the kitten sees my cat she launches at her face (no wonder my cat hates it). at first i thought she was just wanting to play but im starting to think that shes just really agressive.
like linnealoves, my cats arent allowed on the table or kitchen counters but the kitten isnt getting it. she gets up there and knocks over my plants or digs in them or rips them apart. shes really driving me crazy. i've had to move all of my plants to really dumb places just because she hasnt learned to jump high enough to get them yet.
sigh.

I adopted my cat this January, and she started having asthma attacks in March. Who would have thought! After months of vet appointments and trying treatments, we now give her 2 puffs on an inhaler every morning and night. For the most part, this isn't a pain...besides the costs involved. But I have yet to find a pet sitter. Not to mention being constantly alert to her breathing to make sure she is not going to have an attack, which is really a horrible thing to witness.

While she is very good at sitting for her inhaler, sitting up, taking deep breaths and never scratches. She had some side effects from the prior treatment of steroids and started peeing everywhere in the house. I have never felt so hopeless pet-wise when this was going on. Fingers-crossed it has ended for good.

I'm so sorry for everyone who's having issues with their furried and feathered friends! I'm a die-hard dog person and I can't help but notice how the majority of the issues above are with cats. My best friend has a pooping/peeing/biter cat and the poor beast has been on kitty Prozac for several years now and it's the only thing that works. My friend tried the Feliway diffuser, aromatherapy (from a rather expensive holistic animal trainer) and several other things to no avail. The really sad part is that when Buster gets upset he STILL poops and pees in inappropriate places. Oh yeah, he's bitten me too!

I'm sorry to say that my friend's trouble with Buster and all the above horror stories have only further convinced me that dogs are better because they can usually be trained out of their bad behavior. Please note that I said "usually." I'm not saying dogs are better...just easier to train.

I wish you all luck in sorting out your problems!

My problem seems to be with chronically ill pets. Every pet I've had, except one, has had some sort of a chronic health problem. Usually no behavioral issues, they are all very loving animals, so I don't want to give them up, but I'm really tired of taking care of sick things.

Examples: Growing up in another part of the country, we had two dogs that were the sweetest things ever, but one had chronic skin issues and one had chronic ear mites. We had to medicate them constantly. Now I live on my own out on the East Coast, and I've had cats with nothing but problems. One contracted a fatal neurological infection at a very young age. The other is the sweetest old gentleman you could ever ask for but he can't keep his food down, and I've tried plenty of "sensitive stomach" foods. I'm getting tired of cleaning up the vomit. I'm trying one last food before I give him up, which I will hate doing because I love him to pieces, but I can't do this anymore.

my cat Pheobie has also done everything listed above (& i mean everything). i love her (have had her 8 years), but she has turned me into a dog person. i feel horrible that she now lives with my parents, but i'm honestly glad that for the next year at least, my current rental situation isn't accomodating to my cat. i've also become allergic to cats again & have had to get back on shots (after all those years with her, so weird!). i'm even having a better experience with my 5 month old, teething like crazy, boston terrier Rocco.

If your cat has been diagnosed with asthma, please do some research - feline heartworm often has the same symptoms as asthma. Inhalers can help with the symptoms of heartworm which include inflamation fo the lungs, and the results might make you think that you found the right treatment, but they don't do anything about the actual heartworm. It's worth having your vet do the test.

Elizabeth, my cat was also a biter... could corner a grown man he could look so menacing...

Said grown man started biting the cat when he bit us. would bite him in the neck until he meowed once and would stop. I know it sounds stupid and gross. I used to get mad when he did it... but now, my cat never ever bites, even when antagonized.

EmmieB, I think a behaviorist may be too esoteric and I'm skeptical of their effectiveness... Have you ever tried one?
I'm going to the vet tomorrow... I'll see if I can muster up the nerve to ask about it.

Thumbelina2, does your cat bolt his food? That might be the problem.

kiddo katsu-

Obviously I have had her tested for heartworm, in addition to lungworm, and cardiomyopathy. We've done every test under the sun (3 times, including 3 sets of xrays) with the exception of a trach wash (too invasive for her condition, plus invalid while responding to meds) or complete Cardio EKG work-up, which we are probably going to do soon.

@Monica, I think that has more to do with the readership here at APARTMENT Therapy. I would imagine the majority of readers live in apartments and cats are much more apartment-friendly than dogs. More cat owners = more cat problems. Although, I do agree that dogs are more trainable than cats. And although I love dogs, I just don't think it's OK to leave such a needy and social animal alone for 9 hours a day, which is the main reason I don't have one.

Well, let me add one in the "problem dog" category (although 90% of this is the "I should have known better" category)...

Came home last night and the puppy had pulled a 40 lb box of glass tile onto the floor from the back of the kitchen counter. Ate the box, ate the packing material, and, judging from the blood, probably ate some of the shattered tile. (Of course, there's not a scratch on him, and he's happy as an apartment- and self-destructing clam.) The emergency vet put him on a strict diet of soft bread to coat any swallowed bits, so fingers crossed.

He also eats my walls and furniture, and barks when confined (e.g. while I'm showering). Which genius said that puppies are cute???

Charmac, I agree. Though I'm 100% a cat person, I found myself warming up to dogs since my mom got one. I've also found I have a knack for training them. BUT, despite my issues with my cat, I still think the sum of them amounts to less of a hassle than what owning a well-behaved dog would be.

Advice for owners of biters:
My cat was a rough player. He bit hard while playing or even pet. With patience we were able to correct his bad behavior.

I started by sitting and paying close attention when I was petting him. When I saw him move to bite I moved my hand behind his head where he can't reach it, but still kept my hand on him, petting him on the back of the neck. Months of consistent careful petting sessions like this got him out of the habit of biting during petting.

As far as play or attention getting, again I kept an eye on him whenever he got close. If it looked like he was going to bite I would give him my bent elbow. An elbow isn't sensitive like your face or hands, and it's not easy for a cat to bite something that large and firm. It trained him to be a gentle biter since biting an elbow hard wasn't fun for him either. Sometimes when he's being affectionate I'll still give him my elbow, and he sees that as an invitation to bite, which I'm fine with at this point.

Now if I could only get him to stop mounting my other cat... (he's fixed BTW)

For people with cats getting on tables, put some crinkled tinfoil up there, spray the area with vinegar (keeps my cat out of the sink) or put something the cat hates up there, like a vacuum cleaner (just for afew days).

Growing up, my parents had the two best cats in the world! Gomez and Morticia, brother and sister, were just the nicest and most affectionate cats. Gomez was a bit shy around strangers, but Tish loved all attention. When I moved away I wanted to take one with me so badly...

So I got my own cat. My boyfriend named her Molly Malone after the Irish folk song. She lives up to the namesake of being a whore! She'll love you and purr one minute, then the next she'll jump up and walk away from you, not giving you the time of day. She also cries uncontrollably when she hears a can open, but then if I offer her the nice wet food that does come in the can (hence the noise association) she turns her nose up at it. But she loves to play, is so active, and makes us laugh all day long. We love her, but know she's nuts!

pinkllama--our siamese also loves to knock over anything with liquid in it. We thought at first it was because he was thirsty, so we kept a close eye on his water dish, but nay--he just likes to tip a glass over and see what pours out. We can't leave a glass full of water (or beer, or wine, or soda) in a room, even for a moment. Also no vases full of flowers :(

I could use some help.... nice pic for the "Pet Problems" section btw : ]

I have two cats (together for 2 years... he-cat is 2, she-cat is 4), who are night and day. He is loving/affectionate, happy-go-lucky, and loves to play. He also listens and responds really well to training/behavior issues. On the other hand, She is very smart, but stand-offish, sneaky, and hisses at the other one when He tries to play or be affectionate... consistently. She's also kind of neurotic in general.

We just moved into a new house, and the he-cat is always hanging out in the basement. I'm not sure if he just likes his "free-space" from the other cat, or what. He's very friendly and playful, and I'd like him to integrate more into the rest of the house.
I tried playing with him more upstairs, and later moving his bed up there (when we were gone for a day)... but he just goes back downstairs in the basement and sleeps on the carpet by himself (so sad!)

Part of the problem seems to be the unfriendliness of the she-cat.... how can I get her to lighten up and relax more?

Thanks!

attn: rockypondgirl

i too have had the chewing problems with my pup (had no clue about puppy teething). everyone (trainers, vets, dog owners so far) swears the chewing will end when he's done teething. nothing has worked for me so far but i still try things like bitter apple and keeping everything out of his reach too. like the wall- just have to pull him away from it (constantly). the best yet though- ICE. it keeps his mouth off stuff longer than anything else!

i was also told to completely ignore him when he whines/barks to get out of his kennel. actually, i do this even when he's not kenneled (just wants attention) and it works like a charm! (for us anyhow)

My only problem is that one of my cats is TOO affectionate. He was an abandoned 1 year old when I found him and ever since then he's been really clingy. After 5 years, he still needs to be with me at all times. It is really a double-edged sword, because it is really charming how he loves to be hugged and will stretch up for a kiss on the forehead. He gets excited if I give him a 'zirbert' (remember The Cosby's? hehe) and comes running when I call his name (THIS has really come in handy when I need him to come quickly). But it is frustrating when he's trying to push my laptop out of the way because he must be in my lap every time I sit down. And he can't just sit..he wants to sit but he is so high energy that he paces..on my lap off my lap on my lap off my lap. He won't stop meowing if he feels ignored (his meows are the loudest I have ever heard, even when he isn't upset...sometimes I think he doesn't even know he is doing it), and when he gets jeolous of a new relationship. I swear my last three relationships ended because of Shadow's neediness and possessiveness. I constantly remind him of his manners, and he will get better for awhile and be really well-behaved and an absolute joy to have, but then he will start getting out of line again. I always joke that he has feline attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

I see a recurring theme here - people having one cat, getting another to keep it company, and then realizing the two cats won't get along. Cats are not pack animals like dogs. They do not need feline companionship and more often than not one cat will bully the other and there's nothing you can do about it. I have to question if proper steps are being taken when introducing a new cat into the home of an existing cat. You can't just introduce them to each other and expect everything to be hunky-dory. You need to sequester the new cat in one room for about a week. Let them get used to each others' smells and the idea that another animal is in the house and then allow the new cat to roam around for awhile everyday and then for longer and longer periods of time until it is fully integrated into the home.

I just moved into a loft that ECHOES like crazy. And I have a very, very talkative tabby that loves to meow/yowl at night. What to do???

For all those posters who have a problem with their cats urinating or pooping outside of their litter box, you need to take your cat to a VET. It may not be because your cat is a jerk, but because your cat has a urinary tract infection which is very common in pets. For whatever reason, it makes them not want to go in the litter.

Please don't punish your pets before you find out what's wrong. It may well be a physical problem. And once you fix it, your problems will go away and your pet will be happier!

For other posters who have a problem keeping cats in/out/off certain places, like the kitchen table, lay a sheet of aluminum on the counter or table, or at the entry of a room. Cats HATE stepping on aluminum and soon enough will just stop trying to jump on the table or enter a room.

My dog pees in her bed sometimes. She's five months old and really adorable but I wish she'd break the habit! She's learned (mostly) to pee on puppy pads, but poos on the kitchen floor (right beside the puppy pad). Crossing my fingers that she breaks the habit soon!

as a counter argument to the "cats are not pack animals" comment (not that I dont believe it): my roommate and her cat moved out a couple of months ago and now my cat will cry at night. We also had some changes so there isnt someone awake and in the house at all times anymore (another roommate worked at night) so its quiet a lot.

I think she is lonely.

My husband and I love our cat... it's when we add our first baby to the mix in about 7 weeks that's giving me a little concern. I have no idea what the heck to expect from Toby (the cat). He's cuddle-y but can be rather territorial and to be frank, I'm not really wanting to wait to find out if he'll react negatively to the baby. Might be my overreative mom-ness coming out, but I really have no desire to watch the cat jump at the mobile above baby's crib - when baby's in the crib! Can you say, 'disaster'? Husband says that we should just leave the door to the nursery closed all the time, but it seems a little unfair to quarantine a human aspect of the house just to appease our stinkin' cat.

thenewmrsw, listen to what you're saying. It sounds like you're willing to get rid of your cat because you're incapable of juggling both a baby and a pet. Does that sound like someone who should be raising a child?

The WORST people are the ones who get rid of their pets after a baby enters the picture. Come on.

To KLS: I know cats are not pack animals (as are dogs). However, my five furballs mostly tolerate each other. The biggest male sometimes aggravates the smallest (oldest cat) female, but she's ALWAYS been a professional victim for every male cat that's lived here during her lifetime. My biggest problem is finding someone to cat sit. We live in a rural area it's difficult to be gone more than overnight.

Sad doggie story alert - earlier this summer we adopted a 1 year old pitbull from the SPCA (after we DNA tested him he turned out to be boxer / great dane mix, not a pitbull). He was the staff favorite, and we adored him. He came into the shelter very sick, near death, and they nursed him back to health. He was clearly mistreated / abandoned / neglected. We began to have problems with him, particularly that he went crazy and aggressive whenever he saw a kid (one scary incident he pulled me out of a chair to within inches of a little girl who was running around - so scary). He also began having issues with the dogwalker - biting other dogs, biting the dog walker. The SPCA directed us towards a behaviorist, and we had sessions with her. She was great, and we worked with him using the techniques she showed us. We were willing to accept that he was a special needs doggie, couldn't be around kids his whole life, and would have to be closely watched.
Then one night my boyfriend came up to bed while the dog and I were asleep. My boyfriend petted the dog and told him to go in his own bed (same routine every night) and the dog lunged for his neck in the dark. He then lunged for his hand. My boyfriend was not hurt thankfully, but it was really frightening. We never expected our dog to turn on us.
The next day we called the behaviorist for help, she said she couldn't work with us anymore and told us to call the vet. I took him to the vet that same day to see if it was perhaps a health issue that was setting him off. She said he seemed fine, but after long discussions and consulting with the behaviorist, they recommended we put him down. It was the hardest decision we have ever had to make, and we were heartbroken. However, due to the unpredictability of the dog and the likelihood of him biting or hurting someone besides us, we made the awful decision. My heart still breaks thinking about it.
The house felt too empty afterwards, and we knew we wanted another dog. Everyone advised us to go to a breeder, get a purebred dog. We looked at various breeds, met some other dogs, but nothing really seemed right. We went back to the SPCA and told them everything, they said they would keep watch for the right dog for us.
Now we have a 6 mo old rottweiler puppy adopted from the SPCA, and he is truly a joy. I am so glad we rescued another dog, we felt it was the right thing to do since there are so many dogs who need homes. We still miss our old dog, and we're glad we got to give him a good home for a short time. My happiest moment came the other day when a group of kids wanted to pet our new puppy. 10 kids surrounded him while he sat patiently and gave them kisses and let them pet him.
Sorry for the long-winded story, I just wanted to share what we went through, and to encourage people to adopt a pet from the shelter.

moetbubble, if the cat and his claws and tendancy to scratch when he's not happy with something ends up posing a danger to the baby, then yes of course, the cat would be gone! we like our cat just as much as the next person likes theirs, but get real. i'm pretty sure we like our baby more. don't equate my ability to raise my child with my lack of tolerance for a danger in my home.

Moetublble, I think you're misunderstanding... Sometimes cats can attack a baby out of jealousy. This isn't bad "juggling" it's a serious risk. You're being reactionary and insensitive.

And as for the vet thing, I'm sure people who complain about longstanding bad habits like peing and pooping have probaly already done some research and been to the vet. God knows I have, and I still have a problem with the pooping. There is nothing wrong with him.

Thenewmrsw, not all cats are bad with kids... as long as you don't ignore the cat, you should be fine.

I don't have any problems with my cats. And while they aren't pack animals, they (like humans) can benefit from having companionship while we're at work.

My best friend is doing her tour of duty and her kitty lives with us. My single cat her single cat = pack of kitties.

the only real behavior problem is that my border collie tries to attack my cat. i've gotten my other two dogs to get along with my cat now they are like a happy little family but my other dog... not so much. when we got the border collie earlier this year my cat decided to show his jealousy by peeing in all the beds in the house. :( not fun.

the only real issue is the same as thumbelina2's i dont know what it is but it feels like my family is cursed with bad luck when it comes to the health of my pets. a few years ago one died from some kind of enviornmental issue that attacked all the organs in her body and all of the vets were shocked when we got the autopsy results back and told us it was like literally one in a million(we only did the autopsy because she was fine one day and then gone the next so we were scared her sister, our other dog would get sick as well). I could go on and on but its way to many sad stories. Being an only child my pets are everything so when one isn't around anymore or dies tragically I feel like I'm tired of it and don't know if I should ever get a pet again.

The way to introduce the baby to the cat is the same way to introduce a new cat to the established cat. Give the cat baby bedding to sniff and leave some baby scented clothes or bedding in the cat's favorite area. Let the cat into the crib while the baby is out of it to sniff around. Meanwhile, let the cat see but not reach the baby. Then let the kitty get close enough to baby to sniff - try this while the baby is sleepy or otherwise calm. Cats don't react well to sudden movements, and if the cat's first interaction with the baby involves being hit by a flailing limb, subsequent interactions will not go well. Eventually, the cat will come to terms with the baby and probably ignore it.
I don't see the big deal about the cat jumping at the mobile. The worst that can happen is it might land on the baby. Big deal. Babies are made of muscle and bone, not china. They can survive the occasional head-on, cat collision.

Cats scratching the furniture. Cats getting their tufts of fur all over every shag rug in my apartment. One cat (this is so bad) peeing sometimes in my tub. Ugh. Why do I love them? All they do is destroy.

Thanks to everyone for posting your cat problems... how validating!