I need advice about my stupid cats.

blindvictory · May 2012

We adopted these beasts from the Humane Society last year as a birthday present for me. They were so sweet and cute, and I just loved them. But lately, they have been a huge pain in my butt, and I am getting so frustrated that I seriously don't know what to do.

They're destructive. I can't let them into our room or our bathrooms or what will be the baby's room because I can't trust them not to tear things up. This means we're closing off a good half of our house, which is a pain, but I don't know any other way to keep them from getting into things.

They also apparently have decided it's ok to go potty wherever they want. I am NOT ok with this. We're in a rental property...the last thing we need is to lose our deposit AND be fined extra because our cats destroyed the carpet by pissing all over it. We go out of town all the time from Friday night to Sunday night, and they have never, never peed anywhere other than the litter box while we were away. But suddenly, we come home and our entire front room reeks of cat urine. (Both girl cats, so we haven't had any previous issues with marking.) I am so upset...I feel like I'm sitting here breathing in cat pee fumes. One of the cats is also fond of streaking out of the litter box like someone is after her and butt-scooching across the carpet or linoleum, leaving lovely little turd streaks, and often actual chunks of turd.

They're sweet cats when they want to cuddle, and they don't do stupid crap while we're in the room. But if we're in bed for the night or we leave during the day, they decide that anything goes and they go crazy. I feel like it's been especially bad lately, and I am at the point that I end up crying because I'm so upset at what they've done this time. Any advice at all? We've tried giving them toys to burn off their energy, but they act uninterested and then the toys disappear. They chew electrical cords, rip up house plants, climb onto high shelves where I keep special items and break them, and apparently are now peeing in the floor. Someone has suggested that they're acting out because they can sense that the baby is coming...any validity to that? I don't see how they'd "know" because honestly, we've done virtually nothing to prepare for his arrival, but I have no idea why else they'd be acting so psychotic.

I know my hormones are probably making this seem worse than it is, but I just want to bawl. I hate the idea of keeping them, but even more than that, I hate the idea of giving them back to the Humane Society. They're best buddies and I don't want them to get separated, and I would feel like a huge jerk for giving up the cats that were supposed to be lifetime pets for me. I just feel like if they don't stop with the crazy, I'm going to be so miserable keeping them that it's not worth it.

MarisaKathleen · May 2012

Have you called your vet and taken them in? I'd start there. Secondly, I'd go pick up a product called Feliaway. It's sort of like Kittey Xanex. It plugs into an outlet, or sprays on things. I used it when we moved because my cats were terrorized for around a week and wouldn't come out of the basement. It worked great for us.

I'd start with your vet first though. Our vet is remarkable and really gave me some good tips for getting through the moving mess with our cats, and she's offered my husband some suggestions on how to get Wanda to stop being a terrorist around our house. Vet will most likely suggest getting an additional litterbox, as well as some behavior modifications.

Good luck!

dorrisk1 · May 2012

Have you tried using Feliway? They have these plug ins that release a calming pheromone. Maybe you could try that to see how it works. Our cat has some potty issues, but he will either go poop in the bathtub, or beside it on the tile floor - and he likes to pee in the bathroom sinks. The hardest part is getting rid of the scent, because once they do it they can smell it and they keep marking the same spot. They have some cleaner called Natures Miracle that might help with getting the scent out of the carpeting.

The cat that is scooting it's behind across the floor - have you been able to take it to the vet to rule out any medical problems? It may have something aggravating it's rectum and that may be how he/she is seeking relief.

I do think that the cats can sense the pregnancy - mine has been acting weird ever since I found out. I walked into the nursery yesterday and he was stretched out taking a nap in the crib. When I walked in, he just looked at me like "can I help you"? My husband likes the cat, but he is very playful and worried that he will accidently scratch the baby. My worry is that he will suffocate the baby on accident because he is such a snuggler.

GL, and let us know your progress with taming the beasts!

DolphinLover2002 · May 2012

I am so sorry to hear this. I am in a very similar situation with my dog actually. We've had her for 6 years (this coming July), and she's been the only pet in the house. She's had all of our attention and has been a very very good dog. She's not allowed on the furniture because we don't want her nails ripping our cushions. She's always respected that and been very good. She listens really well and is an amazing dog.

Fast forward to me getting pregnant. Now my dog is so naughty. I honestly do believe they can sense a baby is coming and a change is going to happen. Animals can sense storms and many many things! She now jumps on the furniture whenever we aren't in the room. She has ripped holes in our couch from her nails, and she drools on the couch so when you sit down you get a wet butt. We also have a brand new futon, and we have issues keeping her off that as well. She used to eat as soon as we told her "ok", but now she looks and us and goes and lays down like "haha, I'm going to get back at you, I'm not eating". But it only hurts her so she eventually gets hungry enough and eats. When you tell her to do something, she either barks at you in protest or sits there and looks at you and refuses to listen. She needs constant attention now and sits in your face until you play with her. If she has your attention, she's well behaved. But as soon as I jump in the shower or leave the room, she's naughty again. We now have to put baby gates on our furniture to keep her from jumping on them. We aren't sure how to deal with all this naughty behavior either. We put her in her kennel, but she rams it so hard she literally breaks the kennel and gets out. Each kennel is $100, so we cannot afford to keep buying new ones. We have tried calming medication from Walmart, and that worked for a while and then quit working. So we got medication from our vet too, and it worked for a while and now it doesn't work anymore. We aren't sure what to do!

So I hear you on being very frustrated. We love our dog to death and are going to do everything we can to keep her and to get her over whatever it is she is dealing with. My BIL has agreed to keep her for us if we cannot get things to work out with her. But he works a ton and she won't get much attention from him, so I dont want her going there either. I'm wondering if things will get better when baby comes and she adapts to them being in the house. We are holding off until then to make any decisions. Do you have a family member that is willing to keep them for you if you decide you cannot do it yourself? Whatever your decision, you have to do what's right for you and your family. I wish you the best of luck!

blindvictory · May 2012

MarisaKathleen:
Have you called your vet and taken them in? I'd start there. Secondly, I'd go pick up a product called Feliaway. It's sort of like Kittey Xanex. It plugs into an outlet, or sprays on things. I used it when we moved because my cats were terrorized for around a week and wouldn't come out of the basement. It worked great for us.

I'd start with your vet first though. Our vet is remarkable and really gave me some good tips for getting through the moving mess with our cats, and she's offered my husband some suggestions on how to get Wanda to stop being a terrorist around our house. Vet will most likely suggest getting an additional litterbox, as well as some behavior modifications.

Good luck!

Two problems with this. One, we're on a desperately tight budget and cannot afford a vet trip right now. I'm no longer working because of knee and tailbone problems, and without my (albeit meager) income, we don't have the extra to throw around. The vets around here have made it pretty plain through phone conversations that they would have to do "exploratory" work to see what's wrong with the cats, which means huge vet bills. Second problem is that there is seriously nowhere else we can put another litter box. We're in a really small place and it's in our "laundry room", which is really a laundry hall. Up until now, it hasn't been a problem, but they're really acting out all of a sudden and making it an issue. Whatever our fix, it's going to have to be fairly low-budget.

blindvictory · May 2012

DolphinLover2002:
Do you have a family member that is willing to keep them for you if you decide you cannot do it yourself?

Unfortunately, part of the terms of adopting them from the Humane Society was that we HAVE to give them back to the shelter if we give them up for any reason. We're not allowed to give them to family or friends...they have to go back into the HS's care. Thankfully it's a no-kill shelter so I wouldn't have to worry about them putting them to sleep, but I don't know how long they'd be in "kitty jail" and that's what makes me sad about giving them back. There is probably someone out there who is better equipped to take care of them, and I want them to have a happy home, but I don't know how long it'd take to get them to that home. And I just don't want them in those little cages.

numb3rMel · May 2012

I'm not a fan of people giving up on their pets. If you do, I strongly encouraging finding a new environment for them instead of leaving it up to the Human Society to do that part. EDIT: read your other comments, they don't let you re-home them yourself? That seems odd. Not that I'm saying its untrue but it seems like that would lead to more overcrowding.

And I say this as a person who did have to re-home one of my dogs. He had bad seperation anxiety and acted up when I was away. He ended up jumping the fence nurmeous times and a neighborhood almost shot him. (true story) I found him several homes that would take him but I wanted to make sure what he was going into was better than what I had been able to give him. Being away for 10+ hours a day was not helping his seperation anxiety. I ended up finding the perfect home, two young boys and a stay at home mom. Also the dad had experience with dogs like Ty and was more than happy to adopt him. I still think about him often. I still have framed pictures of him around. I loved that dog and will always miss him.

As far as tips for how to handle your cats. Have you thought about allowing them to be inside/outside cats? Have you tried kongs with cat nip treats stuffed inside? Do you have scratch posts? I do believe training cats is much different than dogs. I have had both. By far, the best solution with our cats was to let them be inside/outside cats. They get their energy and sense of adventure needs met and were less destructive inside.

hmp1 · May 2012

This post makes me sad. I hate that people get pets that can't afford to do things like take them to the vet when situations like this come up.

sweetiebird726 · May 2012

Based on your need for something low budget, I will also vote for Feliway.

Before one of our cats became sick and passed away last fall, we had taken in our other long-haired cat to get groomed and get the knots out (he wouldn't let us at that time).

One miscommunication from my DH later, and we bring home an almost completely shaved cat. Other cat went bonkers and starting attacking him. We got the Feliway collars for both (bald cat was traumatized his buddy was attacking him, other cat thought we brought home the wrong cat) and the plug-in spray.

A week later and they had readjusted. You can get the collars for about $10/each, and the Feliway spray is a bit more expensive at around $25/plug-in bottle. Our vet recommended both.

Good luck!

Brie2010 · May 2012

Clean the pee spots with an enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle. Otherwise, they will continue to pee there.

Get a second and potentially third litter box. You should have one box per cat plus one extra. We have two cats and have always had three boxes, even in a tiny one bedroom apartment. They are picky.

Cat-proof your house. We don't have houseplants. Electric cords are hidden behind furniture or in cheapie cord covers from Ikea.

Also, they sound like they're bored. Try cycling new toys in, getting a cat tree (this should help with climbing), and hiding their food dish or treats around the house so they have to 'hunt' for it.

I realize money is tight, but they need to go to the vet. Part of what you sign on for when you adopt pets is that you will pay their medical bills, even if it sucks and is inconvenient. Peeing outside the box can be a sign of a UTI, which can quickly turn fatal in cats. If they come up negative for a UTI, see if the doctor can prescribe something like Xanax, or get a Feliway diffuser.

And, unfortunately, the harsh reality of it is that if you give these cats back to the Humane Society, they will likely be ruled unadoptable and put to sleep. Nobody wants to adopt an adult cat that has a history of bad behavior and peeing. Even no-kill shelters put pets to sleep if they are unadoptable.

CatBus · May 2012

Steph+J:
If you can't afford a vet, why do you own pets? Without saying anything else too harsh, it sounds like you weren't mentally or fiscally ready to adopt the cats. I hate telling people to give up their animals, but it sounds like that is the best option for yours.

Yes because these poor cats are screwed if one gets sick. At least the HS will be able to provide for them properly.

Brie2010 · May 2012

CatBus:
Steph+J:
If you can't afford a vet, why do you own pets? Without saying anything else too harsh, it sounds like you weren't mentally or fiscally ready to adopt the cats. I hate telling people to give up their animals, but it sounds like that is the best option for yours.
because these poor cats are screwed if one gets sick. At least the HS will be able to provide for them properly.

Not necessarily. Having been a shelter/rescue volunteer, adult cats that have been returned for peeing all over and bad behavior aren't exactly in high demand and tend to be put to sleep pretty quickly.

blindvictory · May 2012

numb3rMel:
I'm not a fan of people giving up on their pets. If you do, I strongly encouraging finding a new environment for them instead of leaving it up to the Human Society to do that part. EDIT: read your other comments, they don't let you re-home them yourself? That seems odd. Not that I'm saying its untrue but it seems like that would lead to more overcrowding.

And I say this as a person who did have to re-home one of my dogs. He had bad seperation anxiety and acted up when I was away. He ended up jumping the fence nurmeous times and a neighborhood almost shot him. (true story) I found him several homes that would take him but I wanted to make sure what he was going into was better than what I had been able to give him. Being away for 10+ hours a day was not helping his seperation anxiety. I ended up finding the perfect home, two young boys and a stay at home mom. Also the dad had experience with dogs like Ty and was more than happy to adopt him. I still think about him often. I still have framed pictures of him around. I loved that dog and will always miss him.

As far as tips for how to handle your cats. Have you thought about allowing them to be inside/outside cats? Have you tried kongs with cat nip treats stuffed inside? Do you have scratch posts? I do believe training cats is much different than dogs. I have had both. By far, the best solution with our cats was to let them be inside/outside cats. They get their energy and sense of adventure needs met and were less destructive inside.

Yeah, I thought it was strange too, but they were very adamant about us bringing the cats back to them. They actually told us that they could "repo" the cats if they found out we hadn't been compliant with that rule.

The area that we're in is not conducive to letting them be inside-outside. We're in a neighborhood with TONS of stray cats...sounds silly, but I don't want my cats kicking around with them. And honestly, I don't think they'd understand to come back. They've never been outside cats before and on the couple occasions that I've taken them out onto our porch, they've freaked out and clawed me to get back into the house. Top it off with the fact that I'm wildly allergic to flea bites, and outside kitties are a no-go.

Haven't tried Kongs, but only because I hadn't even thought about a toy like that for a cat. Wonder if they'd like peanut butter in it the way dogs do. They do have a couple scratching posts and they LOVE them. They never scratch our furniture...their destructiveness is limited to things like tissue boxes, house plants, breakable figurines, lamps, antique record players, and scrapbook supplies. I talked to DH on the phone a minute ago and told him we really need to just buy them a bunch of toys to try and burn off their energy. They never seem interested in playing with the toys we've gotten them before but maybe it just wasn't the "right" toy.

Brie2010 · May 2012

blindvictory:
numb3rMel:
I'm not a fan of people giving up on their pets. If you do, I strongly encouraging finding a new environment for them instead of leaving it up to the Human Society to do that part. EDIT: read your other comments, they don't let you re-home them yourself? That seems odd. Not that I'm saying its untrue but it seems like that would lead to more overcrowding.

And I say this as a person who did have to re-home one of my dogs. He had bad seperation anxiety and acted up when I was away. He ended up jumping the fence nurmeous times and a neighborhood almost shot him. (true story) I found him several homes that would take him but I wanted to make sure what he was going into was better than what I had been able to give him. Being away for 10+ hours a day was not helping his seperation anxiety. I ended up finding the perfect home, two young boys and a stay at home mom. Also the dad had experience with dogs like Ty and was more than happy to adopt him. I still think about him often. I still have framed pictures of him around. I loved that dog and will always miss him.

As far as tips for how to handle your cats. Have you thought about allowing them to be inside/outside cats? Have you tried kongs with cat nip treats stuffed inside? Do you have scratch posts? I do believe training cats is much different than dogs. I have had both. By far, the best solution with our cats was to let them be inside/outside cats. They get their energy and sense of adventure needs met and were less destructive inside.
Yeah, I thought it was strange too, but they were very adamant about us bringing the cats back to them. They actually told us that they could "repo" the cats if they found out we hadn't been compliant with that rule.
The area that we're in is not conducive to letting them be inside-outside. We're in a neighborhood with TONS of stray cats...sounds silly, but I don't want my cats kicking around with them. And honestly, I don't think they'd understand to come back. They've never been outside cats before and on the couple occasions that I've taken them out onto our porch, they've freaked out and clawed me to get back into the house. Top it off with the fact that I'm wildly allergic to flea bites, and outside kitties are a no-go.
Haven't tried Kongs, but only because I hadn't even thought about a toy like that for a cat. Wonder if they'd like peanut butter in it the way dogs do. They do have a couple scratching posts and they LOVE them. They never scratch our furniture...their destructiveness is limited to things like tissue boxes, house plants, breakable figurines, lamps, antique record players, and scrapbook supplies. I talked to DH on the phone a minute ago and told him we really need to just buy them a bunch of toys to try and burn off their energy. They never seem interested in playing with the toys we've gotten them before but maybe it just wasn't the "right" toy.

FWIW, clauses like that are pretty common in adoption contracts with rescues and shelters.

Unfortunately, trying to re-home your cat yourself can be bad news. Craigslist is a mecca for people trying to find cats and small dogs free to use as dog fighting bait. They avoid shelters because they're usually on "do not adopt" lists. So, shelters are just trying to prevent crap like that from happening.

blindvictory · May 2012

CatBus:
Steph+J:
If you can't afford a vet, why do you own pets? Without saying anything else too harsh, it sounds like you weren't mentally or fiscally ready to adopt the cats. I hate telling people to give up their animals, but it sounds like that is the best option for yours.
because these poor cats are screwed if one gets sick. At least the HS will be able to provide for them properly.

At the time that we got them, we COULD afford a vet. One of them had an upper respiratory infection and we were able to treat her just fine. But not everyone has the greatest income, and times get tight sometimes. Silly me for not being able to predict that our cars would both start breaking down right at the same time we're paying medical bills and having to buy baby furniture.

stephdil17 · May 2012

mssm2012:
1. Vet- for advice and checkup. Could be bladder/kidney infection causing urination, etc.

2. New litter boxes (you need at least 1/cat), make sure they are easily accessible, no lids or flaps, etc.
3. Lock them in a bathroom and retrain for litter box.
4. More attention & stimulation - new & more toys, laser pointers, cardboard or carpet scratching mats, those plastic rings with a ball inside, etc. And play with them more.
All of this, but our vet recommended 1 litter per cat plus 1. Try different boxes. I have 1cat that likes her privacy while the other cat will only go in a open box.
Good luck!

Brie2010 · May 2012

Steph+J:
Brie2010:
CatBus:
Steph+J:
If you can't afford a vet, why do you own pets? Without saying anything else too harsh, it sounds like you weren't mentally or fiscally ready to adopt the cats. I hate telling people to give up their animals, but it sounds like that is the best option for yours.
because these poor cats are screwed if one gets sick. At least the HS will be able to provide for them properly.
Not necessarily. Having been a shelter/rescue volunteer, adult cats that have been returned for peeing all over and bad behavior aren't exactly in high demand and tend to be put to sleep pretty quickly.
true. but BV mentioned this specific one is no-kill.

It's a myth that no kill means no animal is killed, ever.

An organization being a "no kill shelter" means that it doesn't euthanize animals that are adoptable. Even no kill shelters will euthanize if an animal is dangerous, unadoptable (like peeing all over, or other serious behavioral problems that can't be fixed with fairly simple methods), or sick beyond reasonable help.

Brie2010 · May 2012

blindvictory:
CatBus:
Steph+J:
If you can't afford a vet, why do you own pets? Without saying anything else too harsh, it sounds like you weren't mentally or fiscally ready to adopt the cats. I hate telling people to give up their animals, but it sounds like that is the best option for yours.
because these poor cats are screwed if one gets sick. At least the HS will be able to provide for them properly.
At the time that we got them, we COULD afford a vet. One of them had an upper respiratory infection and we were able to treat her just fine. But not everyone has the greatest income, and times get tight sometimes. Silly me for not being able to predict that our cars would both start breaking down right at the same time we're paying medical bills and having to buy baby furniture.

Have you checked with the HS you adopted them from to see if they can help you out with vet costs? A lot of them have programs where you can use their staff vets for cheap, or they have deals with local vets where you'd get a discount. I'd contact them.

sweetiebird726 · May 2012

Another suggestion - my vet is amazing and doesn't charge us for phone calls. When we called and explained the issue, that's when he suggested Feliway.

While I agree with pp that if it comes down to it, a vet visit is in order, I can appreciate the current budget issue as well. Give them a call, explain what's happening, and they might tell you to try something specific. If that doesn't work, then I would bring them in based on the vets suggested timeline (like if you don't see a difference within a week, then go in).

Since you said it is recent and it's both, I'm guessing it's them reacting to the pregnancy, particularly if you are bringing in baby stuff now. Or it could be a food change - DH bought the "wrong" kind of food once, and our furbaby went slightly bonkers for a bit.

rarazz · May 2012

Try giving the shelter a call, they must deal with. Lot of trouble animals and might be ale to help. They also might be about to recommend a less expensive vet yu could take them to.

Good luck!

DeerHunter79 · May 2012

This is probably flame worthy buts whatever. I had a cat a few years ago that I adopted and she was the sweetest cat ever. Well she out of the blue started to pee everywhere downstairs in which we tried several different things to make it stop and nothing worked. We took her to the vet and they didnt find anything wrong with her either. SO she went to a farm to live out her days. Although I did truly love her and it was very sad to see her go my husband and I couldnt have her destroy our home either. Yes, I agree that when you get a pet there is responsibility to it but we really had to draw the line somewhere.

ETA: I also call my dog a douche or a$$hole even though I do love him dearly. He can be a little naughty and I dont always have the patience for it. He likes to not listen when we are outside and does stuff like snatch crayons from my son so he can eat them....a douche

blindvictory · May 2012

Steph+J:
blindvictory:
CatBus:
Steph+J:
If you can't afford a vet, why do you own pets? Without saying anything else too harsh, it sounds like you weren't mentally or fiscally ready to adopt the cats. I hate telling people to give up their animals, but it sounds like that is the best option for yours.
because these poor cats are screwed if one gets sick. At least the HS will be able to provide for them properly.
At the time that we got them, we COULD afford a vet. One of them had an upper respiratory infection and we were able to treat her just fine. But not everyone has the greatest income, and times get tight sometimes. Silly me for not being able to predict that our cars would both start breaking down right at the same time we're paying medical bills and having to buy baby furniture.
you like them when they're cuddling. But call them 'beasts' when they do anything else... cat-like. So I don't think you're 'silly'. I think you were unprepared, ignorant, or just don't have enough patience to actually be a pet-owner. We have two dogs. I could write a novel on the stuff they've eaten/destroyed. I have NEVER considered giving them back. and I've shelled out literally THOUSANDS of dollars on vet bills, even when money was tight. I hate people who adopt animals that are unprepared (time, money, patience, maturity, etc) to provide for them like they deserve. so I'll step off my soapbox now.

And some women call their unborn children "parasites". Big deal. You can think I'm ignorant, unprepared, blah blah. I'm sure it's totally unrelated to any other posts that I've made before. And that's great that you can shell out thousands of dollars for your dogs. The fact is, I don't HAVE thousands of dollars to shell out. We have maybe $100 in savings, because things have been hard lately. Your version of money being "tight" is probably a little different than mine. Like I said before...we had the money when we adopted them. I'm home all the time and I spend plenty of time giving them attention. DH gives them lots of cuddle time when he gets home, as well. Hate me all you want.

watercolor5 · May 2012

How on earth would a humane society find out about it if you gave your cats to family or friends? Obviously not the same as giving them to a stranger off of craigslist...

mlf625 · May 2012

I'm sorry, but you adopted them, now you deal with them. Not the shelter. Ditto a pp - adult cats who are surrendered for pee issues are not going to find a home.

We had a cat who was peeing everywhere and clawing at everything when I was pregnant with DS. It was stressful, I'll give you that. We didn't have a ton of spending money at that point, I'd just quit my job and DH's industry was struggling and there were a million baby things to buy, but guess what? The cat and his health were our responsibility. Sell some crap on CL, cut back where you have to- take care of your pets. They need to see a vet. There could be a UTI or other issue that needs treatment. And if not, the vet can help you find other possible remedies. We ended up putting our cat on a low dose anti-anxiey medicine, and giving him some monitored outdoor time as well. The peeing and clawing stopped.

ramosjoli14 · May 2012

I'm sure you know know this, but do not fuss with their litter boxes! Your DH is going to hate it but by no means should you be messing with the boxes, cleaning the boxes or even handling the kitty litter bags. But like I said Im sure you are aware but that is one of my ocd's right now being pregnant. That stuff is very harmful for pregnant ladies.

Brie2010 · May 2012

ramosjoli14:
I'm sure you know know this, but do not fuss with their litter boxes! Your DH is going to hate it but by no means should you be messing with the boxes, cleaning the boxes or even handling the kitty litter bags. But like I said Im sure you are aware but that is one of my ocd's right now being pregnant. That stuff is very harmful for pregnant ladies.

Oh FFS. As long as you are not eating the cat poo of outdoor cats that have eaten infected rodents, you are fine.

Melrae10 · May 2012

blindvictory:
CatBus:
Steph+J:
If you can't afford a vet, why do you own pets? Without saying anything else too harsh, it sounds like you weren't mentally or fiscally ready to adopt the cats. I hate telling people to give up their animals, but it sounds like that is the best option for yours.
because these poor cats are screwed if one gets sick. At least the HS will be able to provide for them properly.
At the time that we got them, we COULD afford a vet. One of them had an upper respiratory infection and we were able to treat her just fine. But not everyone has the greatest income, and times get tight sometimes. Silly me for not being able to predict that our cars would both start breaking down right at the same time we're paying medical bills and having to buy baby furniture.

I'm sorry. I know the exact feeling. Stuff happens. My husband and I both have the best jobs we have ever had and we still run into money troubles. Cars break down, even with insurance our medical bills for the pregnancy are putting a dent in our finances. I am very empathetic.

ramosjoli14 · May 2012

No the kitty litter is actaully harmful because its the chemical in the litter not the poo. Even a doctor would tell you not to mess with it if you dont have to. There isnt anything wrong with taking the precaution.

blindvictory · May 2012

Steph+J:
You're a biitch. That's how I really feel about this thread. How's that? You adopted the cats. You owe it to them to take care of them.
And, our definition of money being tight is probably the same.
I have to ask, since you brought it up. HOW are you going to take care of a CHILD if you don't have enough money or patience to deal with a cat pissing on the carpet? seriously.
ETA: and the bold part? uh, a fetus is a parasite. And the difference is that I'm not asking how to get rid of it by calling it a 'name.'

You're such a sweetie pie. And obviously you have some reading comprehension issues. The whole point of this thread was asking for advice so that I DON'T get to the point that I feel like I have to get rid of the cats. I was never asking how to get rid of the cats.

And I love how you're assuming that since we're currently on hard times, we're not going to be able to provide for a baby. Heaven forbid someone less affluent have babies...I am such a sucky person for wanting a child. If you're fine with your animals pissing on your carpet, then good for you. But I don't want my house smelling like cat urine, so I want a solution to the issue.

gollywollypog · May 2012

:::::lurking in from August:::::

BV, animals are hard and I empathize with your situation. I have two cats, one who is afraid of her own shadow and only ever goes outside as far as the front porch, and has one eye on the open door at all times. The other one is indoor/outdoor and if he wasn't able to go outside and roam free he would be just as destructive as your cats sound like they are. Before we let him have free reign of the neighborhood he peed on the carpet, seemingly out of spite, tore up the house and I even caught him pooping against the wall once while staring at me. He is SO happy to be able to be outside and free, like the wild animal he is in his heart.

Are you able to let the cats out, to get them used to the outdoors? Some animals are just not meant to be housebound. I live in an urban neighborhood and many of my neighbors let their cats out as well, there are also feral cats around so my Digby cat is getting all the wild lion interaction he needs to be happy.

Good luck!

Brie2010 · May 2012

KLilley:
:::::lurking in from August:::::

BV, animals are hard and I empathize with your situation. I have two cats, one who is afraid of her own shadow and only ever goes outside as far as the front porch, and has one eye on the open door at all times. The other one is indoor/outdoor and if he wasn't able to go outside and roam free he would be just as destructive as your cats sound like they are. Before we let him have free reign of the neighborhood he peed on the carpet, seemingly out of spite, tore up the house and I even caught him pooping against the wall once while staring at me. He is SO happy to be able to be outside and free, like the wild animal he is in his heart.

Are you able to let the cats out, to get them used to the outdoors? Some animals are just not meant to be housebound. I live in an urban neighborhood and many of my neighbors let their cats out as well, there are also feral cats around so my Digby cat is getting all the wild lion interaction he needs to be happy.

Good luck!

Yeah. Letting your cat out is NOT an appropriate solution. Cats that go outside have much shorter lifespans than those that live indoors. They are attacked by other animals, they can get diseases from other animals (and bring them back into your house), they can get hit by cars or abused by bored neighborhood kids, the list goes on. Stupid.

Not to mention, as an owner and lover of indoor cats, I really do not appreciate my neighbor's indoor/outdoor cats fighting noisily on my back porch, peeing and crapping on my lawn, and driving my normally well-behaved indoor animals crazy by lounging outside our windows. Keep your damn cats inside.

KellersPrag · May 2012

ramosjoli14:
No the kitty litter is actaully harmful because its the chemical in the litter not the poo. Even a doctor would tell you not to mess with it if you dont have to. There isnt anything wrong with taking the precaution.

... Not true at all.

mlf625 · May 2012

ramosjoli14:
No the kitty litter is actaully harmful because its the chemical in the litter not the poo. Even a doctor would tell you not to mess with it if you dont have to. There isnt anything wrong with taking the precaution.

Uh, no.

Google toxoplasmosis. Educate yourself.

JJsMom211 · May 2012

I haven't read all of the responses, so I'm not sure if it's been suggested, but have you looked into pet insurance? I know you say that you have a tighth budget and therefore not able to take them in. We have a very tight budget as well and we have all 4 of our pets insured. For both of our cats combined we pay about $25/month and this covers well-visits as well as 90% of emergency visits (such as taking them in for peeing on everything) and medications are covered 90% as well. If you decide to keep them, start looking into pet insurance. It can really save you money in the long run.

I'm sorry you're having a tough time with your pets.

gollywollypog · May 2012

Brie2010:
KLilley:

:::::lurking in from August:::::

BV, animals are hard and I empathize with your situation. I have two cats, one who is afraid of her own shadow and only ever goes outside as far as the front porch, and has one eye on the open door at all times. The other one is indoor/outdoor and if he wasn't able to go outside and roam free he would be just as destructive as your cats sound like they are. Before we let him have free reign of the neighborhood he peed on the carpet, seemingly out of spite, tore up the house and I even caught him pooping against the wall once while staring at me. He is SO happy to be able to be outside and free, like the wild animal he is in his heart.

Are you able to let the cats out, to get them used to the outdoors? Some animals are just not meant to be housebound. I live in an urban neighborhood and many of my neighbors let their cats out as well, there are also feral cats around so my Digby cat is getting all the wild lion interaction he needs to be happy.

Good luck!

Yeah. Letting your cat out is NOT an appropriate solution. Cats that go outside have much shorter lifespans than those that live indoors. They are attacked by other animals, they can get diseases from other animals (and bring them back into your house), they can get hit by cars or abused by bored neighborhood kids, the list goes on. Stupid.

Not to mention, as an owner and lover of indoor cats, I really do not appreciate my neighbor's indoor/outdoor cats fighting noisily on my back porch, peeing and crapping on my lawn, and driving my normally well-behaved indoor animals crazy by lounging outside our windows. Keep your damn cats inside.

You can't helicopter parent a cat. He's an animal and he's happily doing what he was born to do.

RachelOC · May 2012

Seriously, try googling Low Cost Vet and your county name and I am sure many will come up. I had a situation while I was in college where we couldn't afford to take my dog to the vet and he needed to go badly. I looked up the place and they charge you based on your income, so you can afford it. DH just lost his job and was on unemployment and I obviously was still in school, so they gave us a really good deal. You can also try a payment plan over the course of a year which would make payments really really low.

I have had cats too and it sounds like something is definitely wrong medically. Also, I think the reason people are reacting badly to your post is because you dont "seem" empathetic to your cats and sort of sound like they are purposely doing things to annoy you. I realize that you didn't mean to come off that way and other posters should realize that too by now, ahem.

Shazzie116 · May 2012

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. It's frustrating and sad when pets start acting up and you don't know why.

PPs have made some good points. Try the pheremone plug in and some new toys. As far as the peeing goes, we use Nature's Miracle (which has also been mentioned) to kill the stink and clean the floors. It works very well and a bottle lasts a long time.

We've come to accept that things are going to break, and as much as I love plants and DH bringing me home flowers, we just can't have them in the house without our Loki eating them. Sometimes you have to change yourself and your lifestyle, not the cat.

Finally, I get that money can be tight and it sucks, but they really need to see the vet if they're sick. Our cat has been at the vet since last Monday with a catheter in due to being FLUTD and we're looking at upwards of $2K in unexpected medical bills. Is this a great time for that? No. It's never a good time, and even tougher with a baby 19 weeks away. We panicked and were upset to be spending this money, but we took this responsibility on when we got him. It might mean not getting to take as long of a maternity leave as I hoped, or buying some baby stuff 2nd hand that we'd planned on buying new. But just like having a kid, you can't send them back. You have to take care of them and figure out a way to help them.

I hope you can figure it out and get them the help and adjustments they need.

blindvictory · May 2012

Steph+J:
BV, plenty of people have given you other options to try, but you say you can't afford any of them. My original post said nothing other than what other people have said. If you can't take care of them, you need to find someone who can. For some reason, you responded directly to me instead of the others who said the same thing.
WHEN did I say you were a sucky person for wanting a child? When did I say I was fine with animals pissing on my carpet? I didn't.
And your assumption that I have money is absurd. Trust me, we don't. But my point is that if I had only $100 in savings and couldn't afford the pets I have... I wouldn't be actively trying to have kids.OR I would make sure the cats had another home to go to first. It's called responsibility. You should try it out sometime. It's entirely possible your cats have something medically wrong with them if they're peeing everywhere and scooting their butts across your carpet. You owe it to them to make sure it's not a physical/medical issue.
And P.S. weren't you the one a few months ago talking about how you hoped you'd get fired from your job?

You seem to not be understanding my situation here. I didn't say I couldn't afford any of the options that people have given. What I can't afford at the moment is to pay for a vet to poke around and do "exploratory" work to see if there's something wrong with my cats. I'm fine with trying Feliway or getting new toys.

Again, just because I'm on hard times financially doesn't mean that we're not going to be able to provide for our son. May I point out, I'm not "actively trying to have kids" at the moment. I'm pregnant. Am I supposed to terminate since we're struggling financially right now? We weren't in this place when we were trying to get pregnant. It's a fairly recent occurrence. Thanks for saying I'm irresponsible...apparently, it's impossible to make you happy. I'm irresponsible for thinking about getting rid of the cats, but I'm also irresponsible for keeping them when I'm poor. What, exactly, would you say is the perfect solution here?

And yeah, my job situation was pretty sucky when I was in it. My boss refused to accommodate my medical needs (I was in a knee brace, not that it matters) and it was making the injury significantly worse. Even calling in HR didn't resolve the situation. I did hope they would fire me so that I could complain to corporate about the abuse of power. I ended up leaving because I physically could no longer perform the jobs they were wanting me to do. Even with me leaving, we were fine financially up until the last few weeks. So sue me for not being willing to stay in a crappy job for the sake of having more money for my cats and unborn child. I guess I should have just sucked up it up and ignored the debilitating pain.

Pokedot · May 2012

When did this start? Recently? If so the cats are probably reacting to your pregnancy...they can smell the hormone changes in your body due to baby. By cutting them off from the other areas of the house they'll in turn thing its a banned places therefore trying to get in. Usually the cats will also pee or mark their territory on items that smell like you ie: bedding, clothing, etc.

I've never tried Feliaway but from what I've read it works very well. Don't become impatient with them. They are reacting to what you are doing...I know its hard! We have 3 cats of our own and thankfully ours have been very good thus far. I hope you find a solution for both you and kitties! I could NEVER give up my babies!

Brie2010 · May 2012

KLilley:
Brie2010:
KLilley:

:::::lurking in from August:::::

BV, animals are hard and I empathize with your situation. I have two cats, one who is afraid of her own shadow and only ever goes outside as far as the front porch, and has one eye on the open door at all times. The other one is indoor/outdoor and if he wasn't able to go outside and roam free he would be just as destructive as your cats sound like they are. Before we let him have free reign of the neighborhood he peed on the carpet, seemingly out of spite, tore up the house and I even caught him pooping against the wall once while staring at me. He is SO happy to be able to be outside and free, like the wild animal he is in his heart.

Are you able to let the cats out, to get them used to the outdoors? Some animals are just not meant to be housebound. I live in an urban neighborhood and many of my neighbors let their cats out as well, there are also feral cats around so my Digby cat is getting all the wild lion interaction he needs to be happy.

Good luck!

Yeah. Letting your cat out is NOT an appropriate solution. Cats that go outside have much shorter lifespans than those that live indoors. They are attacked by other animals, they can get diseases from other animals (and bring them back into your house), they can get hit by cars or abused by bored neighborhood kids, the list goes on. Stupid.

Not to mention, as an owner and lover of indoor cats, I really do not appreciate my neighbor's indoor/outdoor cats fighting noisily on my back porch, peeing and crapping on my lawn, and driving my normally well-behaved indoor animals crazy by lounging outside our windows. Keep your damn cats inside.

You can't helicopter parent a cat. He's an animal and he's happily doing what he was born to do.

LOL, I'm not helicopter parenting my cats. I am keeping them indoors in accordance with the rules of my town and HOA so they are not a nuisance to my neighbors. It's not rocket science.

blindvictory · May 2012

RachelOC:
Seriously, try googling Low Cost Vet and your county name and I am sure many will come up. I had a situation while I was in college where we couldn't afford to take my dog to the vet and he needed to go badly. I looked up the place and they charge you based on your income, so you can afford it. DH just lost his job and was on unemployment and I obviously was still in school, so they gave us a really good deal. You can also try a payment plan over the course of a year which would make payments really really low.
I have had cats too and it sounds like something is definitely wrong medically. Also, I think the reason people are reacting badly to your post is because you dont "seem" empathetic to your cats and sort of sound like they are purposely doing things to annoy you. I realize that you didn't mean to come off that way and other posters should realize that too by now, ahem.

Thank you for pointing that out (in a nice way). I hadn't realized it came across that way. Yes, I am extremely frustrated with my cats, but I do love them and don't want to have to get rid of them. They've been sweet little companions and I've kept them despite my MIL and a few other family members complaining because they're allergic, people saying that they'll hurt the baby, etc. I think my frustration is just getting the best of me. I don't want my belongings to get destroyed and I don't want my landlord freaking out because the cats have messed up the carpet...didn't really think that was an out-there sentiment.

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