Mr Ripley's Inappropriate Behavior

[MrRipley & Rick]

Mr Ripley was diagnosed several years ago with high blood sugar. A change in diet has controlled it, so far. He was 11 years old when we introduced an 8 year old cat to the house. First time either had been around another cat. Mr Ripley has been showing some unacceptable behavior. He’s marking several spots in the house. Both cats are indoor cats. Mr Ripley has, on occasion, been let outside with supervision. He loves to wander the back yard, which is often visited by neighborhood cats that are outside unsupervised. He exhibits no meanness or ill will toward Rose, the new cat. In fact, he really seems to want to play, but she won’t have much to do with him. My wife and I disagree on the cause for his bad behavior:
I say he’s being territorial, after she takes him outside and gets him all fired up over the neighbor cats.
She says it’s because Rose is here, and he doesn’t like sharing. I really don’t think he’s jealous.
Any suggestions? Anyone have luck with the Feliway spray, which is quite expensive. I’ve been using it for the past few weeks, and it really hasn’t helped much.

 

[Maggies Mom Debby]

Here are some ideas:

1. Has he been checked for a urinary tract infection?

2. If Feliway hasn't worked, try Rescue Remedy (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... catid=3550). My vet even suggested it for us.

3. Prozac?

 

[Anne&Muffin (GA)]

Is he peeing on the floor or spraying, like on the walls or curtains? I tried Feliway and it made absolutely no difference, but my problem was with Muffin, who was then dx with FD, and I was not getting the smell completely out of the rugs so another of my cats would then use the same spot. I've since gotten rid of all the rugs, and there's been no more inappropriate behavior.

 

[Beth & Atlas]

Could also be the neighbor cats are spraying near the doors and house. And the Mister is telling them to leave his new Rose alone. Yeah...it does happen.

Second, is it actual spraying ...tail in the air shaking...or urination. If it is urination...it is not a behavior problem, but a medical issue and Mister needs a trip to the vet.

Make sure you have enough litter boxes. One box more than number of cats!

Lastly, if it is either...I use a fairly expensive product ...but it does work called http://www.thornell.com/products/Cat_Od ... e-7-2.html from Thornell Labs. I bought the big concentrate back when Attie soaked the mattress. I was able to save the mattress!!!! There is an $8.95 container, but you might be able to ask for Free Samples.

 

[Lori in Ohio]

I have had a few cats here that I tried to introduce to my other cats, but they did like a new cat in the house AT ALL.
One cat especially would continually run after the new cat vice versa.
There is only one cat that I kept, after the original 2 and to this day, my Ginger cat cannot tolerate him but ignores him most of the time.
My cats never urinated on the carpet or did any spraying tho one cat we took in was not happy he was put in a seperate room when we were not home and he sprayed alot in that room.
Needless to say, the whole room had to be re-done once that cat was placed somewhere else.

Right now my Ginger cat that was just diagnosed with Diabetes has been urinating on the carpet if her BG levels are really high. Its like she is confused.

Cats do get jealous.
If your cats are indoor cats, why are they going outside? Those neighborhood cats may be feral cats with diseases.

 

[Jaye and Chester]

My Otto (not diabetic) started spraying the day before he was scheduled to be neutered as a kitten. It has been a LONG 12 years! Feliway didn't help, tried all sorts of things... finally resorted to Fluoxetine. Yes, I have a cat on Prozac. It made him zonky in the beginning, but he's adjusted to it. I've tried weaning him but each time I did the behavior escalated. Is he spray-free, even on the drug? Nope. But it's WAY better.

I'm lucky that in a multiple cat house, he's the only one who sprays. He's also the only one who is allowed out doors for that reason. We do not let him roam. He has a lead and a halter that he wears on supervised excursions and we make sure he's been fully vaccinated and has had heartworm preventative. Yes, he sprays outdoors and there's nothing to say that he does it less because he gets outside (actually, I think that exacerbates it, but he's accustomed to going Mee-OUT now that I couldn't deprive him of it). The more he pees outside, the less he has left for inside is my motto.

It definitely increases when there are stray cats in the neighborhood.

We love him dearly, of course, but it's a constant struggle and a ton of cleaning supplies! It's even gotten dangerous on occasion when he's decided to spray the electrical outlet!