Peeing on the carpet and hardwood flooring advice

[lrand2468]

Hi Everyone,

I am just curious on how everyone does there clean up. So far I have had scattered pee pee pads, have been renting a rug cleaner from Pet Smart on almost a monthly basis and for the hard word I got Nature's Miracle Hard Wood cleaner which I use almost every day . Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

-Lisa

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

It could just be a habit now. But go on ebay or somewhere and buy a UV flashlight. Turn the lights out and look to see if you are missing any.

If its habit you will need to retrain..

 

[BJM]

here is a list I compiled previously. Some of the items may not apply.

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You might try an integrated approach using multiple options from the list below on a consistent basis:

* start with crating, using a medium large crate (30" long is big enough for cat and a litterbox) until progress. She probably won't go where she'd have to lie in it ... but if she does, something is wrong and it may be medical.

* tarps and newspapers may be easier on clean up if you don't crate her

* feeding on a schedule and then placing her in the litterbox (maybe in a crate) within 15-20 minutes after eating, until she goes, then praising and letting her out.

* Feliway/Comfort Zone - friendly facial pheromones which reduce stress and may reduce marking behavior. Cheapest prices are usually on the net (ex http://www.LambertVetSupply.com ) I've used it and it helps.

* Cat Attract litter - supposed to help attract cat to litter box

* rule out arthritis or constipation - pain causes box avoidance

* watch if the other cats ever attack her in the box and if so, you may need to keep her separated from them. I've got one the others attack, completely unprovoked.

* littebox should be 1.5 times length of cat, litter cleaned frequently, but avoid really strong smelling cleaners as cats may avoid them due to the scent.

* you've got to get residual odors out from areas which were 'nailed' - Nature's Miracle is one option and has good reviews. It _can_ require repeated applications.

* regular play sessions of about 15 minutes to reduce stress and promote bond with you

* reward desirable behaviors - if you see her use the box, praise and treat her

* put unpleasant textures in places she has peed to encourage avoidance

* read some of this author's books: http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/ she's pretty good - ex "Starting from Scratch"

Good luck.

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

do a google search on hardwood floors + cat urine

here's a simple one....http://caturinetips.com/59/remove-cat-urine-hardwood-floors/

the better ones are from actually wood restoration sites.... you can spot sand a hardwood floor and just re-touch.... without re-doing the entire floor.

 

[Janet and Izzy (GA)]

I can only share my experience with Izzy. I took me 3 years .... I kid you not... 3 years to get her back to using a box.

At one point I literally had 4-5 litter boxes in my house. I have different kinds of litters in every box and if they didn't work, I'd try a new one. We did pellets, crystals, clay, pine, every litter you can imagine. I had puppy pads in her other spots.

I finally found a litter she likes. Dr. Elsey's crystals for long haired cats and Dr. Elsye's crystals for senior cats. Those 2 are it. If I put in anything else she won't use it.

To get her to use it more consistently, I would literally lock her in the bathroom where the litter box was and make sure i fed her her and keep her locked up for the first 20 minutes. She would use the box and then she could come out. Did that for a while until she started consistently using it.

Then of course I started going through litter like crazy and its expensive, so I devised my owned tiered box. Using 2 boxes I poked holes in the top one so the urine would go through to the bottom. In the bottom I used pellets (pine, blue's walnut and paper...settled on the combination of pine and blue) and the crystals on top so now they last way longer.

Now that she has diabetes, arthritis and neuoapahty on top of her kidney diseasse...I had to cut the front out to lower it she can still get in the box..and I have puppy pads in front of it so if she hangs over or decides she just can't make it up into the box...she uses the pads in front.

I went through gallons of Natures Miracle and Urine Off on the carpets :sad: