Cats and Oranges

[tamaranth]

After a brief, but pleasant, interlude, Sam has resumed his habit of inappropriate excretion. (Solids are easier to remove than liquids.) Someone recommended sprinkling the affected area (carpet not cat) with orange oil -- but I've just read that essential oils can be harmful to pussycats. Any other ideas?

I don't think it's stress: he stopped doing it during the month he should've been most stressed! And it doesn't seem to have any relation to cleanliness of litter tray which is in the same bloody room, he has to walk past it to pee under the sink or to presence of others. And I hate terrorising him, though if he gives me that exasperated look again I shall take a photo.

Comments

[nisaba.livejournal.com]

My little girl cat Nanshe did this for the longest time. I managed to train her to wee in the tray by putting her in the tray after she'd finished eating, and patting and praising her lots while she was there (but letting her leave when she wanted), and also keeping an eye on her, and if I saw her about to pee, picked her up and put in in the tray, again patting her lots. And whenever she did pee in the tray, I gave her heaps of attention and pats and praise. And if I caught her doing it anywhere else, I'd yell at her, and if I was nearby and could I'd give her a light slap on her rear haunches (it's very muscular there and won't damage anything internal). Only if I caught her in the act though - she wouldn't associate being in trouble with the action otherwise. But frankly I did the positive stuff more often and it works better.

Pooing was more of a hassle, I couldn't get her to use the tray for that, but then the marvellous magfish came up wth the brilliant idea of putting newspaper down where she most frequently pooed (thankfully the bathrrom floor, easy to clean up but still not fun). After a few weeks, she's finally learnt. This only worked after she learnt to pee in the right spot though, because she'd happily still wee on newspaper.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Good points! And I like your method, more positive than negative.

Thing is, he does know the Rules, he's just choosing to ignore them now and again. It's certainly not daily (yet!).

I was thinking of getting grotty mats and putting them down in his preferred places, but I don't know if he might just regard this as encouragement or permission. And it's not my carpet he's ruining, it's ladymoonray's, so I'm mortified at his misbehaviour.

[ivory-goddess.livejournal.com]

I've used orange oil (to stop ours chewing stuff) with no ill-effects - they never got close enough to actuallly sample the stuff, as the smell would keep them away.

There are enzyme-based cleaners you can use to remove all trace of cat smell, including the smell that people can't smell, so they don't get the idea that one spot is ok 'cos it smells of cat. If you see what I mean.

Otherwise, time to start googling for pet-owner & vetinary websites for advice...

[ladymoonray.livejournal.com]

I didn't mean to splash orange oil all over the bathroom. I think you have to dilute a couple of drops in a spray full of water, shake it, and spray it carefully in the spot you want them to keep away from. But I like Jo's idea of the enzyme-based cleaner better. I remember cookwitch recommended one, but I can't find it now.