Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Wonderful, Frustating Cat

Advertisement

Expert: Dear Tabbi - 10/12/2008


Question
I have a cat that adopted me, my dogs and my other cats.  He followed me home one day and has been with me ever since.  He has been neutered and has his shots and is the friendliest cat I have.  I am keeping him indoors more for his protection and because in my complex we can not have animals outside.  The problem I have is that he constantly urinates on my clothes, carpet or anything on the floor but I also see him using the litter box all the time.  I can handle him crying to go outside because he eventually stops but can not handle the urinating on everything.  I have 3 litter boxes in this house that are cleaned on a daily basis.  Please help because I could not stand having to give him up.

Melissa

Answer

dog crate
Melissa,

A cat that is used to being outside will be very unhappy being inside all the time.
Or he may be crying to go outside to go home. You say he followed you home? Did you post notices around the area and in the newspaper? Did you put a found notice at the SPCA or Animal Control Offices? It may be someone's cat that got outside accidently, may have gotten lost when he recently moved in the neighborhood, etc. Someone may be grieving because they lost their cat. He may have been left behind on purpose, but for peace of mind I would try to see if he has an owner first. Stray and feral cats usually don't follow people home and usually are not so friendly. Have you put him out to see what he does and where he goes?

If he is stressed and upset that would cause the urinating. The bladder is the stress target for a cat. He is telling you the only way he knows how that something is seriously bothering him.

He may also have a urinary tract infection or urinary crystals that is making him pee on things. They are painful when a cat pees and the cats associate that pain with the litterbox and go elsewhere. I would have that possibilty checked by a vet.

If he wants outside you can leash train him. Here is a god website that shows you how:
(copy and paste, or type the whole link into your address bar)

http://www.hdw-inc.com/leashtraining.htm

Or you can get him a large dog crate and safely put him outside in it for short periods of time. I got mine at Petco. I am attaching a picture of it. It works great for all sorts of confinements.

I hope this helps.

Tabbi  

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

Education/Credentials
***********

Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.