Need help to save daughter's cats

[Informer1906]

Need some help? We have two cats both are one year old for some reason one or both of them have been randomly peeing on the carpet in the kids play room and the living room for the past month. Needles to say my wife wants them out of the house, she is not a cat fan and this is the last straw.

I do not want to bring them to the shelter for two reasons. One, the cats were a gift to my daughter who will be crushed if we get rid of them, and second I like the cats and they will end up euthanized at the shelter.

Thus I believe I have come up with a solution. Make the cats outside cats and let them live in the backyard, that way they will not be in the house, but my daughter will get to keep them. So here is my question.

1. Can house cats live and survive out side, I live in the northeast and I get cold in the winter
2. Do they need a shelter (Cathouse etc)
3. What am I missing can this work or will the cats run away or be lost etc….

 

[Eeyore's the Best]

Is there anyway that you can block access to these rooms that they are peeing in? Our cat started spraying in the basement and now we keep him out of there when we are not home and he hasn't done it anywhere else. Do you have two litter boxes? I know sometimes two cats require two boxes. Is there any problems with them accessing the litter? Is it being changed frequently? All of the possibilities can lead to cats going outside the box. I would try a few options before putting them out.

 

[kacaju]

before you do anything.. have the cats been to the Vet? One of the most common reasons for them to pee out side the litter box is if they have a bladder infection.

 

[kevschickee]

Are they bored? My cat used to love her cat condo it was tall and had a huge scratching post. Do you have 2 littler boxes if not you should get another. Are they acting ok other wise? The one that is peeing could have a uti

 

[dizneechic]

I haven't had cats in 15+ years as my dh is severly allergic but have has many cats before him and come from a huge cat loving family. I'm not sure I can help but have a few thoughts...

Have the cats been checked for UTI's or kidney issues? Do you know if it's one or both of them doing this? Regular detergents wont break down the urine so the cats will repeatedly go in the same location, you should use something meant for breaking down pet urine to clean the area and may possible need to replace the carpet in there to completly eliminate the problem.

Another thing is cats can be super fussy about the location of the litter box or type of litter being used. They don't like to "do thier business" anywhere close to where they eat so that too could be a possibility. Was the box moved or litter type changed before this all started? Maybe just moing things and trying a new litter after you get the rugs cleaned would help.

As for making cats outdoor cats, I'm not sure it would be the best thing to do here in the North East. Cold aside (because yes they could survive, but would you want to stay outside in a unheated house when its the middle of winter?), we have ferrel cat colonies, coyotes, and all sorts of other wild animals that would love to make a meal of a cat. Not to mention the chance of them getting hit by cars in the dark etc. I've heard many a late night cat fight with cat vs. random wild animal (even in your own backyard) so the risk of injury is also something to consider.

I would start by calling the vet and having a conversation and see what they suggest. Converting the cats to outdoor cats without trying to find out the root of the issue could cause more problems for the cats.

 

[redrosesix]

before you do anything.. have the cats been to the Vet? One of the most common reasons for them to pee out side the litter box is if they have a bladder infection.

ITA! One of our cats started peeing outside the box when he had crystals (and bladder infections are very common in cats with crystals). Another did it when she became diabetic.

Cats usually like to use their litterbox -- if they don't something is wrong. It could be that they're sick or any one of the following:
* litter not kept clean enough
* you didn't get the scent from the first accident out thoroughly enough -- you can buy sprays to neutralize the order (therefore telling the cats that it is not a place to pee)
* the litter box isn't big enough for them to share (get a bigger box, or a 2nd box)

I definitely second consulting with the vet.

 

[stsomewhere]

We had 2 cats that started peeing around the house. After my vet trips, we had to get rid of them. The vet could not find anything wrong with them.
It has been 11 yrs since and we can still smell it some6times. It soaked into the subfloor.

Good luck

 

[DISNEYNV]

My cat starting urinating in odd Areas (like the bathtub!) and it was because I changed his litter to a different type. We also had a problem with my oldest cat urinating and she had a UTI. Have your cats checked by a get and also have two litterboxes for them. I know it's a pain, nut we have three boxes for three cats and they use all three. Also make sure the boxes are cleaned frequently and changed completely at least once a week!

I know cats are considered outside animals, but if they were always inside cats and/or declawed do not allow them to be outside only cats.

I would discuss with your Vet. Hopefully all will work put or you will find good homes for them. Check into a rescue center before taking them to a shelter where they might be euthanized!

 

[LJRJR]

I would also recommend taking your cats to the vet. As previous posters have suggested, make sure the cat box is clean, I clean the cat box out in my house (I have two cats) atleast once a day. I took in a 3 week old kitten and when he was a month or two old, he would urinate in the same spot (next to a desk on a hardwood floor), I think he thought it was "his place"to go. Keep cleaning the carpet area they are using, and maybe put something over it like an area rug when you are not around to watch them.

I would not put your cats outside, you are asking for more problems, such as flees, cars, the rare possibility of rabies (we have had cases of it where I live in the NYC area), fights with other animals from cats, racoons to who knows what. If you have a basement or an area you can confine them to for a while to you get things under control, try that. I have also been told by my vet to not feed male cats dry food because it will cause infections in the urinary track.

 

[dogodisney]

Please don't make them outdoor cats. They are used to living inside and they may not be able to survive being outside. Cats are hunters and roamers, so your cats probably won't stay on your property. As you said, you live in the northeast. That means cold winters. Also other problems can be.....fleas, rabies, other helth issues, being attacked by other animals, getting hit by a vehicle, etc.

Like many PPs suggestered, take your cats and have them checked and make sure the litter box is kepet cleaned.

I had a kitten that wanted to be outside ( I was tryiing to make him an indoor cat). He would sneak out as soon as a door got opened. Our next door neighbore had a cat that they let out all the time. One night my cat was stuck up a tree. I think he got chased up it by the neighbor's cat. The last night of his short life, he got hit by a passing truck. I think he got chased into the street by the neighbor's cat becasue when I went out to see what was going on, the cat was in my yard.

I now have two cats that are both kept inside.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

My cat stopped when we started allowing her outside during the day.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I honestly don't know if you can make an indoor cats into outdoor cats. I would think they may have lost of a little of the "wild" that they will need to survive (other cats, dogs, etc.). Given that, we have a stray that is dying to come in but I won't let her. I let her in one day and she immediately peed under my dd5's bed.

I had a cat for 5 years and all of a sudden he started peeing on dd25's stuff - her blankets, suitcases, dishes, etc. Every chance he would get, he would pee in her room. Then he started in dd5's room. We took him to the vet and there was nothing wrong - he went to the shelter. We had another stray that the kids loved - he came in, ate, slept and went back outside to do his business. He was the perfect cat. Then a car speeding down the street hit him and killed him. This is something else you have to worry about with putting them outside - they are not going to just stay in the backyard.

 

[kalc12345]

I had a cat that started doing the same thing your cat is doing. Nothing was wrong with the cat (no UTI or anything like that). I tried everything to get him to stop but nothing worked. I finally just had to put him outside and he did WONDERFUL!! I really think he wanted to be outside. He was a much happier cat once I let him be an outside cat. My sister also had an inside cat that she had to put outside and he is doing great. So I say if your cat is NOT declawed put him outside. That is much better than taking him to a shelter.

 

[BigEeyore]

Another vote for GO TO YOUR VET
If no medical cause is found - please discuss behavioral therapies with your vet. There are many medications out there that can help. Some cats urinate outside the box b/c of anxiety issues. There are also diffusers you can plug into the wall that emit cat pheromones that calm them (odorless to us).
If you decide to put your cat outside, you need to be prepared to deal with injuries from fighting with other animals or being hit by a car.
Good luck!!!

 

[mufasa0505]

Obviously, you want to check with your vet to make sure neither has any issues.

Also, go to PetSmart and get a litter called Cat Attract. It is specifically designed for cats who are "problem" litter box users. It works very well!

Plus, make sure you are using a product made for pet messes to clean up the spots. I recommend Get Serious but PetSmart has a whole section of cleaners and an associate can help you out. Do not use lysol or bleach or Mr. Clean or whatever because the chemicals in those will actually encourage your cat to "go" on them to cover them up.

There is also a product called Feliway that mimics the pheromones if the cats are "marking" that works pretty well but is pricey.

Good luck! Please don't put your cats outside. It is very dangerous and will only lead to more vet bills for you.

 

[homemaker]

I have never had a cat outside before so I don't really know. I did have a cat that I got "fixed" a little late and she sprayed EVERYWHERE! I was about to give her the boot. I didn't know that female cats would spray like that. We got her fixed and she stopped. So if your cats are not fixed - try that.

Good luck, I hope everything works out for you.

 

[buckirj1]

First step is to take the cats to the vet to rule out any medical problems. I don't think anybody else asked---are they spayed/neutered? Could be a territorial thing. I hesitate to bring this up, but are you sure the cats aren't being mistreated in some way? Sometimes children play rough, or do other things to distress pets without meaning to.

Please don't give up on your cats--they're a part of your family too (and should be as important as any other family member).

 

[ktlm]

No offense to cat lovers (I am admittedly a dog lover who is also highly allergic to cats), but I am NOT a fan of people who let their cats run around outside. It would be fine if the cats would stay in their own yard, but they don't. I don't like finding strange cats in my yard tearing up, pooping, and peeing in my flowerbeds and terrorizing the birds in our yard. My DH's grandmother had horrible problems with this when her neighbors had 5 cats. They spent more time in her yard than in their own, she tried everything to get them to leave. We have some people down the street who have a very dark cat and I can't tell you how many times I have had to slam on my brakes coming home after dark because that cat runs across the road in front of cars. I don't know how that cat is still alive. My Mom is a widow who loves birds, keeps a birdfeeder to watch them, and used to have babies in her yard several times a year. Her new neighbors had a cat that they let outside all the time and it came into her yard and killed all the babies every time until the birds gave up nesting there. She finally had to take her birdfeeder down because all the cat did was come into her yard to terrorize the birds when they tried to eat. I had to deal with my Mom in tears on multiple occasions due to the neighbor's mostly outdoor cat killing birds in her yard. To me, it is just completely inconsiderate to let your pet (whatever kind) run loose all over the neighborhood. Like others have said, please try the vet first and see if the problem is fixable. I'm sure being in the Northeast, the cats probably don't want to be stuck out in the cold in the winter either. Hopefully there is something simple that can be done so your daughter can keep the cats, as I hate the thought of getting rid of a kid's beloved pets (my parents gave away one of my dogs and I still remember it). Also, please if you can't keep them at least try to find them a home or a non-kill rescue shelter. Not only would that obviously be better for the cats, it would also be much better for your daughter than for her to later find out where you sent her cats.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Cats wander and hunt. That is their nature.

 

[snoopy5386]

do you have a fenced in yard? You can get a cat fence to keep them in your yard so you know that they are safe.
http://www.catfencein.com/