Need help to save daughter's cats

[jerenaud]

I just wanted to echo a few of the previous posters - have you changed the type of litter that you use? My sister's cat started to do this, all of a sudden, and when they completely cleaned the boxes and returned to their former brand of litter, it all stopped. As I recall, both were unscented clumping, but different brands and the cat cared.

Erica

 

[whitneyNC]

You didn't say if they are male/female, neutered/spayed or intact. This makes a world of difference. Male cats that are intact aren't a great choice for house pets. They mark territory, and of course if you put them out, they still do it and can father up to 150 kittens a year. Female cats are prone to UTI and male cats are prone to urethral blockages. All these things can cause peeing outside the pan. Where the pan is, is it covered or open, type of litter, etc. can all make a difference. Please don't get rid of your cats because they are having bathroom issues, most can be resolved. You need to probably catch them in the act so you know if it's one or both. They may be stressed too, for whatever reason. Consult your vet, and if they aren't altered by now, this should be the first step. It should have been done by about 4 months in order for the marking behavior to never show up. Hopefully it was.

The outside cat option is not great. They could be introduced to outside slowly, but please continue to bring them in at night even if they have to be confined to one room with their litter pan. They have to be vaccinated fully to go outside, where as many vets now don't recommend the whole round for inside only cats. They can't have been declawed and go outside, and they will likely cost you more in vet care. Not only with the added vaccines but injury as well. Even female cats can get fight wounds. Also, the hunting is a nuisance to many neighbors, if you feed them outside, you are feeding the neighborhood cats and wild life, etc. Lots to consider. Best of Luck.

 

[Wendybird55]

I've had cats since I was four and for many years ahd multiple cats. Now I don't bechase DH is very allergic...what we do for love.

Anyway - yes, check with a vet as there might be a problem. Also you may want to try a different brand of litter - some cats don't like the gritty litter and shredded papers work better.

The main issue is to get rid of the odor in your carpet. Once a cat marks a territory it is theirs and they will go back frequently to keep claim. I know ripping up carpet can be a big deal - my husband is in teh celanign business and he as a carpet cleaner that is an extraction system in that it pulls out the dirt - plus he uses a cleaning fluid in it that removes pet stains and odors. You may have to pull up the capet a bit to check the pad - but getting rid of the odor is necessary. After doing that you can try to spray the carpet with the deodarant or something that is offensive to the cats - check with a pet store they may have something.

If you want, you can keep them confined to an area of the house. Do you have a basement or an area of the house you can confine them to?

As far as making them 100% outside cats - that is not a good idea. So many things can happen to them plus is they are outside all teh time how can they be pets to your daughter - someone may see them - think they are strays and take them - they may run off and not return - they can be hit by a car.

I lived in a quiet neightbohood and all my cats were spayed. We let them outdoors on nice days and to get some air, but they were allowed indoors as well. Basicaly they were indoor cats with out door privledges. We never let them stay out if we weren't home and they were always in the house at night before we went to sleep.

The cats may have peed on the carpet once for whatever reason - they couldn't get to their littler box - the litter box was dirty - etc. but the repease offenses can most likely be because their scent is there and they always come back to it.

I think it's wonderful that you want to find a resolution for your daughters sake. I loved my cats and can't imagine my childhood without them. However, if you do decide you can't keep them in the house please try to find homes for them.

 

[flying_babyb]

Do you have a basement that they could roam in? I have one cat that is perfectlly healthy and STILL pees (only pees) in the bathtub. Have you tried switching litter or using sand in it (Im a sand user due to sore paws)? Also Wolite has a pet cleaning spray that takes the pee smell out of carpet.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

I can't imagine locking a cat up in a basement. Is that cat hell?

One benefit of our cat being outside is the rodent control. Her first summer hunting season left 43 dead moles on our porch. My bulbs actually survived this winter!

 

[surfergirl602]

I would suggest getting them to the vet to discuss and getting an enzyme cleaner for your carpet.

 

[C.Ann]

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….

How old are these cats? I too live in the northeast and every cat I've had since I was a child - up to my last cat when I was in my 50's - were outdoor cats.. So to answer your questions:

First of all, they can't be "declawed" cats! If they are, outside is not an option..

If you have not already done so, I would have them spayed or neutered before allowing them outside..

If you acclimate them slowly, they will be just fine.. However, I always brought my cats in at night, so I still had a litter box in case (never used though)..

You MUST bring them to the vet first and get all necessary vaccinations.. Do NOT put them outdoors before you do this!

They do not "need" a cat house - but if you wanted to get something like the link in one of the posts below, that would take care of your concerns about them getting lost..

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.

All of these issues can be addressed and necessary precautions taken so that being outdoor cats is a viable option..

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/

This link is what I was referring to..

As far as making them 100% outside cats - that is not a good idea. So many things can happen to them plus is they are outside all teh time how can they be pets to your daughter - someone may see them - think they are strays and take them - they may run off and not return - they can be hit by a car.

I lived in a quiet neightbohood and all my cats were spayed. We let them outdoors on nice days and to get some air, but they were allowed indoors as well. Basicaly they were indoor cats with out door privledges. We never let them stay out if we weren't home and they were always in the house at night before we went to sleep..

Except for barn yard cats, I don't think anyone who has outdoor cats adheres to a "100%" rule.. They can be both indoor and outdoor cats and it can be done safely..

Of course if OP doesn't want to go with the outdoor idea, the very first stop should be at the vet.. See if there is a problem that can be corrected.. If the vet can't detect any problems, I would make them outdoor cats before I would take them where I knew they were going to be put to death..

Oh - and one other thing.. With all of the outdoor cats I have had in my lifetime, none were ever attacked by a dog (although there were many in the neighborhood); none ever ran away; none ever were stolen; and none were ever hit by a vehicle..

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

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ditto. There are always risks in life.

 

[Wendybird55]

Unfortunately I had 2 mishaps with cats who went outdoors while being indoor / outdoor cats.

One cat most likley fell from a high spot (conclusion of vet) and broke her windpipe and had to be put down. I came home from school and my cat was in front of my house panting and convulsing and mom and I took her to the vet immediately but there was nothing they could do.

Another cat who, again, was an inside cat who also went out was spayed and always stayed around the house went out one day and never returned. We have no idea what happened to her - most likely the worst. We put up posters, went to animal shelters, everything we could think of, but we never found her.

Yes, we also had other cats who went in and out on a regular basis and nothing every happened to them. The #1 key is to make sure they are neutered or spayed.

As far as keeping them in a basement - every basement is different. We have a finished basement and it's quite large. There is a living-room type area, tables, chairs, a bathroom - keepignt he cats confiend to ur basement is far from tourture in fact they prefer it most of the times. It's cooler in the summer (they don't like air conditioning) and quiet. Plus we also keep their litter boxes downstairs. Our cats have free roam of the houe, but whenever we brought a new cat into the house (all strays or shelter animals) we kewpt them seperated from the others by keeping them in a seperate room until they went to the vet, had their shots and then got slowly acclimated to the other cats.

Ultimately the decsion is yours. Everyone has different concepts of pets. I am the first to admit I may be a bit overboard in that I am crazy about animals and though I would never put an animal above a human, if I have a pet I treat them well and some people may think a little too well.

I guess I'm looking at it for your daughter. I loved my cats and they were a major part of my childhood. I am so happy that I had them. I'm a bit saddened in that I can't get a pet for my son - my huasband is VERY allergic and it be detremental to his health if we had any pet with fur. So right now we have a fish....maybe a lizard or something in the future. I know we can look into non-allergic pets, but mi in laws had a Bichon which is supposed to be non allergic and even he botherd my husband when we visited.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[tartemis]

Our cats were indoor/outdoor cats. They would come and go as they pleasd, but they would spend every evening in the house. Personally, I think it is a bit cruel to force cats to be indoors all the time -- only because it is not there nature and I fondly remember the extreme pleasure my cats had from being outside.

That being said:

1. If they have always been indoor cats, you may need to slowly transition them.
2. You must have them spayed/neutered.
3. You cannot have had them declawed -- they will be powerless against other cats/enemies.

I, too, believe that every option should be exhausted before sending them to a shelter. Once you bring a pet into your home, it is part of the family.

 

[yasuern]

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.

Agree - Are they fixed?

Our cats were indoor/outdoor cats. They would come and go as they pleasd, but they would spend every evening in the house. Personally, I think it is a bit cruel to force cats to be indoors all the time -- only because it is not there nature and I fondly remember the extreme pleasure my cats had from being outside.

That being said:

1. If they have always been indoor cats, you may need to slowly transition them.
2. You must have them spayed/neutered.
3. You cannot have had them declawed -- they will be powerless against other cats/enemies.

I, too, believe that every option should be exhausted before sending them to a shelter. Once you bring a pet into your home, it is part of the family.

This is what I do with my cats - out all day and in before dark - during the day we have a cat door so the come and go as they please - at night we block the cat door - but they have a litter box for nights.


Sue

 

[DMRick]

I just picked up two foster kittens (about 6 weeks old) whose mom get hit by a car. Last week we picked up two kittens whose mom was dragged off by a fox (we have kittens for anyone in upstate NY that would like to adopt!). Because of what I see week in and week off, I am never an advocate of a cat being an outdoor cat (fleas, ear mites, tape worms, round worms are abundant with outdoor cats, as well as cat fights which mean tears and sores, as well as danger of getting hit by a car, or dogs), and since most of our cats are domesticated, it is not cruel or unusual punishment to keep them indoors. Generally indoor cats live longer, eat better, and have less diseases. On the other hand, if the only choice is to put it down, or acclimate it to be outdoors, out doors would be the better cchoice. In the northeast, in the winter, frostbite is a very real possibility. If you have a garage, a cat door would be great, and a place for the cat to get out of the bitter cold. They easily get frostbite on their ears and pads and private parts. That really hurts. A bed with blankets built up like an igloo that they can get into would be the next best thing.
Please be sure to check with your vet, to rule out UTI's or kidney infections. He may suggest meds for the cats.