hi

i used to have an account on here but have forgot my details and my address was my work one and i am on maternity... hence the new account.

Unfortunately i am going to have to look for a new home for my 8 year old nuetered male cat Page. We have a 4 month old baby and since baby has arrived Page has been really unsettled and has taken to urinating in places he shouldn't be. He has reacted like this in stressful situations before but has always quickly gotten over it, it has been over 4 months now and i just don't think it is fair on him not to mention the hygeine situation for the baby.

Page has always been an indoor cat as i got him when i lived in a flat in the city centre. We moved out to suburb a couple of years ago and since living here he has shown a real interest in getting outside, however our house backs onto an extremely busy road and it is just too busy to let him out safely.

I am just gutted but there just isn't anything more we can do. We have tried the plug in, we have tried giving him his private space, but just nothing has worked. He has his own space in the spare room, and we need a new carpet, mattress and bedding due to him peeing everywhere. He will also pee on the bathroom floor, and on the dogs bed. This morning i was in the loo, and he jumped in the bath and pooped!!! His litter was just cleaned yesterday and there was nothing in it. And it's not like he doesn't know how to use the litter tray as he does and he is still using it along with other random places in the house.

Anyway, this has been a long, hard decision for me but the decision is made. I just feel that he doesn't want to be with us anymore and he would be happier in a quieter household, or somewhere more rural for him to get out.

What i am looking for is some advice on how i should go about rehoming him? I live in the Aberdeen area.

thanks x

Have you spoken to your vet to rule out any medical reasoning behind his change in mood?

Its a very sad situation wish i could say something more positive.

Agreed, the weeing could be stress related but it sould also be a UTI. Please get him checked by a vet to rule this out before you make any decisions. he may be in pain because of this

hi

yes the vet has put it down to the change of situation as he is still healthy, eating, drinking, affectionate etc.

It really is sad. I always joked that the baby would go before the cat, as i really never thought we'd have a problem with him.

agree with both the other posts but wanted to add that stress can actually cause a uti as they tend to drink less etc when they`re stressed. i`d definitely have him checked over by a vet, they may also be able to advise you on ways to help calm him around baby. have you tried a feliway diffuser yet?

eta - just seen your response, my cat was recently diagnosed with a uti and the first vet said he was fine for the same reasons. cats don`t tend to show pain and so will still act like normal so that doesn`t mean there`s not something wrong, they need to actually test the urine to determine that. my twix was still eating all his food, drinking, playing and runnign around like normal BUT he`d started peeing outside the tray and it only started shortly after we adopted a second dog and he was still doing it after a long time so i demanded him to be checked and it turned out he had developed a uti

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owned by:

jake - chocolate labrador
sydney - liver/white english springer
twix - dlh cat
lacey - dsh cat

never forgetting my baby banjo running free at the bridge, RIP baby xx

A very difficult and sad situation Obviously you can't continue with a cat that goes to the toilet everywhere when you have a baby but he is clearly unhappy with the situation - whether that is the move or the new baby
You say since you moved he has been desperate to go out - have you considered a cat run or cat proofing the garden for him?
If there really is no other choice I can only suggest that you contact local rescues with a view to rehoming him rather than advertising him privately.

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How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven. - Robert A. Heinlein
http://www.lambchopsiamese.webs.com

That's exactly what I had to do with Basil & it did show he had a UTI. It's tricky getting a sample but did show exactly what was wrong.

Throughout this Basil continued to eat normally but was in pain, he just hid it well.

I think you should investigate this option further before you consider rehoming & getting a urine sample tested may be the next step.

Really sorry to hear of your difficult situation.

If the test for a UTI proves negative then it sounds as if he is jealous. Previously was he allowed into the room where the baby now sleeps? He could be more stressed that he is now confined to a few rooms rather than the territory he previously had.

I have read other cases where allowing the cat outside has calmed them down in times when there is a new baby (new noises, new smells, less attention) so is there any way you could cat proof the garden or even take him outside in the garden on a harness every day for a few hours if you have a busy road nearby?

Also, how is the area where he is urinating being cleaned? If he can still smell his urine then he will go back to the same spot to use it again. Are you washing it all down with a solution of biological washing powder?

Speak to your local CP and see what advice they can offer as they deal with a lot of cases like this and would rather give advice to work through the problem so your cat can stay with you. They may be able to offer a behaviourist that can work through the problem with you.

Not the kind of stress you need when you have a new baby to look after, but I really hope a solution can be found.

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the vet never had much trouble getting a sample from twix, he just squeezed his bladder until he peed a little on the table (or i assume that`s what he done) apparently they can use a syringe to draw some out but if you can try to get a sample he`s done into a little container and take it in i`m sure it`d be less stressful

i do sympathise and it`s my worst nightmare that mine don`t take to the baby when born i`m luck in that we`ve moved to an area they can go out now so that may help with mine. i do think it`s worth having him checked before rehoming as i can`t imagine that`d be easy for you at all

__________________
owned by:

jake - chocolate labrador
sydney - liver/white english springer
twix - dlh cat
lacey - dsh cat

never forgetting my baby banjo running free at the bridge, RIP baby xx

I agree with everyone about the possibility of this being a stress related UTI.Whether or not you are willing to try to solve this problem with a view to keeping him IMO is not the only issue here.If you have decided that he has to go then surely you need to know for certain for Paige's sake ,the reasons for this behaviour.It would not be fair on him or any potential new owner if there is a medical issue which needs to be treated.Please do what has been suggested and ask for him to be tested,if only to rule it out.

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