Biffy's been with us for 11 weeks now, I'm seeking any tips to help him feel really happy and secure as he still seems nervous at times. In a few weeks we're going on holiday and have to put him in a cattery, it is a good one and I'm quite comfortable that they will look after him but it will be his first time so may cause him stress. After that I'll be going back out to work, I might be able to work at home a fair bit but could be out as much as 8-9 hours a day during the week. I just have a few areas of concern so any help or tips would be welcomed

OK Issue 1: the two times he peed outside the litterbox we either had visitors, or had just had visitors, and he checked out negative for UTIs, so I'm thinking now that was linked to stress. His litter tray is in a secluded spot in the back room, which is quiet usually, as we don't use it much when it is just us 2. But if I have visitors that becomes the dining room, so I can see in retrospect, if visitors stress him out, having them in the room with his litter tray isn't ideal. Where would you put a 2nd tray? He could have one in the spare bedroom but if our visitors are staying overnight that'd have to come out (its a small room with sofa bed), so that isn't great. The bathroom is small. Our bedroom has space but I'd really rather not have one in there all the time. Is there any use putting out a second litter tray only when we have visitors? Or is that just too risky as he might decide to go there other times too? I've put a feliway plugin right next to his litter tray to try to make him feel happy.

Issue 2: should I get a head pad and winter bed for him so he's warm while we're out during the day?

Issue 3: He doesn't really eat or use the litter tray while we're out...I need him to feel more comfortable in that back room really. What could I do? I could put the winter bed and heat pad in there?

Hmm, I think that's all. If he only has an issue peeing outside the tray when we have visitors is it crazy to entertain the idea of seeing about anxiety medication just for those occasions?

Thanks in advance for your wise words!!!

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Hello!

Regarding the litter box issue, I think you are correct to assume that Biffy is feeling stressed out. Cats are very conscious of their home environment, and when something changes in the environment, such as visitors (or strangers as Biffy would see them), a cat can have a negative reaction.

Cats like to have a secluded area for their litter box, and because you use the back room as a dining room when you have guests over, your cat will feel less secure using the litter. He will not want to pass through the same room that a visitor is in, which is likely why he urinated elsewhere during and after you had visitors.

Where you have the first litter tray seems to be a good option, as it is a quiet room, but as you said, it is not ideal to have the litter in a room that could go from secluded to busy when you have visitors. In this case, a second litter tray could be useful. I would suggest that you only use the second tray when you have company, as you do not want to be moving his current litter around the house too much (he could get very confused if the litter is in a different place all of the time). You could place the second litter tray in your bedroom when you have guests, as this is probably the most comfortable place for Biffy, especially if you have guests sleeping in the spare bedroom. Hopefully this wouldn't cause him to have accidents in your bedroom at a later date, but if his other litter tray is quiet and secure when you do not have guests I do not think this should be a problem.

For your second question, I do not see a reason that he would need a heat pad while you are away. Is the area that he is staying particularly cold in the winter time? If this is the case I would suggest that you purchase a heat pad or warm bed. If the room is not cold all of the time, I think that a bed should be fine.

Finally, it takes time for a cat to be used to the home that s/he is living in. Do not get too worried if he is not eating or using the litter while you are out, because he may just not have been hungry or he did not need to go to the bathroom during that time.

To make him feel more comfortable, the Feliway plugin that you put by his litter is a good start, though you could try putting toys or a scratch furniture in the room as well. Basically, a quiet and stress free environment is the best way to get him comfortable in your home.

I'm sure he will be comfortable with your home soon. Keep us updated about how he is doing!