Stopping a cat from going outside the Litterbox

[beli]

There's been a skunk lately that seems to have taken up residence somewhere near the property, or in the bushes below my window. The Cats have started acting out because it has sprayed as well. I've already let the landlord know about it... not sure if it's been caught or killed yet... haven't smelled anything the last day or so.

 

Anyway no matter how much I block the area, and clean it up (I'm having steam cleaners here tomorrow night) they seem to still go in that area somehow i'm not sure how since it's blocked but I digress. I say they because I have not yet caught which one is doing it. They are also going this weekend to the vet to rule out anything medical..

 

in the meantime anything else I can do? I've been using OdorMute... should be dry enough tomorrow for the steam cleaners to come in.

[breeze]

Why I don't have cats, even though I love them and think they're adorable.

[luckydriver]

since you are apparently at wits end, i'm wondering if some cheap dollar store perfume would help? i've found that cats generally dont like smelly stuff in general..very sensitive noses and all. of course that means you have to smell it too

 

maybe bring out the good stuff ?

[Bad Doctor Frost]

Simple, get a dog.

[beli]

Simple, get a dog.

 

Landlord doesn't want dog unless you were living here already with one.. and no one was(at least by the time he decided he didn't want dogs in the buildings). However, he's fine with cats.. go figure.. lol

 

lucky, I have the pet odor elinator that I spray from febreze but apparently it's not enough.. and yes their noses are very sensitive.

Edited August 9, 2012 by beli

[luckydriver]

years ago i tried this 'ball' from the vet..you plug it in and put something in it..was $$$ and it's supposed to calm them down or something. but i cant say it ever worked.

[luckydriver]

Simple, get a dog.

 

more high maintenance than a (insert word here)

[ICANHASMUNY?]

get one with a lid on it

[beli]

years ago i tried this 'ball' from the vet..you plug it in and put something in it..was $$$ and it's supposed to calm them down or something. but i cant say it ever worked.

Feliway.. tried that too.. apparently my cat/cats are in the 5% that apparently it doesn't work for.

[cotterpin]

years ago i tried this 'ball' from the vet..you plug it in and put something in it..was $$$ and it's supposed to calm them down or something. but i cant say it ever worked.

Feliway.. tried that too.. apparently my cat/cats are in the 5% that apparently it doesn't work for.

 

 

We had one cat it didn't work for. The others it did though.

[beli]

years ago i tried this 'ball' from the vet..you plug it in and put something in it..was $$$ and it's supposed to calm them down or something. but i cant say it ever worked.

Feliway.. tried that too.. apparently my cat/cats are in the 5% that apparently it doesn't work for.

 

 

We had one cat it didn't work for. The others it did though.

Ahhhh.. yeah I heard it does great.. I'd just hate to have to spend the money and it doesn't work again. Vet is coming this weekend... he said if he feels the cats need further xrays he'd take them to one of his affiliated vet clinics (it's a home vet that does home visits and that was one of my concerns that if xrays were needed I'd have to go to the clinic) and they have been his vet for a several years now, and he's been good w/ them and I have no issues with him. If I feel a second diagnosis, or the problem presists there is a clinic about 10 min from me. I'm pretty sure I know what's wrong.. besides the skunk issue I think the older cats anal glands need expressing.. but I'm not a vet.. hence reason they are going

Edited August 10, 2012 by beli

[ICANHASMUNY?]

the cats are marking territory because of the skunk?

 

way to get rid of a skunk

 

 

 

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Top-8-Ways-to-Get-Rid-of-a-Skunk&id=4402512

 

http://www.ehow.com/info_8287962_natural-ways-rid-skunks.html

 

 

 

I like the mothball solution - try that first.

[Tigz]

OK, a few questions....

 

1. Are they eliminating (peeing and/or pooping) in that area? Or are they spraying (marking) the area?

 

2. Have you cleaned and scrubbed out their litter box recently?

 

If they are just marking the area....I have no advice (this is why my males are all outdoor cats now)

 

If they are just using a different area to do their business, then that area needs to be cleaned, and the cat box needs to be really cleaned and scrubbed out as well. (please remember, no chemicals that contain ammonia)

[hkolln]

Cats don't like citrus smell. Spray lemon juice it will prevent it

[Tigz]

I have always heard the citrus thing....but it has never worked for any of my cats.

 

Just remember not to use actual lemon juice on carpet or upholstery since it will bleach/stain the material (not to mention it will dry sticky)

[beli]

Tigz.. it's not spraying.. it's actual peeing... and no sooner than I got the carpet steam cleaned Thursday guess what Friday? Yup, same area.. sighs. However I still can't catch who's doing it but I have a good hunch on who it is.

 

I clean the litter box out every day and actually wash the pan every week. No new cat litter same brand/type etc. No new food either.

 

I'm waiting for the vet to call me back he's been out of town if he doesn't call me back sometime today I'll be calling him tomorrow morning as it will be after 5 when I get home.

Edited August 13, 2012 by beli

[beli]

Well this should be fun.. vet wants a urine sample from the cats..

 

Since I'm 95% sure I know who's doing it.. will start with him.

 

On the plus side.. they haven't gone in that spot for two days... but they're still getting checked.

[beli]

Okay, decided to use the other vet by my house.. my regular vet is a hosue vet.. this one said if they wanted a urine sample they'd do it there.. I don't even want to know how they'd do it..

[sirrowan]

The guy that I bought my dog off of (Bella and we don't have her anymore) told me to use Apple Cider Vinegar. NOT the white stuff, although it will somewhat work too.

 

Do this only if you have a shop vac that you can vacuum after a few minutes.

 

Pour the AC Vinegar on the affected area. Yeah Pour it on! Let it sit for like 20 minutes. Then vacuum it up with the shop vac. It will probably require a few doses of this. Apparently it reconstitutes the urine (as it turns to crystals) and you can vacuum it up.

 

I realize that cats have much stronger urine than dogs, but this guy has been in the dog breeding business (professionally) since the early 80's.