To want to get rid of my cat?

[pagefruits1991]

Ive had my cat for 6 years. She has always been neurotic, we have even taken her to the vets a couple of times about it.
Basically there isn't much we can do.

She constantly wees on all the beds and sofas. So much so that we have had to ban her from going upstairs. She poos on everything she can. 5 days out of 7 I will come downstairs in the morning to poo on the floor despite there being a clean, huge litter tray with natural wood litter in it.

On Monday she pooed in her food bowl.

I'm aware this isn't normal behaviour however she has always been like this from day 1, we have tried everything from plug ins, behaviour therapy and (v.expensive) steroid injections. Nothings works.

She refuses to eat biscuits and nags for meat, she throws up quite often and does not like being picked up.

She can go outside whenever she likes. She can be out for 12 hours whilst we work etc and come in and wee on the bed.

Things got worse after I had a baby last year. Her behaviour hasn't changed but I no longer have time to pander to it.

I came down this morning to diahorrea in the lounge and my baby nearly went for it! I had to put him back in his crib screaming and get the bleach out.

I feel like her muck might make us or my baby especially, ill.

Genuinely don't know what to do, shes my responsibility but I don't want to risk my sons health for an animal.

What litter does she have?.

This sounds too simple to be true but have you tried different litter? Some cats won’t use the wooden pellets because they’re hard and not nice to walk on. I would definitely try a large variety of alternatives (catsan, okoplus, sanicat) with different textures before making any drastic decisions.

Also used zlykene on one of my cats and it had miraculous results. It’s not expensive and can be bought online.

Rehome her via a rescue, don't PTS.

Have you checked for cystitis? It's also classic stress behaviour. The litter tray is the better place to post.

www.wilko.com/cat-litter-trays+boxes/wilko-cat-litter-ultra-clumping-5l/invt/0434324

Try this, my litter tray refuser now uses his tray reliably. I order it in at my local Wilkos because they don’t stock it.

It’s better than the other ultra clumping litters he’s used. He doesn’t like the wood pellets either, or the white crystals.

YANBU Cats are awful.

Yes, all cats are awful, just like all humans are awful.

Jesus wept, why are some people such arses?

I normally come onto these threads expecting to think that the owners are unreasonable. But in your case I would say you've tried everything and it does sound like a neurological condition.
You could contact local rescues to see what they suggest, maybe a change of environment and a new owner will make her happy rather than PTS.

OK, genuine question, but people always talk about "rehoming" cats (and other animals) that appear to be near-impossible to live with--does anyone really want to adopt a shitting-everywhere cat? Or do some shelters just not tell owners about this kind of thing?

I thought shelters were already overflowing in animals that had no behavioural problems.

That’s why I suggested PTS rather than rehoming.

I just don’t see anyone wanting an incontinent cat. I love cats, I have cats, but I couldn’t cope with this situation.

OK, genuine question, but people always talk about "rehoming" cats (and other animals) that appear to be near-impossible to live with--does anyone really want to adopt a shitting-everywhere cat?

Lots of behavioural issues are due to the animal being unhappy in their environment (for example, keeping a cat inside when it wants to go out, or forcing it to live in a multi-cat household when it would be better suited to being an only pet), or even due to the diet.

We rehomed our older cat last year because his old owner couldn't cope with him. We were told he was aggressive, peed on the floor and destroyed their furniture. He's nothing of the sort! He gets on fine with our younger cat, has never once gone outside his litter tray and is only aggressive (a quick scratch or gentle bite) when provoked or stressed. He's currently curled up purring on the arm of the sofa!

Lots of people think animals (cats especially, for some reason) don't require any special care. They give them basic supermarket food and a litter tray and think that's all that's required, when most cats require more than that. I'm not accusing OP of that at all btw, she sounds like a very caring owner, it's more of a general statement.

Does she soil more often in one place of the house than others? - if so, move the tray there, no matter where that place is.

How many litter trays does she have? - if one, use 2-3 in different parts of the house (difficult with a baby though, I do appreciate)

Does she still have her claws? - some cats have sensitive claws like some humans have sensitive nails. Try different litter types to find if she's more comfortable with a different type.

Worth a try using puppy training pads to eliminate a litter tray issue.

Has she ever been playful? - her behaviour sounds territorial. Play can help and being allowed in every place in the house can help (though difficult when she's soiling, I realise)

And lots of litter tray (stress cystitis or supposed incontinence) can be solved by changing the brand of litter, providing different (and multiple) litter trays, changing the brand of food (lots of cats are intolerant to the grains found in cheap foods) and allowing the cat more freedom to go outside, or places up high to "escape" when necessary.

Lots of people think animals (cats especially, for some reason) don't require any special care.

I think it's because cats are in many ways so much more independent than a lot of pets – they're not kept in a cage like small animals and they don't need walks and the kind of training dogs do.

I don't agree cats don't require special care, BTW. Just saying I suspect this is why some people DO seem to think this.

Sorry, OP; it all sounds very stressful. You've had some good advice here though (not the 'PTS' lot but people like Beaver). I hope things improve.

I think one of my cats had exactly the same problem as your kitty seems to.
The diarrhoea, the vomiting.
We took her to a vet we'd used for years, tried everything. Explored behavioural issues, everything!
We then tried another vet- cured in 7 days.
It was hairballs!
So simple. We used a paste like subtance that kitty just licks off your fingers and changed diet to a "hairball reducing one".
The change was honestly ridiculous, such a simply solve.
Vomiting after eating is a sign of a blockage and cats can get really big blockages, even short-haired ones. The pooing can be a way of trying to get relief from an almost constant feeling of being bloated and uncomfortable apparently. It may be worth looking into? Any pet shop or vet surgery should stock the hairball relief cream/gel in a tube.

@Frankchickens don't be such a knob. Why answer on cat threads if you hate cats? What a tool.

OP U feel sorry for you and cat in this situation, can only echo vet.

I think it's because cats are in many ways so much more independent than a lot of pets – they're not kept in a cage like small animals and they don't need walks and the kind of training dogs do.

I don't agree cats don't require special care, BTW. Just saying I suspect this is why some people DO seem to think this.

YY, I completely agree with you. Compared to dogs, yes, cats are easy-care pets but you can't just chuck them some food and a litter tray and expect them to be happy. They need stimulation, scratching posts, toys, more than one litter tray etc etc. Far too many people don't realise that!

Just to say our scaredy cat switched to outdoor living when we moved into a rental where it was impossible to have a cat flap and is very happy and healthy as a result.
She had a little house with a bed in the shed, which had its window propped open for her to get in and out. The rental had a tiny garden but she in the end preferred it to being indoors however cold it was.

Now we live somewhere with a large garden and her home is a shed. :)
Garage could be an option too. Is it something which can be done in your case?

I wouldn't be able to live with a cat weeing and pooing everywhere for more than a few weeks, six years, Jesus!! And esp with a baby in the house.

PS not everyone can buy cat food which costs more than human food, I'm always amazed at the advice or just switch your pet to the likes of sirloin steak

I use Tesco's own basic litter and never had a cat who didn't like it. A lot of cats really don't like wood pellets or shavings, either they don't like the smell or the texture. Also like a PP said a bigger tray and try it in a different location if you can. Does the cat have its own pet bed? Where does she normally sleep? If she hides to sleep then try a cat bed nearby, a dark space under the bed, or find a corner (cats like corners as they can see what's going on).

When cats mess on the bed it's usually stress and they usually pick the side of the person they feel are most hostile to them. Trying to make some time for them, five minutes for an ear tickle, can help. They sense owner's frustration and dislike.

I think there's a few things to try here. and if you do and it works then great, if not then you know you've tried everything.

Also

Please try to rehome before putting her to sleep - Battersea Cats, Cat’s Protection etc.

Some people are happy to take on problem animals and work with them.

As others have suggested change the litter. My cat pees on everything if he doesn't like the litter. He prefers the expensive lilac scented one

Btw I think you’ve been a star for sitting this out for 6 years.

Also as Isay says, sometimes cats are very happy outside but it does need to be dry and comfortable. Is there anywhere you could have her to sleep outside (but sheltered)? something like on a cheap garden chair with a cushion on it, in a shed, greenhouse, or anywhere that's sheltered from the immediate elements. She might be happiest spending lots of time outside and sleeping outside too, and that would suit you.

Also does she always have plenty of drinking water down all the time? Some cats drink a lot and if she wants meat not biscuits she could be trying to tell you she's thirsty, as the meat has more moisture. Also maybe she's searching for water outside. I have a large plastic sandwich box filled with water, not just a little cat bowl, so there's always plenty. Some cats like a large flat surface of water to drink from rather than a little bowl.

There's obviously something wrong so return to the vet and explain what you have explained here - that you can't cope with it anymore, especially with the new baby. It could be a medical problem but it could be that she is stressed and unhappy in the environment she is in for whatever reason.
I think you should contact a shelter and discuss the possibility of rehoming.

PS not everyone can buy cat food which costs more than human food

What cat food do you know that costs that much? We buy ours organic grain-free food, and for two of them it doesn't even cost £30 a month. That's hardly a lot of money to keep two adult animals alive! One of ours can't tolerate grains so they both get fed a grain-free diet to prevent one accidentally eating the others food.

It works out cheaper than the supermarket stuff as it fills them up a lot more (more protein and less fillers) - we get one big bag of biscuits a month (though it lasts about 5-6 weeks) and they get the occasional pouch of wet, and the occasional tin of tuna or bit of chicken. Much cheaper than Whiskas or Sheba!

Where about in the country are you?