Seriously thinking my little cat would be happier if I rehomed her

[Coffeetree]

I have an indoor-only cat whom I adopted about two years ago. Her previous owners had to rehome her because their baby had an allergy. When I adopted her I had her checked out by a vet and they found she has a heart murmur. She has absolutely no interest in going outside.

She was a shy little thing when first here. Then during lockdown I worked from home for over a year. She really came out of her shell. Affectionate and playful.

I'm back in the office, out of the house for 12 hours a day most days. And she's a wreck. Meowing her head off when I leave, and weeing on everything.

She has toys and windows galore. She was fine with being alone before lockdown but for some reason now it's clearly distressing her.

The wee is becoming a huge problem, taking a lot of my time and money in cleaning mattresses, duvets, cushions, carpets. I refuse to lock her in the bathroom or kitchen all day. I've tried every trick in the book. Orange peel, feeliway, everything.

There's def no medical problem, it's anxious weeing.

Help?

Good luck with the job application, OP! My cat clearly disapproves of me going into the office, but fortunately isn't as upset as yours is.

What is she like when you go out for shorter period, e.g. 3-4 hours? Can she cope with that OK?

She's okay with shorter separations.

Absolutely try someone coming in to play with her every 4 hours, especially as she's fine with shorter separations. Love that you've applied for a wfh job

I would say that yeah 12 hours is a lot. I first got my cats when I worked 14hr shifts twice a week and even they struggled with that, and there is two of them! Cats really love human company, even if they don't show it in the same way that dogs do.

We moved house with a tamed feral cat ran away three times to old house across dual carriageway. This medication for a month was the cure. www.petdrugsonline.co.uk/zylkene-reduce-anxiety-stress-relief-tablets-for-cats-dogs?gclid=CjwKCAjw7fuJBhBdEiwA2lLMYSlhAoRnp9v2HV1ZhrsPH2xsVnJfmuG61fokMWDyJ6c3XQjtn51PUxoCqRwQAvD_BwE

I'm not sure she'd get any happier if she was rehomed.
Rescue places often have cats specified as indoor only, and will tell you if they can/want to live with another cat. I know it's not guaranteed to work, but it might be worth the punt?

I always have the radio on every day for the cat so when we're out it still sounds like we're home. I also leave our pajamas on our bed so he can snuggle up and sleep. He's find 12 hours every day very hard going so I think a cat sitter would be a good idea if you can arrange it. Hope the WFH works out.

If you confined her to one room when you first had her then it may be worth re-implementing that for a while.

She’s basically in a new situation with you being back at work so worth giving her a smaller secure space until she’s more used to it again. (We had to do the same during lockdown for the opposite reason - our cat really struggled with everyone being home all the time!).

Another cat for company is a good suggestion, but I’d try the room option first.

OnceUponARainbow

Don’t get another cat, you’ll likely only compound the problem.“

Our elder boy was an only cat for 7 years. We acquired our girls last January and he hated us (not them, who he just avoided) for about 3 months.
They’re all best friends now, have been since about early summer and he’s been happily sleeping on our bed again since then.
He’s enjoying playing again, which he hadn’t done for years and it’s obvious
he benefits from their company. They worship him (which he rather basks in now )

You naughty people tempting me to get a second cat lol.

Let me change jobs first.

See.... besties!

2 cats is so much more fun than 1 cat!

Enabler!

There are certainly more things you can try.

The most effective remedy to stop inappropriate weeing is to remove the stress causing it, but obviously you can't do that because you have to go to work.

It is really important is to clean up the area correctly, because if the scent lingers it encourages the cat to reoffend. As a previous poster said, you need a pet enzyme spray (I use Envii Pet Fresh, which you can buy from Amazon) or you can dilute a biological laundry detergent and put that in a spray gun and use that. You have to really drench an area thoroughly. You may have to throw out some items like cushions unless you can actually wash them thoroughly in biological laundry liquid. You will never get the smell out of a duvet or a mattress/sofa - you may not be able to smell it, but she will.

The advice given by your vet does not sound top quality. I would ask him/her for a referral to a behaviourist, who will be able to give helpful advice.

Re getting a second cat - if you do, I'd suggest getting a kitten because an adult cat will find them less of a threat. But there is no guarantee it will work and it could make things worse, particularly as they have to share a smallish indoor space - as another poster said, you could end up with two cats weeing inappropriately rather than one.

Before you make any big decisions, see a behaviourist and see what they suggest.

@Coffeetree

Enabler!

And proud of it 😂😂

Honestly if I didn't have a DH my house would be overrun with cats!

Thanks everyone I was really at my wit's end. I've manged to tweak my work schedule a little to allow me to be home more often and my partner (whom she loves) can stop in a couple of days a week to play with her while I'm out. And at night when I get home, I play with her and then throw her toys around while I'm facetiming and eating. She seems loads happier even with that small increase in attention and play.

Mechanically, tin foil on the bed and enzyme spray has so far kept the wee in the litter tray.

So thankfully she's staying in her home. The whole situation has made me more sympathetic to people who have to give their cats away.

And thanks to you naughty people I'm considering another cat for company.

I met some rescue kittens with dwarfism the other day. They could only be indoor pets due to physical shortcomings & temperment, very passive. AND apparently my local rescue has some Ragdolls (another notoriously passive breed). The shelter don't advertise any of the unique animals in their custody, you have to ring them and explain what you're after as companion cats.

I've often thought about who would be good to adopt them.

If you could find a shelter that would let you trial adoption, some animals like those with special needs might be worth trying as your additional cat(s).

@Coffeetree

Thanks everyone I was really at my wit's end. I've manged to tweak my work schedule a little to allow me to be home more often and my partner (whom she loves) can stop in a couple of days a week to play with her while I'm out. And at night when I get home, I play with her and then throw her toys around while I'm facetiming and eating. She seems loads happier even with that small increase in attention and play.

Mechanically, tin foil on the bed and enzyme spray has so far kept the wee in the litter tray.

So thankfully she's staying in her home. The whole situation has made me more sympathetic to people who have to give their cats away.

And thanks to you naughty people I'm considering another cat for company.

Glad to hear of positive move forward!

Yes a another cat is a fab plan. Also feliway is a good idea and is also helpful when introducing new pal x

That's a great update, OP.

I look forward to the pics when you get your new cat