Think I might have to rehome my cat. Please advise me!

[penona]

I have 2 cats, about 9 yrs old, had them for 7.5 years now. Always been placid and cuddly and affectionate, never bitten scratched or hissed.
Kids came along 2.5 yrs ago, been fine with them, kids love them (a bit too much!) but are mostly gentle with them and the cats have never lifted a paw to them. They generally seem v happy together.
BUT one of the cats, 'my' cat (the other one loves DH the most) has started to toilet round the house. Have had endless trips to the vet to establish nothing physically wrong. He toilets mostly on the kids things, coats, toys, etc but also now in the living room, our bedroom, etc. He only ever seems to do it when I am here with the kids (just been away for 3 weeks with kids leaving DH and builders here - not one problem). He has a clean litter tray, access to the garden, etc etc. It just seems to be a way of annoying/punishing/attention seeking from me when I am dealing with the kids and not him.

I am totally at my wits end cleaning up poo and wee, having to check each room carefully before letting the kids in (they are generally pretty good and shout 'mummy cat poo' but it is very unpleasant). The only thing I can think is to have them rehomed (wouldn't want to split them up).

It makes me feel sick to think about it, but I don't know what else to do. I can't keep on living with this. Anyone got any thoughts? He is too young and healthy to put down, so please don't even suggest that!

I'd suggest that you buy a Feliway diffuser. They're very good for cats with anxiety and that sounds like it might be behind your cat's behaviour. Vicky Halls' books on cat behaviour are also excellent.

Thanks, should have mentioned, we have the Feliway diffusers, 2 (one upstairs and one down) but they clearly aren't working!!

I have contacted a cat behaviourist who might be able to help. Its a start anyway, can't bear the thought of losing my lovely cat!!

If I were you I would restrict his ability to go around the house...try to keep him in the room that has the back door in it, for example...kitchen? Keep the doors to the kids rooms shut - that way you are keeping his toileting within one area. If you keep him in the area of the house that provides access to outside he can go in and out as and when he needs to.

If you never had a problem with him before the builders perhaps the noise/commotion has upset him? Upset his routine? Perhaps he has an underlying health problem? We've had the occasional accident with our cat but its always because she's not had a litter tray available or I simply forgot to let her out.

Cats can be sensitive souls at the best of times. I would certainly look at keeping him within one area of the house - don't let him have free range.

You may find one of those plug-in thingies might help but it may take time and if you keep him in one area, plug it in in that same room, it may have a better chance of working....

I'm guessing here but I'd say your cat is attention seeking as he only does it when you are there. It's either "help, I'm freaked" or "Give me attention...any attention". Cats are like kids, they don't differentiate between positive and negative attention. Ignore bad behaviour and reward good, no sticking his nose in it and smacking! Clean it up, make sure to remove all trace of it including smell. Put aside time each day for cat play time, that way he knows when he's going to get attention. If this doesn't alter his behaviour after a week or so then you should be looking at the possibility that he's anxious, which may require medication or a lot of confidence building.

Thanks for the comments.

We have had an accident free w/e, and I think the difference is that once the kids are out of the room (ie in bed) I have let him sit on my lap and have a cuddle for a good hour or so. So maybe he was just attention seeking like you say?

I worry that he doesn't get as much love as he'd like. Bu then again, he might not get that anywhere else.

Ask your vet for Zyklene

My cat used to do this and it was cos she was stressed from any change - it could be something as simple as a new cat on the block, the builders, anything.
It stopped her within a week and we haven't had anything since.

It cost £4 for a weeks supply.

How are things now?

Well been better, so far, don't want to jinx it.
I have shut him out of the kids playroom overnight, sprayed everywhere he had toileted with some 'cat odour remover' stuff.
Every time he comes up for a cuddle, I give him one, even if briefly, and have been chatting to him more (I did this alot before the kids were born, but realised I no longer do it). Have also installed a new cat flap which goes straight to his fave bit of the garden (the other one was 2 flaps through the utility), so.... we will wait and see!!

Thanks for the Zyklene though. Good to know there are a few more options to try before the drastic one.