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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

The litter tray

Am I being ridiculous or is it time to let FABCat go?

156 replies

fabwoman · 27/02/2012 10:03

Just discovered she has weed in an empty plastic tray under the stairs - at least she is trying to do it in an okay place. She is 17, has several illnesses but to me still has quality of life as she still plays and is clever enough to hide behind the sofa when she has sneaked back in or make me move stuff off the bed so she can sleep in the sun. She has been weeing in the wrong places for several weeks now. She has access to a big garden and hasn't had a litter tray for years except for when she had to be kept in, but she doesn't like them.

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evilgiraffe · 12/03/2012 10:53

We got some puppy pads after this thread suggested it, and coupled with the tray-with-lid that means she can only pee out of the entrance (like glitch, we took the door off) rather than over all/any of the sides it's much easier. Since the pad is down in front of the tray entrance, she hasn't peed over the edge once - her natural contrariness is very handy!

As the new, lidded tray is much bigger than the old one, we've also tried only putting the litter down at the back, to encourage her to take a few more steps inside the tray to get to the litter, which again means the pee is contained - this is also working so far :)

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fabwoman · 12/03/2012 12:52

I am considering a tray with a cover in the hope that the sides catch the wee. She uses a cat flap but has never had a covered tray and hasn't had a tray at all for years. It was heartbreaking watching her trying to work out how to get up on the bed .

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ExitPursuedByABear · 12/03/2012 12:55

My elderly cat used to wail a lot of the time - it was quite heartbreaking to hear her, but it was just dementia, plus she went completely deaf and apparently it is common in deaf cats. She used to wander around the house wailing pointlessly, but she did not seem distressed.

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fabwoman · 12/03/2012 13:15

I am not sure I could ever have another pet but I have promised the kids 2 kittens when FABCat has passed away.

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ExitPursuedByABear · 12/03/2012 14:19

Once a pet owner, always a pet owner.....

Course you will.

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fabwoman · 12/03/2012 16:57

She missed again while I was out.

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BibiBlocksberg · 12/03/2012 23:38

Oh fab, I've only just seen your thread here - amazing to know that lovely cat is still with you.

I haven't read every post on here but my gut and what you've posted say it's not time for her to be put to sleep yet.

As willing slave to a male stress and territory 'sprayer' oftentimes in the house I feel your pain with regards to the urine though.

From a practical standpoint I use Simple Solution Stain and Odour Remover from Pets at Home (£6.99) and can recommend it as it is really good.

98% of the time I sponge the area down with hot water and biological washing powder first but it works equally well just sprayed on the area (even older stains)

It has a very sweet smell though not unpleasant, is safe for kids and other pets to walk on etc immediately and kills off the enzymes and bacteria in the urine which cause the smell and attract the cat back to the same area.

Sorry lovely, not much help here but I am convinced that you will absolutely know in your heart when it's time, trust in yourself.

Purrs from Bibi and Cats :)

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Jux · 13/03/2012 08:33

Puppy pads sound good, I've not heard of them before.

She is using a tray, so maybe if you put the tray inside the covered tray at first with a puppy pad outside, that would help her get the hang of it. She's doing really well, particularly if she is demented, re-learning to use a tray again.

We have a cat who wails all the time. I don't think they're like humans to the extent that it means she's in pain. It's more like making noise, calling out "who's there? Who is it? What's afoot?" etc. Pain, IMO, usually results in quiet, hiding in a quiet place, biting or scratching at touches of area, all that sort of stuff.

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fabwoman · 13/03/2012 08:52

Hi Bibi . Still enjoying life without Cap'n? .

I had to laugh at "demented" though I don't think she is. She has always been a bit daft but not in a clinical sense . We were watching Marley & Me the other week and she suddenly sat up with the funniest look on her face - she looked like a meerkat - and DH and I got stitch we were laughing so much.

FABCat currently crying with her toy in her mouth.

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tb · 14/03/2012 20:49

We have a nearly 18 year old cat who wees and poos inside sometimes. We mentioned it to the vet when we took her to have her claws clipped, and he said it was territorial, even though we asked if it was her age.

She caught her last mouse about 6 months ago, and, although it's really difficult to get her out in winter -10, when it's in the high 30s in summer she stays out except when eating.

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fabwoman · 15/03/2012 11:29

Just back from her monthly injections. Vet thinks FABCat looks 12, not the 17 1/2 she actually is. She is going to talk to the main vet about changing her pain medication as her arthritis looks sore.

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Jux · 15/03/2012 20:04

That's fantastic FABwoman. Go FABcat!

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fabwoman · 15/03/2012 20:14

Naughty FABCat went off for a walk down the Close today .

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Jux · 15/03/2012 22:53

Better weather?

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fabwoman · 16/03/2012 08:34

It has brightened up a bit actually. DH said it is good she has been out. I wasn't happy as we live near an idiot driver and I am not sure she has good road sense.

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Mmmcoffee · 16/03/2012 14:58

Ah FAB just saw this thread, nice to see FabCat is still playing and enjoying life. (I'm mum to OopsCat, just namechanged)

Just wondering - does she prefer to wee on plastic? My cats are all housetrained but two of them - OopsCat and MentalKitten - will pee on any carrier bags left on the floor. I've seen OopsCat come in from outside, obviously having just pee'd, and squat over a carrier bag and STRAIN to let out a bit of pee.

Have to be very careful with bags in this house!

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fabwoman · 16/03/2012 15:56

I don't think she has a preference though she is now using her tray rather than going outside!

She is tearing up paper all the time. She has ripped up a picture DS2 made me for Mother's Day. He is not going to be happy but dh told him several times to put it safely in his bedroom...

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fabwoman · 21/03/2012 10:00

Can you wish us luck for tomorrow please? My normal vet is seeing us tomorrow and will be able to see any changes as he hasn't seen her for about 2 months.

FABCat is happy happy happy curled up on my bed in the sun. Don't tell DH .

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Jux · 21/03/2012 13:37

Good luck for tomorrow, FABcat and FABwoman. I wish I were curled up in the sun on someone's bed, tbh, am v

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fabwoman · 21/03/2012 17:33

Thank you .

I watched her move out of the way of the car and she does seem to be walkimng gingerly . Is having bad arthritis a reason to have her pts?

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ExitPursuedByABear · 21/03/2012 18:52

No - or else there would be quite a few of us for the chop.

Good luck for tomorrow. My mother always said she was coming back as a cat - all that lounging around in the sunshine.

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fabwoman · 21/03/2012 20:10

I am coming back as a cat, definitely.

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Jux · 21/03/2012 22:23

I was a cat last time. I thought it would be good to be human this time because of the tin openers. Little did I realise opposable thumbs aren't actually quite brilliant enough.

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fabwoman · 22/03/2012 07:59

.

This morning FABCat has weed in the laundry basket which was next to the litter tray....Getting in the basket would have been a lot harder than just using the tray or even the floor so I guess she is trying.

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Jux · 22/03/2012 13:45

Yes, she is trying

How's the nice vet? What's his prognosis?

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Flip

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