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The litter tray

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

Original poster

help!

74 replies

noddyholder · 30/09/2013 15:50

Hi I am in a real dilemma with my 2 cats. I have had them years a boy 11 and a girl 15. Always got on fine v clean and happy etc etc. We love them to bits! Sadly last month the boy started dribbling and was found to have tumour under his tongue which is basically inoperable and we are giving him steroids and he has perked up a lot and pottering about fine. He could live anything from 2 months to a year and I have to decide when I think he has had enough. (thanks) The other cat has taken a real dislike to him since he has been ill and now she won't use the litter tray or eat food near him and if he comes near her she batters him. It is the litter though that is bothering me. I have tried everything putting her out separate tray etc and she just keeps peeing in the kitchen sink and worktop Shock. Vet says she can tell he is ill etc etc but that doesn't help me now! I have had a renal transplant and am immunosuppressed an am terrified of catching something as I am cleaning non stop and disinfecting but I am not supposed to touch this sort of thing. Vet says no such thing as temp re home and she will be ok when other one goes Sad but he is doing really well and is going to be around a while Help!

OP posts:
Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 16:23

shameless bump as desperate

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cozietoesie · 30/09/2013 16:32

Hi noddy

I remember your boy being diagnosed.

What are your current living arrangements? EG Do either or both of the cats go out, do they each have full run of the house and how did you previously organize eating and littering?

Floralnomad · 30/09/2013 16:35

I was also going to say would it be possible to keep them apart giving both a set time of day for human company . My mum has an indoor cat and 2 dogs and they have a kind of rota system ( can't be together at all) for when they are in the lounge .

Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 16:43

They have the run of the house I live in a flat and previously they just got on with it. The girl cat who has started peeing has always been really clean so I got her a separate tray but she won't even use that. I am already keeping the living room locked from them which is new as she has peed in there and I had to throw away a sofa. The vet says she can 'smell' the cancer and the drugs. The are quite happy to sit together etc sometimes but its the peeing I am going to get ill and I have tried everything May have to ask someone to have her for a while

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Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 16:45

before he was ill she just used the litter as normal. If he wasn't here she would probably use it again and we don't have a garden although she sometimes goes out the front and wanders around this is also new since he has been ill and she will get run over tbh so I don't encourage it

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cozietoesie · 30/09/2013 16:54

Yes - he'll likely smell different. Not only that but he's probably behaving subtly differently which she'll be picking up even if you can't.

I think you'll likely have to separate them in the short term, noddy, maybe putting the boy in a separate room with his own tray and food/water. See how that goes.

I should add, and it may be something you don't want to hear, that I had experience with a seriously ill animal receiving steroids. (My darling Twoago.) They had a huge - almost kick-ass - effect at first but that tailed off much more quickly than I expected. If that's the only treatment he's on, I wouldn't be giving him a year or anything near that I'm afraid.

Maybe one of the vets who contribute, or another poster with more experience of steroids, can comment on that therapy.

Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 16:58

thanks cozie I know that Sad. The vet gave us the projection from what she had seen. He has a bit of a spring in his step but I know its the steroids as I have been on them myself! Separating them isn't really possible as even in a room with her own litter she will pee everywhere! I think I am going to ask a friend to have her for a few months and see. They are not the sort of cats to be locked in one room they are pretty old and set in their ways and would literally scream! I have had enough tbh and I do love them but my life is completely dominated by them atm

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cozietoesie · 30/09/2013 17:01

Fair enough if you have a friend who can oblige. Your own condition is a serious complicating factor and has to override most other considerations I think.

Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 17:03

My health is the main thing tbh as I am more than happy to keep them apart etc and do all his drugs and cleaning too but even with her own tray she somehow associates it with him even a brand new one! And so pees on other things. I feel sorry for her as she does try and go somewhere in her eyes clean like sinks and baths but I am elbow deep in all this 2-3 times a day and will eventually catch something.

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cozietoesie · 30/09/2013 17:05

Yes. have a word with your friend.

Best of luck with them.

Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 17:06

Thanks Smile

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Lonecatwithkitten · 30/09/2013 18:48

I'm guessing the tumour is a squamous cell carcinoma and I have seen more than my fair share of these nasty bastards. I am afraid in my experience at best you get a few months with steroids, the best I have managed is 6 months.
Regarding your girl cat I would look at dramatically increasing the number of each facility you have to one per cat plus a spare so that would be food, water and litter tray. I would also suggest getting Feliway plug in and maybe even try some zylkene tablets for her.

Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 19:37

Thanks for your advice I have litter trays but it hasn't worked also have feliway. She isn't stressed tbh just peeing in sinks! It is a squamous cell carcinoma. Vet is a bit how long is a piece of string and says I will know when he has had enough. I feel out of my depth Will I know?

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Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 19:38

what is zylkene? TIA

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Fluffycloudland77 · 30/09/2013 19:40

I promise you will know. I'm so sorry, we lost most of ours to cancer.

cozietoesie · 30/09/2013 19:41

I'll let Lonecat explain zylkene - it has the effect of a tranquiliser as I understand it.

And yes - you likely will know but you may know with hindsight and not at the time. It's a grim prognosis for the boy so I'd let him go while he's still enjoying life and not wait until he's in straits. Difficult decision though.

Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 19:43

Thanks all. I keep looking at him thinking I don't know what I am looking at! he has always been a big baby and is obsessed with food so I told the vet if he can't eat I would not be able to keep him going as he runs as soon as I open the fridge door and enjoys his food so much.

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Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 19:44

There is a pic of him on my profile Sad

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Fluffycloudland77 · 30/09/2013 19:45

Zylkene is a milk protein based mood enhancer/sedative, mine was off his furry face on it.

It gives milk sensitive cats a runny bottom.

Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 19:46

Oh ok I am not sure which cat needs it They are pretty chilled but will get it!

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cozietoesie · 30/09/2013 19:48

Steroids will improve/stabilize his appetite. Watch for when he goes off his food.

catsdogsandbabies · 30/09/2013 20:45

To reassure you cat urine is very concentrated in healthy cats and likely sterile so you are highly unlikely to catch anything from it even if you drank it!
Agree with lone cat - a SCC under the tongue has a grave prognosis (sorry) and a year would be a miracle. 1-3 months max in my experience. You will know the right time regards pts.

Original poster
noddyholder · 30/09/2013 21:04

Gosh that quick I don't know what to do as my ds will be home from uni at xmas and he loves this cat, shit. Am overwhelmed tbh but good news re the cat urine! I am quite heavily immunosuppressed so have been scared!

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cozietoesie · 30/09/2013 21:07

See how it goes over the next month, noddy. More than that you can't do.

cozietoesie · 30/09/2013 21:08

And remember - people are always here to chat to.