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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.

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Original poster

Friend said I should have stressed cat pts

24 replies

Coriandersucks · 27/12/2020 14:29

We got our cats from cats protection 5 years ago, suspected abuse from their previous family - now both older gents of around 12 and 14.

Neither go out much but the younger one does like to wonder in the garden.

During the summer a stray cat turned up and started helping himself to our cats food. They didn’t seem bothered as did nothing to stop him so whilst we chased the cat out any time we spotted him we didn’t think much of it.

However the younger cat the last few weeks has barely left the house, walks around yowling a lot and started weeing and spraying by the front door.

I had the vet check him over and he said he’s fine it’s just stress/behavioural issues so we’ve started locking the cat flap at night and making them both use the litter tray. Also use a feliway plugin which hasn’t done anything.

Trouble is we are moving house in 3 weeks time and we were going to put them in a cattery for 3-4 days (which they will hate) to shield them from the worst of it but a friend said today I’m being really cruel and based on their history as well I should have him pts as the move is just going to add to more stress and he will never recover.

This isn’t right is it? I’m certain it’s down to this new cat coming in and once they’ve settled into the new house it will be fine. I feel like I’m doing everything I can to help him but not sure if I’m missing something.

OP posts:

Preparedtobetoldimwrong · 27/12/2020 14:33

Why on earth would you have a healthy cat pts? You sound like you are doing all you can to minimise his stress. Your friend is very much in the wrong here.

Toilenstripes · 27/12/2020 14:37

Please don’t even consider having him pts. Everything you’ve doing is good. When he gets to the new house will he have somewhere to climb up to? Like a cat tree/condo. My experience is that cats love being able to get up high. Also spend extra time with him, extra cuddles.

TW2013 · 27/12/2020 14:41

Our cats are happier than ever after our move so I would see how they settle. What are you going to do about the stray? If your food has been supplementing its diet then I think it is only fair to try to catch it and take it to a rescue or get cats protection to trap it. Where in the country are you as someone here might be able to help.

Elieza · 27/12/2020 14:42

Killing a cat just because you’re moving house. FFS your friend is being completely unreasonable.

Don’t kill your furry friend, he’s just stressed but hopefully he will feel better in his new home away from the marauder.

Four days is quite a long time in a artery for cats who hate it.

Hopefully things will go quicker than planned and you can get them home before then, but it’s good sense to have a contingency plan just in case it really does take a while.

Elieza · 27/12/2020 14:43

Cattery. Not artery.

bluebluezoo · 27/12/2020 14:43

It’s likely when you move and the stress if the stray is gone things will go back to normal.

Allergictoironing · 27/12/2020 14:45

You may want to try using Zylkene as well, works with many cats.

I'm thinking it may well be something other than the stray that's upsetting your cat, if the stray has been there 6 months or so, and the behavior is only the last few weeks. It may be the hustle & bustle of getting the house sold, doing clearouts and packing (if you've started that) which is stressing him out.

Original poster

Coriandersucks · 27/12/2020 14:47

The stray is absolutely beautiful - he was so scrawny when he first came and now he’s all fat (on our cats food). We have tried catching him but he’s so quick and can sense us getting up from the sofa from the kitchen so even moving stealthily we just catch the back of him as he flies out the cat flap. I have to warn the person buying our house too as they have 3 cats - who may be better at marking their territory, my two are so lazy.

Yes i did think my friend was talking nonsense there is no way I would put him to sleep if I thought there was a chance of him being happy again. It’s just heartbreaking seeing him so miserable and dreading putting him in the cattery.

He is getting lots of extra treats and cuddles in the meantime.

OP posts:

Original poster

Coriandersucks · 27/12/2020 14:52

@Allergictoironing I did wonder if there might be something else but I can’t think of anything - we haven’t started packing yet (movers are going to do that) so unless he can understand English and has heard that we are moving there is literally nothing else that has changed in our house.

I chased the stray from the back room in the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago so I’m thinking he might just be getting his feet under the table - hence why cat flap now shut at night.

I will look up zylkene too thank you.

OP posts:

Preparedtobetoldimwrong · 27/12/2020 15:17

Why do they need to go to a cattery when you move? We moved 100’s of miles and our two were locked in the spare room at old house whilst we packed, then in the upstairs loo when we arrived at new house, then in the garage for a few days. They were able to come and be with us in the evenings until we got sorted and put a cat flap in, then gradually introduced them to outside. We put big signs up all round the house for the removal men so no escapes happened.

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/12/2020 15:36

I’d say Cystease for the weeing. No need to pts at all.

Can you set the flap to “in” only so stray boy can be rescued?.

Want2beme · 27/12/2020 16:10

@Fluffycloudland77

I’d say Cystease for the weeing. No need to pts at all.

Can you set the flap to “in” only so stray boy can be rescued?.

Good idea. Please try to catch him and take care of him. If you leave him behind, he'll have nothing. I've taken in lots of strays. It just takes tactics, time & patience.

I wouldn't put your cat into a cattery. Keep them both confined to one room whilst you're moving out, (preferably in larfe tavel boxes, if you have ant), and do the same when you get to your new house, until you've settled down for the evening.

Suzi888 · 27/12/2020 16:21

I wouldn’t have my cat put to sleep for those reasons . Is your fiend an animal lover?

Babamamananarama · 27/12/2020 16:29

We moved London - Cornwall and didn't put our cat in a cattery. I think that will only increase their stress - just clear a room and shut them in it.

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/12/2020 16:34

I would have put my cat in a cattery when we moved as it would have been less stressful that way.

missmouse101 · 27/12/2020 16:49

Also op, you need a litter tray for each cat and one spare, so 3 in total. That may well help too.

Original poster

Coriandersucks · 27/12/2020 16:54

We don’t have a spare room in the new house or a garage. I could put them in the bathroom but it’s very small. We are moving 200 miles away.

OP posts:

Twinkle1989 · 27/12/2020 21:45

Your friend is a twat OP.

Cats adapt - Feliway or Pet Remedy plug ins should help (I prefer Feliway - PR stinks!)

violetbunny · 28/12/2020 05:32

Is there any way you can take the stray to the vet to scan for a chip or to a cat shelter? Poor wee thing. It may be someone's lost and much loved pet, in any case it needs a home :(

Fleetheart · 28/12/2020 05:51

Our cats were both very happy on the chattery when we moved. It’s much less stressful for them than all the noise and bumps of moving. Your friend is talking rubbish

Fleetheart · 28/12/2020 05:52

“In the cattery”

Turangawaewae · 28/12/2020 05:56

I've trapped a stray in a live cat trap.

cat trap

It took a few days but was pretty easy. I then took it to a shelter. It was losing condition and looking pretty miserable. I'd been feeding it but it just wasn't coping. I couldn't get within 2m of it and it was stressing mine out.

MrsKingfisher · 28/12/2020 14:11

Our vet suggested we use the rescue remedy pet, worked really nicely we put some on our fingers and gently rubbed the ears with it. Could be hocus pocus but our cat is now much better and is currently sparked out looking very unstressed!

LizB62A · 28/12/2020 14:40

Get a microchipped controlled cat flap in your new home.
If you'd done that already, the stray wouldn't be able to get in to eat your cats food and stress them out

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