I have name-changed for this because I want to include every possible cat detail but I don’t want my more personal posting history linked to this. I hope no one minds that.
We have 2 Burmese sister cats, 6 years old, always indoors. They have always had a difficult relationship. If one of them has to go to the vets, if they see a cat in the garden etc then there can be a lot of aggression. We moved house 4 years ago and it took more than a month for them to be able to be alone in a room together.
We have consulted vets and behaviourists and know that the house is well set up with enough litter trays, high spaces and feeding places. Feliway definitely makes the problem worse and Zylkene doesn’t seem to make a difference.
About 10 days ago there was an extraordinary fight in the night. I have never seen so much fur on the ground and since then they cannot be near each other. There is one (Cat A) who attacks most often.
The problem that feels overwhelming though is the spraying. I don’t know how to stop it. It happens whether they are separated or together. It happens right in front of me when I am trying to reassure and offer a lap. It happens in every room. I am not certain if Cat B is occasionally spraying but I am very clear that Cat A is doing it constantly.
This is a rented house. I am going to have to replace two large floor length sets of curtains at a minimum (maybe 4 sets) but the wooden flooring is getting stained too, and the plaster on the walls. I am trying to be observant and wipe fast but it seems to stain the floor on contact. I am using a cat-urine remover spray.
Our landlord is going to give us notice if I do not stop the spraying or rehome the sprayer. We love them both so much and this is heartbreaking but for many reasons, we cannot allow ourselves to be evicted and anyway, that wouldn’t actually help the cats. A new house for us, even if we could find one, would make the situation even worse (although it’s hard to see how things can get much worse).
Any suggestions at all would be really welcome. Really, really welcome.