Serious cat dilemma

You mentioned that Cat 1 is devoted to your daughter and spits and hisses at her husband and sons. It sounds as if cat 1 already had a problem with the human males before Cat 2 was introduced into the household. Is that one of the reasons for Cat 2 being there, so that there would be a pet for the other family members? My parents had a cat years ago that loved them but hated a change to the status quo, so whenever we visited, and we like cats, he would show his displeasure by spraying.

No. Cat 1 was always a strikingly friendly and bold cat. This behaviour only began to creep in this past year. I just don't know what's going on with him. Cat 2 is a nice wee thing and knows not to push it with him.

01Aveline

No. Cat 1 was always a strikingly friendly and bold cat. This behaviour only began to creep in this past year. I just don't know what's going on with him. Cat 2 is a nice wee thing and knows not to push it with him.

Oh I see, I do hope your daughter finds a solution. In that case I personally would get a second opinion from another vet before accepting this was purely behavioural.

ForeverAutumn

01Aveline

No. Cat 1 was always a strikingly friendly and bold cat. This behaviour only began to creep in this past year. I just don't know what's going on with him. Cat 2 is a nice wee thing and knows not to push it with him.

Oh I see, I do hope your daughter finds a solution. In that case I personally would get a second opinion from another vet before accepting this was purely behavioural.

Yes, definitely.

Is there a Rag Doll Facebook page? I don’t know much about the breed but I do know that most pedigree cats have their own traits. My British Shorthair was a Silver tabby. I read that that colour were terrible ( or good whichever perspective you take) killers of just about everything. And she was. She brought so much wildlife back, both dead and alive. I’ve never been aware of cats being obsessive about one particular member of the household but that doesn’t mean to say it isn’t a breed trait. It is a distressing situation all round. To be honest, unless a vet has had previous experience of a particular problem I wouldn’t have much faith in their advice but would look elsewhere.

We had the same problem when we added a kitten to our house. Cat 1 started peeing everywhere. The final straw was when he peed on our bed late night on Christmas day and I didn't realise until we got into bed. The kitten had to go. He went into foster care and Cat 1 reverted to his perfect self.
Perhaps your daughter should ask The Cats Protection League to take the kitten on as it'seasierto rehomekittens..

He’s not a kitten, though. Now 2. Maybe a short term foster might be worth trying to see if cat one reverts back to being clean in the house?

Foster care for a few weeks is definitely the way forward- to assess what happens. Then adoption.

Update from the family discussions and solutions, Aveline?

Are we going to hear any more from Aveline? I have read all the posts and don’t have any other suggestions to make that haven’t been made already. As a cat lover I find it distressing as at the moment there are no winners especially the older cat. I would just reinforce the suggestion to seek another vets opinion something they seem reluctant to do!

Oh sorry. I should have got back on this. I certainly did discuss all the various suggestions with DD. I have ordered the book that was recommended and DD is going to go back to the vet re possible bladder issues and to discuss possible calming meds. Maybe Rescue Remedy. However, that cat is going nowhere. She wants to keep him. Which is great. Interestingly, she mentioned a little female cat, belonging to a neighbour, who has been coming in and helping herself to the cats' food bowls. DD likes this cat (she likes all cats) and is happy to see her. I bet that's really behind the increase in cat 1's peeing! Time will tell but until then DD is keeping doors closed and is prepared to keep cleaning up. She's got that enzyme cleaning stuff.
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.

Ah thanks- fingers crossed. You can also get pheronomes plug ins.

Aveline, your daughter might be interested in microchip cat flaps for her cats which would mean the other cat can't get in. Alternatively, microchip food bowls would stop the other cat getting their food so would probably stop coming in. They work on the cat's microchip that is already implanted to no collar necessary. We have them and they have been brilliant.
The other cat is more than likely the problem.

icanhandthemback

*Aveline*, your daughter might be interested in microchip cat flaps for her cats which would mean the other cat can't get in. Alternatively, microchip food bowls would stop the other cat getting their food so would probably stop coming in. They work on the cat's microchip that is already implanted to no collar necessary. We have them and they have been brilliant.
The other cat is more than likely the problem.

Yes, good idea.

Perhap he's marking his territory to keep the intruder away.

They actually do have microchip cat flaps. However, there are so many doors and with them and the boys coming and going the cats often enter that way. DD hasn't ever deterred the visiting cat from coming in as she likes her. Nothing I can do about that! I suspect that poor old cat 1 is such feisty wee thing (he's an unusually small Ragdoll- Napoleon complex!?) that now he has this way of expressing displeasure he's in the habit of it and not going to stop.
Over to DD and her cleaning materials.

Any update?