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Serious cat dilemma

(192 Posts)
Aveline Wed 19-Jul-23 21:32:56

I feel very sorry for DD. Her first cat is a small Ragdoll with big personality. He is devoted to her. Just her. Not her DH or sons. Two years ago they got another Ragdoll kitten. She's a nice friendly uncomplicated little thing. The problem is that cat 1 loathes cat 2 and is now peeing all over the place. Nowhere is safe. He pees on beds, piles of clean washing etc.
The vet isn't helpful at all. It's too late now to go through a slow introduction. The two cats have been living together for two years now.
What to do? DH suggested that cat 1 not be allowed into the main house any more (there is a cat flap into a comfortable laundry room) I don't think that's practical really as cat 1 will find ways into the house.
Re-home? Euthanise? Both seem too radical but the situation is bad. Any ideas or suggestions from anyone who's experienced anything like this. DD is torn. She really loves him (so do I)

Fleurpepper Sat 12-Aug-23 12:08:41

Any update?

Aveline Wed 26-Jul-23 08:04:28

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.

Callistemon21 Tue 25-Jul-23 22:03:44

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.

icanhandthemback Tue 25-Jul-23 22:00:55

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.

Fleurpepper Tue 25-Jul-23 20:48:43

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

Aveline Tue 25-Jul-23 20:36:36

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.

Brismum Tue 25-Jul-23 19:42:59

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!

Fleurpepper Tue 25-Jul-23 18:31:56

Update from the family discussions and solutions, Aveline?

Fleurpepper Sat 22-Jul-23 16:53:13

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

MayBee70 Sat 22-Jul-23 16:44:12

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?

Milliedog Sat 22-Jul-23 15:31:19

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..

MayBee70 Sat 22-Jul-23 14:12:21

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.

Callistemon21 Sat 22-Jul-23 09:55:31

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.

ForeverAutumn Sat 22-Jul-23 09:52:42

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.

Aveline Sat 22-Jul-23 09:01:53

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.

ForeverAutumn Sat 22-Jul-23 08:03:02

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.

Aveline Sat 22-Jul-23 07:16:21

My DD absolutely loves this poor cat. She covers up for him a lot so her DH doesn't realise how bad things are. As previously stated I'm seeing her this w/e and will pass on the useful suggestions.

Nantotwo Sat 22-Jul-23 00:22:21

I feel so sorry for cat number 1. Poor old thing. Despite his breed, you may find it very difficult rehoming a cat with this problem and he could end up passed from pillar to post then eventually euthanised. My heart is breaking for him. I do understand the problem. We have a sprayer, we have puppy pads all over, even pinned to the wall. We don't leave anything down he could pee on. Rehoming is out of the question. When we took our cat's on, it was a commitment for life. I bet your daughter being exasperated with the situation won't help his stress. Did your daughter ask the vet about anti anxiety drugs? Advise her to watch some Jackson Galaxy videos on YouTube, he gets good results. Sorry to sound mean but it sounds like your daughter just wants rid rather than put the effort in. There's many excuses why she can't do this and that. I have no patience with people who justget rid of family pets. This poor boy is devoted to your daughter you say. The feeling isn't reciprocated obviously

MayBee70 Fri 21-Jul-23 23:17:46

I only usually had neutered toms who got on well together. I then added a female cat who ran away. And my British Shorthair girl who wee’d everywhere. I wonder if it would have been better to add another Tom cat rather than a female kitten who probably wasn’t spayed straight away ( I can’t remember at what age you have cats spayed).

debsf1 Fri 21-Jul-23 23:10:32

Has he been tested for a urine infection? If it’s not that, it’s more than likely to be anxiety / stress related territorial marking. Could you possibly have the newer cat so the original can relax and get back to being his happy normal self?
I doubt many vets would consider euthanasia on a fit healthy cat and something like that would be so unfair on him. He’s displaying his feelings in the only way he knows how.

Cressida Fri 21-Jul-23 22:51:36

Aveline I think you put drops of Rescue Remedy in the cats water.

Aveline Fri 21-Jul-23 21:50:45

Please read the whole thread.

twiglet77 Fri 21-Jul-23 21:27:31

I agree the second cat should be rehomed rather than further upsetting the first one by rehoming him. Poor cat.

Daisydaisydaisy Fri 21-Jul-23 21:13:45

Hi
I agree please don’t euthanise a healthy animal …Im sure there will be a behaviourist near Your Daughter .

I used to have 2Ragdolls …Lovely cats 🙂🧡

merlotgran Fri 21-Jul-23 21:11:06

Well, they do say wine is fluid retaining! 😂