Help - My Cat Has a Discipline Issue Now!

Hi Sarah,
I know how you feel! I had two cats (yes past tense) that were my babies. I moved here last year from Utah and was 7 1/2 months pregnant. They were perfect indoor/outdoor cats up until then. It was just too much for the cats. The reason that I'm telling you about them is because we tried EVERYTHING, including the kitty prozac. There were 3 suggestions on here that I had never heard, so they may be where you want to start. The scope cleaning option, which makes sense when you think about it, the CatAttract kitty litter and then getting a big cage and making it the cats home. I know that my cat's were super high strung after we moved so they would have loved their own little space where the kids couldn't get them. Also, there is some professional cleaners that have a special pet cleaner that they can use to take the smell and stains out of the carpet. I don't know how well it works, but it's cheaper than new carpet. I do miss them terribly...until I start reading about all the other problems people have had and realize that we don't have that anymore. Good luck and I hope it all works out for the best!

I have had a similar experience with my own cat. My daughter shut him out of the room where his litter box was and he started peeing on the floor. If you are looking for a reason to get rid of the cat this is clearly a good reason but if you want to keep him you could try some other solutions. The prozac is one. I ended up using a strange one, I cleaned up the pee and then rubbed the mouthwash Scope into the carpet. I got the idea from another animal lover. You then clean up the Scope with water and dishwashing liquid. The smell seems to deter the cat from returning. I know it seems strange but I tried the stuff the pet stores sell and the aluminum foil and they didn't work but the Scope did. My daughter is now three and loves our cat so much. oops I almost forgot I also rigged the door so he wouldn't get locked out again.

I feel your pain. My husband has had our cat for ten years and is majorly attached...but since we brought the baby home we've had constant problems, he's peed in our bed, peed in the carseat, which we had to replace, he cries in the middle of the night and wakes the baby up, it's started to get ridiculous, but I feel horribly about saying he has to go. The look on my husband's face is miserable. If I were you I would get rid of the cat. Maybe when your baby is a little older you could get another one, the cat is probably as upset about the situation as you are.

I had a cat and no matter how clean his box was, he still peed and pooped in the bathtub. I would oust the cat. There is nothing I can't stand is a pet peeing in places he shouldn't. Good luck!

Hey Sarah,

I've been in a similar situation. I had two kitties in the house, our 2 year old son, and 6 month old daughter. The youngest of the two males would go potty in my bedroom. I too got fed up with the situation. I couldn't stand the smell and nothing I did to discipline him worked. We ended up finding both of them new homes and replaced the carpet with laminate tile (I've never really understood why one would have carpet in a bathroom anyway). I miss them terribly even 3 years later & I still keep pictures of them around.

First, unless you *want* to lose the cat, don't. She wants attention. You might not realize there's a difference in the way you treat her, but she notices it. Just like a first child wants attention from mom after the second comes along, so does the kitty and she thinks she's part of your family.

Go to your petstore and look for a litter called CatAttract. It's guaranteed to correct litterbox habits, and its worked 100% for me when my male cats marked up the place.

If she's not fixed, you want to do that as well, unless you plan on breeding her, which doesn't sound like the case. Not having her fixed can lead to more problems then peeing on the carpet.

See if there's someone who can loan you a carpet cleaner. Clean the whole room, or just the spot where she goes, up to you. Don't use ammonia or bleach, or anything like that on the carpet, as it actually attracts the cat back to the spot. Finally, if she marks again, first dampen the area with water and blot it up. Don't rub because that pushes the smells down into the carpet pad under the carpet, and that's really where you want to get the smell out of. A deep carpet cleaner will work wonders.

Good Luck.
Jenn

Sarah, I don't think I can help much with this, because we have a cat that does the exact same thing!! But... I did want to let you know that you have my complete sympathy. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is to just block off (gate) the area where the cat goes. We actually confined our cat to a very small area for a while; now we just block off the area where he urinates so our child can't get there-- at least it's just in one spot! Let me know if you hear of any wonderful solutions!
Becca

Hey Sarah! I know this will sound mean, but cats will not pee where their food is (because they are so picky!!!) I have a very small and in-bread 3 year old cat who had a very hard time moving from the farm to our home. She peed in the same corner for a week before my vet told me to put her food in the corner where she was going and keep her in her litter untill she went potty and then take her out and give her treats. It took a mornings watch but It worked. Hope it helps!!!

Please do not feel guilty about having to get rid of the cat or putting the cat outside. Cats are so different than dogs and are SO much like a spiteful person. Our indoor cat is now and outdoor cat (who stays in the fenced yard,,and still has litterbox outside) but had to go outside for the same reason. She would P where Sophe played on the floor,,,like she thougt the floor was her space, and now that the baby was on the floor more often, she was mad. (we took her to vet as well..and it was not medical) Our vet told us that cats are very jelous creatures and often show it by that sort of behavior. Stillan (cat) does not even try to get in the house anymore. She has acclimated to outside VERY well. And my baby,,,and the rest of us no longer have to wonder "what is that smell...uggg" And I wouldnt want my baby crawling through border boundry spray either :-) ( i remember my sophie at the crawling stage...what and exciting time for you all!! whoo hooo! its so much fun to watch them explore and learn!!)

I would have to say that cat is more trouble than it's worth. There are a thousand other animals that need good homes that will appreciate and obey. Your children come first and you know that so I think you answered your own question. I just recently got a cat after debating with my husband that our 2 year old wanted an animal, fortunately he has been great and stays clear of my 6 month old, we have had some animals that just didn't work with our family or lifestyle, I love them, but they just couldn't be with our family so we got them other homes. I love the cat I just got too, but if he started something like that, I would have to do the same. Our children are obviousely our whole world so we make adjustments for their safety. I don't know if I just babbled or made sense, but my whole point is that if the cat won't cooperate, he needs other living arrangements....

Send the cat packin' your children are much more important, and well, not to mention $1000... Good luck!

I WISH my hubby would let us get rid of our cats!! We have four cats who now live in our basement because just before the girls were born we got new carpet upstairs and I didn't want our cats peeing on the carpet like they tend to do. Plus, I was concerned about the litter box issue. So they are not allowed upstairs and the babies don't go downstairs. That's how we handle it. Good luck!

I have no experience with this because we don't have cats. However my husband does have his own business and he installs carpet, hardwood, laminate etc. and may be able to give you a better deal on carpet.

I just went through this very problem. I have a 12 yr. old persian and he urinated all through the basement (on new carpet) and the living room, den, and continued in new places throughout the rooms. I have a 4 month old, so I know how you feel. Kiki (my cat) is staying in a very large dog cage now. I also took him to the vet several times, added a new box, new litter, etc. Nothing made him happy. Now, Kiki is very happy in his little "home". I have a small litter box, a bed, his dishes, and we even took the "rack" (that was a part of the cage to separate it and make the area smaller) and he put it in horizontally instead of vertically so it ended up being a sort of "hammock" for him. He loves it. Of course we still get him out, comb him, hug and love on him... but he lives in his cage. I just can't give up on him!!! Good luck!!!

I hate to say it because I have a cat too. But, I'd find it a home..For one, it is not sanitary, for two if you spend all that money on carpet & what if the cat starts it up again? Guess you could always try the prozac first before replacing the carpet. I have heard of cat prozac, but that's also an expense. Ask yourself how dear the cat is to you & is the cat worth it..I had 2 cats & have a 16 month old daughter. I got rid of one because he peed in the dryer one time when it was left open, but it had daughters clothes in there. Luckily my mom took him. My other cat is very old & still uses the litter box & I keep that bathroom blocked off so my daughter can't get to the litter or her food. My daughter loves the cat, practically torments her in my eyes, but my cat doesn't seem to mind at all. However, I do watch her closly with her & try to keep the cat away. Cats really do carry alot of bacteria, especially the paws they have & sit in litter& their feces then the bacteria is still pretty much there. Even some types of parasites are carried by cats that within the last few years vets have found out can be contracted on to humans, at least my vet told me that. I got some weird liquid stuff from the vet a couple of years ago that I give my cat every 6 months just as a preventative in case the cat would have those types of parasites that could be passed to us.. I have had my cat for 17 years & before I had my daughter she was my baby & never would have thought of giving her up. Now, since I have my daughter I wouldn't think twice about it if I had to give the cat up. It would be extremely hard though....Best of luck to ya :)

I know exactly what you're going through. I've had trouble with both my cats. It's most likely an anxiety issue so kitty Prozac isn't that absurd. But please go to the pet store and get what's called Feliway. It looks like a plug in air freshener but it releases cat pheromones. My vet prescribed it for my older cat that couldn't get used to our new dog at the time. It worked wonderfully. Now we're using it for our younger cat that's been peeing on everything. Just plug it into the room where your carpet is and see if it doesn't help. I'm sure it will but you may have to make sure the pee smell is gone from the carpet first - Febreeze for Pet Odors works really well.
Good luck!