[OT] Anyone good with cats?

[Lola]

Though the advice of enzymatic cleaner (Nature's Miracle is one that has a good reputation) and vet visit are good, try The Cat Site

They have articles about just such a thing, and a good messageboard where you can ask others. If Hissy gives you advice, listen to her. She's a regular Yoda of cat care.

 

[Magic Slim]

As Kahuna Burger has suggested, use a special kitty-pee cleaner product, since even if you don't smell it, doesn't mean the cat doesn't, and if the cat smells that he's peed somewhere, he'll probably do it again.

We had a similar problem with our younger, yet incredibly fat, cat (aptly named Sumo). He always went on the same carpet, whereever that carpet was placed, and no matter how many times we washed it. It usually took the cat a while longer to start doing it again when we washed the carpet with the special product.

Slim

 

[BVB]

depends on the store, I guess. I worked at a grooming shop and supply store where everyone there had worked for a vet in the past. People asked us about everything from health issues to training to picking the right breed and they got solid advice. I'm always willing to ask around a small locally owned shop, esp if there's a groomer in residence...

They must have missed the word "experienced" in my post. Probably distracted by my "whiners" comment. (Cute furry pretty puppy kitty faces lost in pound put to sleep. Boo-hoo.) It's amazing how quickly some folks focus on inconsequential matters.

A professional salesperson who takes his job seriously and who works at it for several years (aka "experienced") will probably have a few good ideas. ... And with all things, you're supposed to use some good common sense of your own. If the guy says something stupid that doesn't jive with the vet's advice, you critically set it aside. I don't think I suggested trusting a 17-year-old clerk with a the name tag of "Dude!" who thinks he's being efficient by feeding the dead goldfish floaters to hungry hamsters.

But, yeah, check with your vet first. Duh.

Ever listen to a show on NPR called "Calling All Pets?" Excellent show; entertaining and informative. http://www.wpr.org/pets/ You might find a few helpful tips there.

 

[Pielorinho]

Humane society flunky checking in.

First, of course -- TALK TO YOUR VET! Cats don't show illness as easily as dogs, often trying to hide signs of illness from others. This could be an illness, and the sooner you get your cat in for a checkup, the better.

Second, many, but not all, the ideas above are sound. Your vet's advice will probably include:
-Cleaning the spot where the cat is defecating, very thoroughly.
-Trying a different kind of litter: your cat may have developed sensitivities to an ingredient in the current litter.
-Cleaning the box scrupulously.
-Moving the box to the spot where the cat is currently defecating; every day, move it six inches farther from that spot until the litter box is back where it's supposed to be.

My favorite web site for animal issues is the Denver Dumb Friends League, an excellent century-old shelter in Colorado. Check out their advice on Solving Litter Box Problems.

And good luck!
Daniel

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

This is my last post to this thread.

They must have missed the word "experienced" in my post. Probably distracted by my "whiners" comment. (Cute furry pretty puppy kitty faces lost in pound put to sleep. Boo-hoo.) It's amazing how quickly some folks focus on inconsequential matters.

A professional salesperson who takes his job seriously and who works at it for several years (aka "experienced") will probably have a few good ideas. ... And with all things, you're supposed to use some good common sense of your own. If the guy says something stupid that doesn't jive with the vet's advice, you critically set it aside. I don't think I suggested trusting a 17-year-old clerk with a the name tag of "Dude!" who thinks he's being efficient by feeding the dead goldfish floaters to hungry hamsters.

But, yeah, check with your vet first. Duh.

Rudeness and snippy , insensitive comments are not appreciated by most on this board. And I happen to think that irresponsible behavior such as dumping a pet who trusts you as his caretaker at a pound is a serious matter. It's not an "inconsequential matter". It also says a lot about a person. I've found that a lot of people who get pets think of them as disposable. Well they aren't. You obviously missed the "I'm not an animal rights activist" in my posts. Too busy looking for something to make rude comments about. Sad. I feel sad for anyone who could care less about the lives and well being of their pets. That doesn't mean I'm a fanatical, crazy, card carrying member of the animal liberation front. It means I am a human being who has a heart and considers the risks and consequences of my actions. I can't stand animal rights people. But I also can't stand people who attack others with name-calling and rudeness in a public forum.

Part of me wants to ask how you'd feel if the family that loved you since you were a baby suddenly decided you didn't matter anymore and threw you into an institution and a month later, you find yourself strapped to a table with a syringe in your arm , breathing your last breath, not understanding what happened or when your family was coming back. I'd ask you that but I don't want to know your response because it would probably sicken me.

I would not give my dog up for ANYTHING. If he gets sick and makes a mess, I'll deal with it. If he starts peeing all over everything and I find out he's got an infection and is in pain, I'll try to do what I can. If the day comes where he is so ill that I choose to end his suffering, I will. But until he is terminally ill, I made a promise to him on the day I brought him home that he is a member of my family.

That's Monty. With me for life.

This is the last post I'm making to this thread because I care about and respect Enworld and my fellow gamers to get into an all out flame war about an off topic post. If the original poster would like to contact me for any advice I'd be more than happy to help.

One last note. If you meant a professional pet care expert, that is fine.
The teenage kids who work at minimum wage pet supply store jobs are not "professional sales people". They are teenage kids working at minimum wage jobs. They do not take their jobs seriously. A rare few do, but most don't. I know. I used to work with lots of them. I know plenty of awesome , responsible , smart teenages (Dave_o, for one). But most kids who work in these places do so for the money and not because they plan on going into a career in animal science.

Best of luck with the cat. Please let me know if you need anything.

Sheri

 

[Umbran]

Kahuna Burger and Djeta Thernadier:

You may have worked at pet stores that had well-informed personnel, but if so, you are in the vast minority. Is it really worth the animal's health to guess whether or not you've found the one place that gives good advice? Consider that the average pet owner can't tell the difference between good advice and bad until it is too late.

There may be exceptions to the rule, but the general guideline of "Don't talk to the pet store, do talk to the vet" is the safest bet for a person with an animal problem.

BVB:

First off - tact. No matter how much you disagree with another poster, using tact is a good thing. You may be trying to come across as forceful, confident, and knowledgeable, but what's coming across is brutish and uncaring. It doesn't help your case.

Experienced store clerks have a lot of experience selling products and taking your money. They don't have formal training. They don't take continuing education courses. They don't actually handle the animals and follow health cases on a day to day basis. In general, they simply are not qualified to dispense medical advice, no matter how well intentioned they may be.

 

[takyris]

Ditto Djeta, except that BVB's post sounded like an almost-deliberate troll, trying to toss in enough inflammatory stuff to start an argument. Also note that my opinion is completely invalidated by the fact that I'm a tree-hugging dirt-eating moon-worshipping granola-sniffing vegetarian who has dropped more than $2000 on the TeenieKitten because she enjoys eating plastic things (like the zipper-tag on my wife's purse, or a big curly section from the MIDDLE of a phone cord). I suppose it would have been more economically feasible to just get rid of the cat with the annoying and expensive personality quirk, but, well, no. They're living creatures. They have feelings. They have souls. If you feel differently, why are you reading this thread in the first place?

As for the original topic, all the advice sounds good. Only other thing I could think of is that it's something relating to that bathmat. Do you have athlete's foot or some other new condition that would make the mat smell different? My cats reacted weirdly to my wife's new shampoo -- although thankfully not in the manner you describe.

I suspect a behavioral issue, but would definitely do the vet check just to be sure.

 

[Djeta Thernadier]

Kahuna Burger and Djeta Thernadier:

You may have worked at pet stores that had well-informed personnel, but if so, you are in the vast minority. Is it really worth the animal's health to guess whether or not you've found the one place that gives good advice? Consider that the average pet owner can't tell the difference between good advice and bad until it is too late.

There may be exceptions to the rule, but the general guideline of "Don't talk to the pet store, do talk to the vet" is the safest bet for a person with an animal problem.

That's my thought exactly.

 

[Henry]

BVB, it really wasn't necessary to insult another poster to get your point across. Mercule asked for advice, and it didn't need to be turned into a flame war. If you have a problem with someone, please take it up via e-mail.

That also goes for anyone returning fire. Let's cease all insults in ANY direction.

Thanks.

Henry

 

[BVB]

Sorry I offended folks.
I guess I was sort of offended when I read this:

... remember that when you took this cat in as a kitten, you made a promise to him for life. No matter what.

Sounded like someone was equating an dumb animal's life with that of a human. Telling a pet owner that he needed to set aside his own needs for that of a 10-pound critter with a brain the size of a tennis ball. That a *promise*??? to a cat was somehow binding.

THAT offended me. I guess I should have just said so, huh?