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On the eve of her very first birthday, our Ruby Roo is presenting me with a behavior issue that I would like to throw open to the experts for advice:
It all started in July. Clara moved out on July 5th. Norman went to the Rainbow Bridge on July 11th. Shortly afterwards (within a week or so), Ruby began having litter issues. She started peeing in Charlie's beds. She peed on the bathroom floor. She was unapologetically, willfully going wherever she pleased.
With a lot of reassurance, some scrubbing, and a dose of lemon juice, I thought we had moved past this. Ruby thought again.
Over the weekend, it started again. I can pinpoint two recent changes in her life...
1. The bravest of the foster kittens have been allowed limited excursions into the main house. She doesn't seem to have an issue with either Garnet or Maxie, although she clearly shows more interest in whatever Garnet happens to be doing. Ruby mostly disappears when they are out and returns later when the coast is clear. The second change could be a bit more challenging:
2. My husband came home. For those who are new here, my husband is an active duty Air Force officer who was transferred out of state when Ruby was a newborn by the name of Willie Rae living in the upstairs bathroom. Ruby does NOT do well with strangers. She typically runs and hides whenever someone to whom she is not "related" comes into the house. My dad visited for an entire week in May and only saw her twice as she slunk as quickly through the room as possible in her attempt to evade notice. Roo is not so dramatic around my husband. She'll come out into the open, but is clearly skittish and distrusts his intentions. It's a little suspicious that she restricts her "acting out" to our bedroom and bathroom. I'm afraid Ruby thinks that he is coming between us.
He's gone again for another month, so I guess I'll get my answer if her poor behavior stops. But help me out experts... How do I get her to stop? I know what to do to clean it up, but I'm having difficulty reassuring her in order to avoid the behavior to begin with. And I've got to tell you... I don't see any way to get his cooperation in keeping another kitten if the last one I kept continues stinking up the bedroom. Not that I'm considering anything of the sort. Or perhaps I am. That will just have to be our secret for now.
I'll be back tomorrow with a very special birthday edition.
Don't use any Citrus!!! That makes a cat want to cover it up worse. Use white vinegar instead. She could be acting out or being having a UTI or bladder issues. Or she might not like the cat litter.
ReplyDeleteShe only does it during times of upheaval, so I'm relatively certain that it's not medical. It seems to come and go with the stress. Most days she does just fine with the litter, although I'm ready to give the Cat Attract brand a try to encourage her more.
DeleteWhew, this makes me glad that Ashton just acts afraid of my husband and not territorial. Never thought I'd say "glad she acts afraid of him!"
ReplyDeleteWhere are your litter boxes? And where does Ruby hang out when your husband is home? If she has to walk near or even past the scary man to get to her litter box, that's not going to help her feel inclined to go there. Never underestimate the "scary man" factor with timid cats.
Her preferred hiding spot when she's scared is under my bed. So her acting out when he's in there isn't surprising. If she's in there, which is normal, then she would have to cross him to get to the litter boxes (which are in the laundry room)
DeleteIt might be worthwhile to block off that hiding spot. I'm assuming she isn't (hopefully) peeing under the bed, but if she isn't able to cower there, she might become friendlier? And I totally second all the suggestions that your hubby feeds her, gives her treats, that sort of thing. Make him into the Friendly Food Dude. :)
DeleteKelly, didn't your children go back to school recently? if so, this is the second big upheaval in a short while for her. (I don't have any kids, but I see a lot of articles with titles about how stressful back-to-school is for pets.) Also, you are more stressed, even though its GOOD stress, so she may be feeding off that a little. Is there any way in your crazy, hectic life you could set up a daily "Ruby & Mom" time just for the two of you? So she has a little routine?
ReplyDeleteWe once had a very neurotic cat and for at LEAST six months after our other cat died my husband and I each had an assigned "petting post" - a special place each one of us had to set and pet him each morning before we were allowed to leave the house. NOT his normal thing before that at all.
As for the scary man? Well. maybe if he sits and is the provider of a special treat or toy he'll become the special man!
She's a year old but that is still a baby to me!!
Kids went back to school today, so that hasn't been a factor but I suppose it might be soon. Oy.
DeleteOf course, it may be a good thing, not having those pesky kids around! Roo and Mommy can watch TV when Mommy isn't working ;)
DeleteI'd give the Cat Attract a try, and maybe add another litter box (in the bathroom, if there's room and isn't already a litter box there). I like Too Curious's suggestion of having dedicated Ruby time.
ReplyDeleteIf none of that works, you might want to talk to your vet about Prozac. After literally YEARS of a spraying issue in our house (I was starting off every morning walking around with cleaner and the black light looking for sprays. It's a fun way to start off the day!), we put two cats on Prozac several months ago, and it was like turning off a faucet. I can actually leave a pillow on the couch without fear that it'll be sprayed.
(I don't leave a pillow on the couch, because I'm so gunshy at this point. But I have a couple of times, by accident, and NO SPRAYING.)
It looks like one of our sprayers will need to stay on Prozac and the other is currently being weaned off it with no problems. If I'd realized how well Prozac would work for us, I wouldn't have spent so long putting up with the behavior.
Also, what about your husband feeding her whenever he's around -- or would that be too scary for the puir wee girl? Very distressing for everyone concerned. Here's hoping the above ideas work: Ruby is a special girl.
ReplyDeletethat is one sultry look Ruby..
ReplyDeleteSo have you taken her to a vet to rule our urinary crystals? Stress absolutely positively brings out medical issues - cats are that sensitive! Also about a year is about the time that cats that are going to have to deal with crystal start dealing with them for the first time..
Take her to the vet. Have them get a urine sample. MAKE SURE that if they give you antibiotics they have actually seen a bacterial infection. Most cases of crystals are sterile (meaning no infection present) and vets prescribe them anyway because it makes the owner feel better to do something. Do NOT allow them to give the antibiotic injection.
Trying to fix a medical issue as if it were behavioral will just confuse everyone. Since she is a year now, it is just about time for her to go back to the vet anyway. Better to be sure it is not medical then assume it isn't and fight a losing battle. (and there are far better options then prescription food, so don't take that either..)
Kelly-Ugg! Remember when Oreo did the whole peeing on my loveseat thing? We took her to the vet and there were no medical issues. I posted here and at Robyn's site and everyone said Cat Attract so we got that. We cleaned with citrus but that didn't work (Dawn and vinegar works much better!) So she used the Cat Attract and I thought things were fine (except for my loveseat) but then she did it again a while later. What I ended up putting together is that it was when my parents came to stay. #1) they also have a female cat #2) she doesn't really get along with them perfectly #3) they sleep on the pullout couch which is where she USED to sleep
ReplyDeleteWe've mostly gotten her to now sleep on a different couch in our living room but I think she gets stressed because her world gets up-ended. I also have put some upturned lasagna (cheapy foil) pans over the area where she was peeing. Cat's Pride is the litter she is comfortable with now(the Cat Attract was too expensive). It's got a very sandy texture and scoops instantly so I like it too. She hasn't tried to go anywhere else, but my parents are due to return in October. She was fine last week when the kids started back up to school. Best wishes and let us know what works or what you decide to do.
I'm pretty sure it's one of two things, both surrounding my husband. She either feels trapped in the bedroom (which is where she hides when strangers arrive) or she's expressing her displeasure at him being in "our" room ;)
DeleteNot a drop out of place since he left. We'll have to figure out how to get him to make friends.
I'm afraid that I don't have any words of wisdom on the peeing issue...
ReplyDelete... but yes indeed, Clara DID move out on July 5th -- and as the very lucky beneficiary of this move, I feel a bit complicit in the ensuing upheaval for Ruby! However, Clara continues to do really well... I love my dear girl to bits, and I cannot believe how lucky I am to have her :)
Good luck with the Ruby issue!!
Clara finding a forever home was just one of Ruby's issues. It's the combination (mostly Norman, who was having "issues" himself in his advanced age and illness... she probably thought it was completely acceptable). I'm pretty sure at this point that her problem is my husband. She's a flighty little scardey cat, which you know all too well, and she just needs to learn to appreciate him.
DeleteAnd I cannot believe how lucky our Clara is to have found you!