Belinda,
I have already tried to get a prescription for
Fluoxetine (kitty Prozac) or Fluvoxamine (a stronger
anti-depressant than Fluoxetine) from any of the four
(4) veterinarians who are involved with Dartagnan's
case, but they are extremely leery to prescribe any of
the medications that I have suggested.
One (1) veterinarian in particular told me that he
absolutely would not, under ANY circumstance, write a
prescription for either one (1) of those drugs. He
accused me of literally taking the anti-depressants
myself and that I was using my cat as an excuse to get
a hold of the medication!
I told him that was a false and insane accusation! I
have never heard of anything more absurd in my life!
Cat medications (of any kinds) would be lethal to
human consumption and vice versa.
At the very least, the anti-depressants would have no
affect on a human due to the severe body weight
difference. The prescriptions are based and CAT'S body
weight NOT a human's; therefore, the medication would
be an extremely lower dosages compared to a
prescription written by a Ph.D. for a human.
The veterinarian became extremely argumentative after
I told him this. According to him, I was NOT supposed
to know such things being how HE was the veterinarian
and I was NOT; therefore, I was not qualified in such
matters.
To hell with that! I am Dartagnan's mother! I know him
better than anyone, including the veterinarians. I
know when my kid is not feeling well and I know what
is best for him! I wanted to work WITH the
veterinarian, NOT tell him how to do his job! I needed
a professional who was willing to work with ME and my
kid NOT argue with me.
"If you are hell bent of getting any unnecessary
anti-depressants for this cat, it will NOT be through
MY practice! This case is off of my conscience."
"Besides," he continued, "what you are doing is a form
of animal abuse. Twelve (12) cats in one (1) house is
the worse form of animal abuse there is and I could
easily report you for violation of city ordinance for
being a hoarder."
I told him he can report me to anyone he saw fit, but
it would not do much good. His veterinary practice was
in one (1) county and I resided in another. Not only
that, but I resided in the COUNTY not the city, which
released me of any possible "city ordinance" as they
did not pertain to my area of location! I am
definitely NOT a hoarder!
With that, he hung up on me! He has officially been
resigned as Dartagnan's veterinarian.
So, that explains why Dartagnan's current medications
are not working. He needs a stronger prescription, but
no veterinarian is willing to fill it.
As far as cleaning supplies/solutions, honey I have
them all! :)
1.) Bissesll Pet Oder and Soil: Removal formula.
Contains Scotchgard (for carpets and upholstery.)
2.) Woolite: One Step with FibraPure Odor Eliminator.
Foam Carper Cleaner.
3.) Woolite: Fabric and Upholstery. Foam Cleaner.
Removes stains and odors.
4.) Woolite: Pet Carpet Cleaner. Foam Cleaner. Cleans
and freshens entire carpet.
5.) Carpet Fresh: Super Pet. Neutralizes Pet Odors.
No vacuum foam carpet refresher
6.) Carpet Fresh: No Vacuum Foam Carpet Cleaner
Apple Cinnamon
7.) Nature's Miracle: Stain and order Remover.
8.) Nature's Miracle" Just For Cats Stain and Odor
Remover.
9.) Simple Solution Cat Spray & Urine Stain & Odor
Remover
10.) Proforce: Carpet Extraction Cleaner (commercial
strength.)
11.) Kirby: Carpet Shampoo
12.) Hoover Steam Vac: Carpet/Upholstery
13.) Glade: County Garden Carpet and Room Deodorizer
14.) Glade: Potpourri Carpet and Room Springtime
15.) Glade: Potpourri Carpet and Room Cinnamon
Just to name a few.
Dartagnan is two (2) years old. I have had him the
entire time... for two (2) years. I have no clue HOW
the spraying started or why, but it has been a
continued problem for two (2) years.
To my knowledge he gets along fine with the other
kitties. Due to his robust size most of the other kids
simply avoid him. Plus, eight (8) out of the twelve
(12) are declawed.
NOTE: Just for the record. I rescued them in the
CONDITION. I did NOT have a declaw surgery performed!
Therefore, if his size is not intimidating then I
imagine his claws are.
But it does not make any sense! Dartagnan is the
biggest kitty and HAS his claws intact then the OTHER
kids SHOULD be spraying, NOT him! Why would he need to
spray if no one is willing to pick a fight with him?
Belinda, I agree with you about NOT killing an animal
due to behavioral problems, but to what extent? I have
already spent close to $12,000 in repairs as it is.
Where do pet guardians draw the line?
No, separating Dartagnan to his own room is not an
option. With twelve (12) indoor kitties they need
access to every room for ample living space. Besides,
by closing him off, will close off some of the litter
boxes and that only escalates the problem.
For now, his is confined to his own "Kennel Crate" in
the living room.
I have been looking for a no-kill animal
shelter/sanctuary in surrounding states for the past
year, but all are full at the moment.
When I inform the individual, over the phone, that
Dartagnan is positive for Feline Herpes they do not
what him regardless if there was vacancy or not. He
poses a threat to the other cats who are negative to
Feline Herpes.
I am running out of options.
Lora
--- Belinda Sauro <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Lora,
My Cody was also a marker, he did it from the moment
he stepped footfin the house. He did have certain
spots but other than that my story is similar to
yours. Some days he would mark 2 or 3 times a day.
Marking is a very hard thing to deal with. In your
case, IF you have had him thoroughly checked out to
make sure it is not a medical issue (I don't know that
blood tests alone would detect all the things that can
cause this, it might be a question for our newest
member Dr. Susan) then it's a behavioral issue and
very hard to figure out.
Cody also was on about 4 different medications, the
three you mentioned and fluxotine, and we tried
feliway, rescue remedy, praying and God only knows
what else.
The medication called fluxotine (not sure that's
spelled right) is what finally worked, it took me over
a year to figure it out, it was the last
medication we had to try. It is also referred to as
kitty prozac.
Cody had kitty hierarchy issues and had no clue how to
get along with other cats, then to top that off he
aggravated my mellowest guy Fred who then decided he'd
had enough and started fighting back still to this day
they are wary of each other.
The first thing is you have to be absolutely sure the
smell is gone. Just because you can't smell it doesn't
mean Dartagnan can't smell it.
I have been told you have to thoroughly soak the
effected area with a kitty urine smell and stain
remover and let it air dry. I would do it several
times since this has been going on for so long. I use
Simple Solution from Foster & Smith, I buy it in the
gallon size and use it to clean puke messes and
actually shampoo my carpets with it when I shampoo
them.
If your positive there are no cats outside causing his
territorial behavior then it is one or more of the
cats inside he is having issues with. Watch how they
interact it shouldn't be hard to figure out. You
say he was equally accepted by your other kitties but
that doesn't mean (for whatever reason) he didn't like
someone or felt insecure around one or more of the
kitties.
Cody was not attacked or bothered in any way
other than the other cats would go up to him to sniff
at him. He immediately felt he was being attacked and
would get defensive and this of course confused the
resident cats and after a few incidents of this
they decided to fight back.
Does he get into little skirmishes with anyone, it
could be something as simple as walking by someone and
grouching. Cody and Fred to this day play the I don't
like you game and take turns going after each other.
Yet they can sit two feet away and eat peacefully, and
on most occasions just ignore each other. But on some
days they are keeping a close eye on each other.
When did the problem start? How long have you had
Dartagnan, has he always done this?
I've a had Cody going on three years now. It took over
a year to get him on the correct medicine and almost 6
to 8 months before he had quit spraying altogether.
I also put Fred on it because by then they
definitely had a thing between them. I took both of
them off after Cody hadn't marked in months and so far
he is doing good.
I have caught him twice but that's been in over a
years time and it has always been after he and Fred
(or KC) are having a particular bad day picking on
each other. My KC also occasionally goes after him, so
he has his problems.
I know if he is doing it it is not often because I
don't smell it, and while I'm not happy about him
doing it at all, I can deal with 2 or 3 times a year.
Cody is the biggest cat we have, he's part Maine Coon
but he is still a big chicken. Today he does
"somewhat" get along with Joey (head kitty), and
attempts to play, but he still panics after a few
minutes and becomes defensive.
I think Joey is getting used to it. Although, on some
occasions it throws him for a loop and he reacts, but
for the most part when it happens he runs away and
play time is over.
I have to say I absolutely do not agree with killing a
cat because of something that for them is quite
natural. Is there no possible way to keep him
separate? Marking is one of the hardest things to deal
with and the number 1 reason kitties are taken to the
pound and killed.
Maybe he could be let out to live outside with the
outdoor kitties you take care of.
If you can't resolve it then maybe you could try to
find a sanctuary that can keep him separate or with
one or two other cats that he can tolerate.
Also, he may do well in a household that has no
other cats, maybe one that has a dog but no cats, or
one with no other pets.
There is definitely something going on with between
Dartagnan and one or more of the kitties inside. It is
well known when you have multi-cat household
(especially when you get over 5 or 6 cats) if your not
having marking problems your very lucky. We've had up
to 8 cats at one time and Cody is the first I've ever
had a problem with (we have 6 kitties now.)
I hope you can resolve this with out killing
Dartagnan. I know how frustrating it is. I had my
days with Cody, but killing him was never an
option. He is a cat and he is being a cat. He is just
letting you know there is a problem in the only way he
can.
--Belinda
Happiness is being owned by cats ...
--- Lora <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Okay group, this is a matter of life and death. No
joke! If Dartagnan does not completely and
successfully quit spraying I have no choice but to
relinquish him into the care of the local county
Humane Society and have him euthanized.
This is an extremely emotional decsion for me to make
since I am completely anti-PTS! I absolutley do not
believe in euthanasia. After Peeper passed it was
enough trauma for me.
But my house is traumatized! It is completley ruined
and beyond restoration. Nothing and I mean absolutely
nothing is sacred to Dartagnan!
He spays electrical, metal, plastic, carboard, wood,
fabric, and even glass! I have lost hundreds of
thousands of dollars replacing the soiled items.
ELECTRICAL:
He sprays, my electric outlets i.e. plug-ins and phone
jacks! I have electrical shorts in the phone line as
well as with the appliances. Smokes just rolls out the
outlets!
METAL:
He sprays my dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, the
metal storm doors, door HINGES themselves, portable
heaters, the oven, even the actual stove top and the
water heater! He actally even extinguished the pilot
light! I literally had no hot water for two (2) days
and never understood why!
PLASTIC:
He sprays my kitchen trash can, recycle bin, laundray
hanpers, the exterior of the litter boxes, any small
plasic applicance on the counter top i.e. the coffee
maker, tea maker, toaster, blinder, etc. and plastic
bags. When I return home from the grocery store I have
to literally race to empty the bags and put them away
before he gets to them! (It is the same with brown
paper bags!)
CARDBORD:
He sprays on brown paper grocery bags, cat houses that
are designed out of "cardboard", boxes and Coke/Pepsi
cases! I have to break them down and put the
boxes/cases in the recycle bin before he get to those
too.
WOOD:
My lower kitchen cabinets are a joke! Not only that
but he sprays table and chair legs, wooden doors and
PANELS! The doorway thresholds are not immune to his
attacks! Forget about having any wooden furniture this
house! Curio/China cabinets, bookcases, Grandfather
clocks, armoires, antiques, hutches and T.V./stereo
entertainment centers all ruined. All have either been
replaced or thrown out. The acid in the urine has
literlly eaten away the varnish and the brown sticky
liquid has seeped into the carpet staining the fabric!
FABRIC:
The carpet is unsalvageable! The spray has gotten into
the actaul carpet pad and has soaked into the wooden
floor beneath. I even had new capet installed only to
have to that ruined too! The installers even applied
Kilz paint primer over the original wood floor before
installing the new carpet. No luck!
My curtains and upholstery are completely destroyed!
My couch/sofa, love seat, recliners will never be the
same! I had the fabric furniture professionally
steamed upholstered and then had then wrapped in
plastic. Once the plastic was professionally
installed, I had slipcovers fitted for each
inidividual piece. Now when he sprays, I simply take
the slipcoves off and throw them in the washing
machine, but doing this every one (1) to three (3)
months has worn out my washing maching! I had to
finally break down and purchase a new one (1) last
month! :(
GLASS:
Dartagnan sprays my glass windows when he jumps on the
kitchen counter at night, the windows beside the front
and back door, any glass installed in the wood
furniture and even pitcure frames! When he climbs on
the cat tree-towers he literally sprays was walls and
anything hanging on them!
I know that feline inappropriate elimation and soiling
is the number one (1) problem with pet oweners, but
this is ridiculous! He has managed to "mark" and/or
destroy every piece of household funiture that I own
in two (2) years!
I have twelve (12) indoor cats. Dartagnan is the
youngest. He is two (2). He was netured at four (4)
months old and was equally and easily accepted by all
the others.
There are thirteen (13) litter boxes throughout the
entire house, all in which are easily accessible. They
are all located away from windows/doors and are in
quiet places within the house. Food and water bowls
are NOT in the same locations as the litter boxes.
All thirteen (13) litter boxes are hooded types (I
tried the litter "pans" but he personally did not like
those.) So I switched back to the origianl hooded
version.
All of the litter boxes are scooped twice a day and
are hand washed and sterilized once a month.
I have tried every bran of cat litter known to man,
clay, scoop, non-scoop, paper, corn/wheat based, ect.
and non seem to work. Currently, I am using Tiny Cats
Scoopable version. It has been the most successful
thus far (and that is NOT saying much!)
I have tried adding MORE litter to the boxes, then
taking some out. Some cats like them deep while others
like them shallow. Dartagnan does not seem to care
either way. He still continues to spray regardless.
He has had a diagnostic laboratory urinalysis and
urine culture performed once a year. All have come
back negative!
He has been on Baytril, Clindamycin and Doxycycline
for "possible" bacterial infections.
Plus, he has been on Clomipramine a.k.a. Clomicalm,
Amitriptyline and Buspirone a.k.a. buspar for behavior
displacement and/or territorial aggression to no
avail. Even all doped up, not be able to walk
straight, he somehow still manages to spray!
The house itself is a one (1) and a half story Cap Cod
style with ample room for each individual cat. I
reside in the county on six (6) acres of land and
there are NO outside strays or litters lingering
about!
I do TAR a.k.a. Trap-Alter-Return that is privately
and independally funded out of my own pocket;
therefore, once the alterations are completed the
strays/ferals are released back outside on the
PERIMETER of the land where they are fed ELSEWHERE.
I immedately shower and wash my clothes upon handling
these cats in order to reduce if not eliminate their
smell entirely from being brought into the house.
The only two (2) things that I have not yet done is
contact an animal behaviorist or an animal
communicator, but with all the money that I am
investing in household repairs, diagnostic laboratory
vet bills, medications and cleaning supplies, I have
no more disposable income for a two-hundred dollar
session with an animal behaviorist or animal
communicator!
Not only that, but these individuals informed me via a
free telephone consualtion (thank god) that they would
need to see Dartagnan on several out-patient visits
due to the severe natual of the circumstance AND to
"probably" set up sessions with the other eleven (11)
individually!
WHAT! two-hundred dollars per cat for an average of
five (5) consecutive visits a piece! That is $12,000
dollars! IMPOSSIBLE! Who has that kind of money?!
Besides, I have already spent close to that in the
refurbishing of the house, supplies, veterinarian
bills, etc.
What the hell am I going to do?! Anyone want a cat?
Lora
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