Lora,
My Cody was also a marker, he did it from the moment he stepped foot
in 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 and in your case IF you have had him
thoroughly checked (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), out to make sure it isn't a medical thing then it's
behavioral 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, and
just because you can't smell it doesn't mean Dartagnan can't smell it,
I've 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 gong 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 quite
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. He does now get somewhat along with Joey
(head kitty), and attempts to play but he still panics after a few
minutes and gets defensive, I think Joey is getting used to it although
on occasion 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 he can
tolerate. He also may possibly 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 know when you have multi cat
households and 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 letting you know there
is a problem in the only way he can.
--
Belinda
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