Nina
Belinda Sauro wrote:
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 Happiness is being owned by cats ...
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