Should I get rid of this cat

Question

I have two cats one male and female. The male I got as a kitten in November and has been trouble. He has peed on my bed and another family member's and always gets in trouble. He is neutered, I tired punishing him by putting him in a cage, using spray water, the box is cleaned everyday, and he is healthy, what should I do? I might send him packing to the shelter. He is fixed btw. My mother and the other cat really want him to go badly, but I am confused whether to keep him or not. He is greedy, makes the litter box stink a lot more, and he has been peeing on the bed. I am in an apartment, and only place I can have my litter box is in my room!

Answer 1

Pets are like children.They will do anything to grab attention.Have patience and train him.When you are in an apartment and you want a pet ,you have to do lot of adjusting.Don't put him in a cage. That will make him more aggressive.Shower more love and care on him.Iam sure he will respond.

Answer 2

If you're not willing to provide that cat with love and patience, try and find it a good home.  All pets come with responsibility.  I think that more people should understand that.  

Answer 3

Have you tried training him to mend his manners?If you haven't then try it.And if you have and it isn't working,then send it to the humane society.Peace and fresh air will come back to your house after that.

Answer 4

Please give your cat a chance.  Litter box problems are not solved overnight and take time and patience.  He should also see a vet to rule out any medical problems.

Litter box problems are very frustrating for all.....human and feline.  Here's a link that you might find helpful:

http://www.absolutelycats.com/22LitterBo...

Here's a link to Cat Attract Kitty Litter.  Many have had success with this product:

http://www.preciouscat.com/

Good Luck!

Answer 5

Are you really asking for advice, or are you trying to get us to justify your giving the cat to a shelter?  It sounds to me like your mind is made up, but you don't want to risk that people will disapprove of your choice.

Well, I disapprove.  

You took this cat in as a kitten.  He's always been trouble, but now that he's a cat and thus, much less desirable, you want to get rid of him.

I volunteer at a no-kill shelter and let me tell you what will happen if you take this cat to a shelter.  If it's no-kill, your cat will spend most of his life in a cage, unless they can find a farm or someplace similar that will take the cat.  They will not lie to potential owners, they will have to say that the cat has a litterbox problem.  No one will want to adopt a cat who has litterbox problems.  The cat will live in a cage.  He will be fed, he will be given water.  He will not be given much attention, because there are too many cats and not enough volunteers to insure your cat gets individual attention.

Your cat will likely either become much more agressive, or very shy (we call the shy ones "cage bound") which will only add to their undesirablitiy to potential owners.

Your cat will know that at one point, life was different and life was good, but for a reason he doesn't understand, he was taken away from that life and left in a place where he's never given enough love and affection.

If the shelter is not a no-kill shelter, he will be spared a long, miserable life, because they will most likely put him down the moment his litter box troubles are known, knowing no one will want to adopt him.

A cat is not "greedy."  Yes, a cat will stink up a litterbox, but I'm sure you stink up the bathroom sometimes yourself.  The stinky litterbox can be delt with, not just by changing it, but by scooping it out every single time the cat uses it.  

As for not peeing in the box, that can be several reasons, some physical, some psychological.  Take the cat to the vet first to see if the problem is physical.  Tell the vet the cat is peeing outside the box, so he/she will do the appropriate tests.  

If the cat doesn't have a physical problem, you need to try to figure out what is upsetting the cat.  Did the other family member who's bed he peed on do something to upset the cat?  

Cats will pee or do other undesirable behavior because they are trying to tell you something is wrong.  Sadly, because they can't speak like humans, it's up to us to figure out what the problem is and fix it.  In many cases it's a matter of time spent.  Some cats need and crave a lot of attention.  Try increasing the attention you give your cat.

Try getting a cat repelent and spray it on the bed.   Many people swear by bitter apple spray as harmless to the cat, but very effective:

http://www.opentip.com/Home-Garden/Grann...

Spray the beds the cat has peed on.  In order to avoid staining the bedding, I suggest you take a couple of old blankets, spray them, and put them on the bed when the bed is not being used.  

Try different litters.  Some cats will p**p in one litter, but prefer not to pee in it.  A different litter might be more attractive to the cat.

Does the cat share a litterbox with the other?  Some cats cannot and will not share a litterbox for peeing (I know because I have a cat with this problem)  Try setting up a private litterbox in a place where only that one cat can get to.  If necessary, put the box behind closed doors, and bring the cat there several times a day to keep the other cat from finding it and using it.

Yes, I admit, I am being harsh.  However, I think if you're going to consider taking your cat to a shelter, you should know exactly what type of life you're dooming your cat to.  You took him in, is it really fair to want to give him up, just because he's not what you hoped he would be?

Ken, (person a few above me) I strongly resent your saying that even "no kill" shelters kill animals.  I can assure you the only time we have cats put down is if they are sick with something that cannot be cured for any amount of money.  We have a cat named Clyde living with us, who has more medical problems than any cat I've ever known.  We have raised money and gotten every single thing that could be done for this cat, done.  He is a perminant resident of the shelter and we will not put him down.   We don't even like putting down cats that have incurable/contageous illnesses and have harbored cats with FIV in private foster homes, until other people with FIV postive cats have come looking for another cat.  So please do not say that No kill shelters kill.  We don't unless it's the only thing that can be done for the cat.)

Answer 6

Please have him see a vet before sending him to the pound where he'll more than likely be euthanized. He may have a UTI that is causing him to pee outside the litter box and is causing his urine to have a strong odor.

Answer 7

Why in the world would you describe your cat as greedy, he is a cat he doesn't function purposely attempting to be greedy, he doesn't know any better.

It sounds to me like you want people to agree with you in that the cat should go.  Its like your mind is made up.  

Have you tried confining him to one room with his litter box or change the litter completely and try a new kind.  You also need to clean the area completely that he has been using with vinegar or such to get rid of the scent.

Give him a chance.

Answer 8

Cats do not respond to "punishment".  All this does is to confuse the poor animal, make him anxious and the anxiety will go straight to his bladder.  You need to read up about toilet training and cat behaviour in general - take a look at the site someone here has suggested - if you can be bothered.  It does rather sound as if you have already made your mind up about this cat and want to get rid of him.  You have not made one nice comment about him at all.  Do you feel any affection for him?  If not, this could be another reason why he is "trouble" as cats pick up on their owner's emotions.  

Why does your other cat want him to go?  Are they fighting?  Did you introduce them to each other properly (or did you just chuck them together?)  Is your other cat intimidating him by guarding the litter tray? Perhaps your apartment is too small for both cats to live in harmony and this is why you are getting problems.  With 2 cats you should definitely have 2 litter trays and a behaviourist would suggest 3.  

If you really WANT to save your cat from an uncertain future, do some research into the problems you have and see if you can resolve them.  By the way, cats are not generally greedy and will only eat what they need.

Answer 9

Getting rid of means KILL. Don't even say no kill shelter cause they KILL also.

Cats are not throw aways like your old clothes

The problem here is not the cat it is you. You and the people like you are the reasons millions of cats are KILLED each day for just being born. Your punishing a cat for your lacking. You are threataning to kill it cause the litterbox stinks worse?  Cauase he pees out of it?

That sure is deserving of a death sentence.

Why in h**l do people like you get pets. They are a lifetime responsibility and that means through thick and thin. That means tryiong to solve problems not punishing it when it doesn't have a clue what you are doing. But People like YOU will just have it killed and get a replacement. You make me sick