MetaChat - I was woken at just gone 5am by ...

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04 September 2009

I was woken at just gone 5am by ... →[More:]... my cat, Lucy, peeing on the bed AGAIN. This is the second time in ten days she's done it. I know all the changes with the renovations have upset her, but dammit, this means I'll have to buy a new duvet today AND a waterproof mattress cover (which I hate because they make you sweat). I spent £800 on a new mattress, and this is the second time it's been peed on. I made a foam of oxi-clean and boiling water and rubbed that in to dry, so that should get the worst of it out. But this also means a total ban on cats in the bedroom from now on. The mattress cover is a 'just in case they get in' measure.

I have an expensive sofa on order, and I'm worried about that now too.

The cats have always used their cat flap to go outside and they don't have a litter box. I don't want to get into the habit of putting a litter box out for them at night because it'll make them lazy and more inclined to mess indoors if I take it away during the day. I am not going to have a full-time litter box.

I thought the Feliway had helped, but clearly not.

post by: essexjan at: 23:35 | 15 comments

Ugh.

I just had to bathe a cat who had crap hanging from his ass. I am not cats' number one fan right now.

posted by birdie 04 September | 23:37

How aggravating. Perhaps some kind of fabric spray guard would help?

posted by gomichild 05 September | 00:39

I know it sounds cheesy but maybe for the first month or two consider couch plastic covers?

posted by eatdonuts 05 September | 01:28

Pets are evil. Don't get me started on the battle I had with Twinkie last night. My Mom keeps a plastic shower curtain on her couch to keep it safe from the cat. You have my sympathy.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 05 September | 01:35

I was going to get one of those ugly-ass stretch fabric covers to protect the sofa from cat hair, but I think I'll also get a plastic sofa cover to go underneath, which Google tells me are easily available from removal companies. It'll be a complete pain in the arse, but until she's completely settled, it's probably a necessity for the near future.

There's more disruption to come for her, because my floor has to be replaced, so there won't be a completely settled environment for her for a little while yet, poor thing.

posted by essexjan 05 September | 02:21

Having had cats for the last 30 years...(and a couple of cats that lived to be over 20), when my cats have done anything like that, it's because either they're really mad at me, or they're sick.

Usually mad, though. Disruption of space is really difficult for animals. I know you don't want a litterbox, but perhaps rethink that until everything is settled down?

Best of luck!

posted by Dejah 05 September | 02:35

Did you know Rescue Remedy works on cats? You might want to try that, or some other earthy-crunchy cat de-stressor.

posted by Specklet 05 September | 06:52

Oh, and I'd totally hoped the rest of that sentence was "...George Clooney. He said that he wanted to make love on the bed AGAIN."

posted by Specklet 05 September | 06:54

When my cats think outside the box, I always take it as a personal failure so I'm glad to hear I'm not alone.

posted by Obscure Reference 05 September | 08:29

It sounds nuttier than a fruitcake, but your kitteh might benefit from some kitteh prozac if she's that stressed. I realize it's easy to think of them as "taking revenge" or being angry, but if the cat is peeing where she KNOWS you sleep (in your nest) then there is something wrong, just like when a dog pees in its crate out of fear or anxiety. :( I'm very sorry for you and your kitty. You COULD do an indoor box for a while, but I'm betting this is not to do with need and everything to do with just cat-anxiety.

posted by Medieval Maven 05 September | 09:41

I'll see how she gets on over the next few weeks. I'll be away at the end of September for 10 days so there'll be a lot of quiet for the cats, just a neighbour popping in to feed them every other day (they have Hill's Science Food, so every two days to top up their bowl is fine). If my bedroom door is closed, then hopefully she'll not pee on her own bed (she hasn't done so yet). If she is still upset after I get home, I'll definitely take her to the vet.

posted by essexjan 05 September | 12:46

So sorry you're dealing with this problem. I would definitely wrap the new couch in plastic for a few weeks until she's settled.

And please don't be offended when I say: Specklet FTW!

posted by jason's_planet 05 September | 12:55

When you get the new couch, put aluminum foil on the seating areas to discourage the cat from getting up on it. Hopefully you can take it off eventually when things settle down.

posted by Doohickie 05 September | 13:48

Maybe I should get her one of these. Aliens might be beaming messages to her.

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by essexjan 05 September | 14:27

Aw, poor Lucy. I hope it all settles down soon for her. And poor you for having to deal with it. Good advice up-thread (including your own!) for dealing with it.

With all the uproar here I'm surprised we haven't had any accidents. There has been some extra puking. And, alas, it's not over yet.

posted by deborah 05 September | 18:16

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