End of my tether

Mel1970 · **Joined:** Fri May 27, 2016 1:36 pm **Posts:** 1

I've only just joined in a last ditch effort to see if there is anything I have missed, before looking for a new home for my boy. He is now 4 years old, I've had him since he was 8 weeks old (yes I know, he isn't registered and I got him too young) and he has been neutered. Having had a read at some of the posts and advice, this seems to be a fairly common problem. My issue is that he is weeing anywhere that my dogs rest/sleep and based on his other general behaviour, he is showing signs of stress. I have done the following to try and address the issue ...

Health check to make sure there is nothing physically wrong.
Bought multiple beds and set areas for him
Multiple scratch pads all over the house (rarely used - prefers the stairs)
Feliway plug ins around the house
A Calming collar
Calming drops
Feliway spray
Johnsons Calm-Eze
Royal Canin Calm dry food
I have 2 jumbo sized litter boxes and the litter I use has not changed since I got him at 8 weeks. His boxes get cleaned once a day (cleaning twice a day makes no difference ... I tried!)

He started doing this last year, but it reduced dramatically for around 3 months, however it has started again and is worse than it has ever been before. He has wee'd on my bed (he is now permanently locked out of my bedroom), the dogs beds, any cushions they have laid on and today, he wee'd on the sofa while I was out walking the dogs. This has been the final straw for me. It isn't an occasional thing anymore, he is doing this nearly every day and sometimes twice a day. I was everything using biological washing powder (no softener), but sadly my sofa won't fit in the machine so I've used a stain & odor removal spray and hope it works as the sofa is only a year old.

He is an indoor cat as although I live in a village, it has a busy road running through it and I have already lost 3 cats to the road. I have thought of letting him out so he can become an outdoor cat, but at 4 years old, and with the road, I really don't want to go down that route. I think part of his stress is being caused by the neighbours cat being out more with the warmer weather and it will taunt Archie, but coming right up to the window or door - I have now bought a cat deterrent to keep it out of the garden.

I am generally against rehoming animals (one of my dogs is a rescue), but I have reached a point where I think he might be happier in a different home as an only animal, so he has 100% of the attention.

Before I put him up for re-homing here or take him to a rescue, I thought I'd try here to see if there is anything else I could try.

Please help ...!

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

I am so sorry to hear you are considering rehoming your bengal. It appears you've tried all the right things. Most inappropriate peeing outside of the litter box is due to stress! How does your bengal get along with your doggie? Is the doggie aggressive toward the kitty or vice versa? Neighborhood cats present a huge problem. Male bengals are highly territorial and can sense an outdoor cat through walls. It sounds to me as if he does not want the dog in his space and is trying to protect his space from any neighborhood outdoor cats.

I understand your frustration. It is the WORST smell in the world. Have you thought about taking him outdoors for walks? You don't want him running freely with the busy road, but perhaps he needs more fresh air. Outdoor enclosures are terrific as well -- many are portable, and you can be creative and come up with a more permanent solution. Mine loves his outdoor enclosure and we take two walks a day.

Know that your baby does not want to do this -- something is triggering it. If you can find out what it is and solve the situation, he will stop. People rehome as a last resort. Some bengals are happier being in a home where they are the only cat with no outdoor at interference.

Google is your friend and I know there are a ton of articles online about this problem and many feature solutions that you can try. Good luck.

CMYKjill · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:38 pm **Posts:** 1838

I had a neighbor's dog that used to visit and pee on all my cat's beds. I didn't realize it was the dog doing the peeing and thought my cats did it! Once I realized what was going on the dog (and the neighbor) were not allowed in my home again. Are you sure it is the cat doing the peeing? If so, do you have any cat trees that the cat can call his own where the dogs can't go? That might help.

Clare&magic · **Joined:** Sat Oct 31, 2015 9:44 pm **Posts:** 707

Have you got lots of high up places he can call his own eg. Cat tree, cat highway.

Also if there are cats coming into the garden this is his territory and he will defend it by peeing everywhere, try blocking his view of outside, try looking to see if other cats are coming into the garden.

Get rid of anything you can that he has peed on, as it only encourages more peeing in the same place.

Tabitha · **Joined:** Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:11 pm **Posts:** 1196

What changed in the last year when the peering started? Is there an obvious trigger? Next door got a new cat, did one of your dogs arrive last year? Next doors cat seems an issue if it cleared up over the winter. I know I didn't see a local cat that bullies my two for a few months but has started showing its face in our garden again. I've got it a couple of times with a water pistol though so it hates me and runs if he sees me.

Are you spraying the areas he is peeing with feliway? Odd he pees wherever your dogs have been though? How is that relationship?

spitspot · **Joined:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:26 pm **Posts:** 734

The only other thing that I can suggest is to put his litter boxes and trees where the dogs can't get to them (baby gate?). If he does not feel safe using his litter boxes then he won't use them! I can understand your frustration. I have had a peeing bengal and it's not funny. Can you let him in your bedroom(plastic dust sheets over the bed) but not the dogs and have a litter tray in there. He needs to know he has an area to call his own that the dogs cannot get to. I love dogs just as much but cats do need territory to call their own. It sounds like stress and he is trying to mix his scent with yours by peeing on your bed. Awful but it's because he loves you :sad:

If he can't become a happy cat then maybe a home with no other pets may help. Really feel for both of you and hope it can be sorted. Put a little bowl of biscuits on the sofa where he has peed as some think they won't pee where there is food.

End of my tether

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