May I Present? Another Cat!

Dear Greyce, I am a shy calico female and am four years old. I have lived happily with my purrsons (Herself and Himself)  most of my life. However Herself is starting a new job and is worried that I will be lonely because she will be away from home for much of the day. (She used to work at home.) And so she will be inviting another cat to come and live with us. While the idea of having a feline companion might work for me, I'm really concerned about having my space invaded. What do you advise? Shy Simba

The Pungent Scents of Comfort. Urine Marking #2: New Humans or Pets in Your Territory.

DEALING WITH CHANGES IN TERRITORIAL PERSONNEL

Continuing with the fascinating topic of urine marking, I'm going to propose some general solutions to the problems created by changes in personnel, both human and non-human, in your territory. This includes a) the long-term or permanent addition (or deletion) of a family member (human or non-human), as well as b) temporary additions such as visitors or houseguests, c) the appearance of a stranger (usually a cat, sometimes a dog) outside your home, and d) strange or unfamiliar scents of others, brought into your home via clothing, shoes or the doormat.

The Pungent Scents of Comfort. Urine Marking #1: An Introduction

Dear Readers, Recently I've been contacted by two feline pairs (Moby and Mick; and Bear and his sister, Bailey) about similar problems. In each case, one of the pair has suddenly started a pee fest. By pee fest I mean urine marking outside the box -- either in the form of spray against vertical surfaces like walls and furnishings, or puddles against horizontal ones like bed comforters and floors. The source of the problem in both cases seems to be one of two things: the relationship between the cats in the household and/or the presence of other cats outside. So over the next few weeks, I'm going to do a series about this kind of marking and these kinds of causes.

Here is my plan. I'll start with this entry on urine marking in general:
- what it is,
- its causes,
- what distinguishes it from failure to use the litterbox, and
- why urine testing is often advised.

In my next entry on this subject, I'll discuss the biggest cause of marking: territorial threat. And then I'll take each type of territorial threat and look, in detail, at possible solutions. Another entry will be devoted to cleaning urine marks which is of no interest to any of you whatsoever, but is likely to find favour with your purrsons. I'm also looking at the possibility of doing a piece each on urine sampling and testing, and on medications used to deal with marking. And finally, I'll show you how to develop an action plan should you need one.

The No Spray Scare

Dear Greyce, 

I am a contented, seven-year-old cat with a habit that scares people who don't know me. I like to lift my back leg and shake it around a like I am about to spray -  the wall or door or whatever I am around. I have never, ever actually sprayed. By the way, I am a devoted user of my litterbox.

New people who see me in the act are afraid of what I may be doing. 

Could you help me explain my habit to purrsons? 

Here's hoping you can help, 
Catie

When Your Purrson Hates Litterboxes - Part 11 of Litterbox Blues

Dear Greyce, I am a Russian Blue senior who is fearless and affectionate. I live with a dog, a human child and a purrson. Recently we've moved from a cabin in the woods to another home just a short walk away. At my old place, I would use the outdoors as my litterbox via a very convenient cat door. At the new place, there was no cat door for a few weeks; my purrson left a window open instead, in the hopes I'd use that as the means by which to access the outdoors. But frankly, I was not amused. I peed in her shoes and on the door mat. The dog thinks my stools are a snack, so ate that evidence.

I now have a litterbox beside my new cat door. I love that litterbox. I use it faithfully. But here's the problem: My purrson hates litterboxes. She wants me to pee and poop outdoors and I no longer want to. I want to use my litterbox. Sometimes she hides it, to 'encourage' me to use the outdoors instead; but then I just pee in her shoes. She is really getting ticked off with me. What am I doing wrong? Saidie the Litterbox Lady