Conference misery::feline_v1

    Fran,
    
    The first thing to do is to clean that carpet! If she smells where
    she did it before, she will go back and do it again. There are lots
    of products on the market to kill the smell and replace it with 
    something she doesn't like the smell of. I've got some spray stuff
    
    from Betterware which works well, but you have to buy that direct.
    I saw some new stuff in Savacentre yesterday - try that. Any good
    pet shop will stock something.
    
    Try blocking off the area that she uses. Put down tin foil or plastic
    cos they don't like it. There are lots of notes on this subject
    in here - try doing a keyword search.
    
    Hope this helps.
    
    
    Lisa.
    

    
    Fran......
    
    Snuggly fitting cork and get rid of Geoff.....
                 :+')
    gues Who....?

    Also, try adding another catbox.  This has always been the way I've
    known when the addition of a new cat also meant I needed a new catbox.
    I realize that she's not a new cat and you haven't added a new cat,
    but try it anyway.
    
    Also, you might want to check her for a urinary track infection.  It
    sounds like that probably isn't the problem, but that should always
    be your first thought when a cat starts refusing to use the box.
      
    Good luck.  We're going through this right now with one of ours
    and I know it is just horrible!
      Nancy DC
    
    
    p.s. Someone suggested using baking soda to clean up the spill.  She
    said to sprinkle it over the wet urine and let it sit for a bit then
    vacuum it up.  If the area is already dry you might try wetting it
    again with water and then using the baking soda.  
      I'd follow it up with a product designed to get rid of urine odor.

    Baring a physical problem (or the need for another or cleaner cat box),
    I'd say that the cat might be tryingto get back a t you for staying out
    late. You might just want to try giving her some extra special
    attention and spending a bit more time with her, although it does sound
    like you've been trying to do that.
    
    Cleaning the carpet is important; you might want to have it steam
    cleaned (be sure to tell the cleaners about the cat urine as they can
    add some stuff to the cleaning solution). You might have to get rid of
    the carpet. The way I stopped the problem in my house was to rip up the
    old wall-to-wall. Unfortunatly, when I adopted a 6 year old feral,
    Spiro, the problem started again. 
    
    A final solution would be to talk to your vet about something like
    Ovaban or Depo_Provera (note 3451). Monday night I took Spiro to the vet
    and we wound up putting him on a mild dosage. I haven't seen any incidents
    of spraying since. 
    
    You  might also want to check the keywords "SPRAYING".

    (1) Have the cat checked for a urinary tract problem.
    (2) clean the carpet, either professionally or try a product like Nature's
        Miracle.
    (3) scrupulous care of cleaning the litter box.
    (4) extra attention to make up for their feeling neglected.
    (5) If someone has to leave, get rid of Geoff, not the cats.
    

    "(5) If someone has to leave, get rid of Geoff, not the cats."
    
    Goodness, we are merciless on the unsympathetic partners, aren't
    we?  (tee hee)
    

    
    nancy...
    
    one must have one's priorities straight in this world, n'est-ce pas?
    ;-)
    
    diane & the dynamic duo

    One of my Persians has been doing the same thing off and on for the
    past couple of months.  I got some information from the vet with all
    kinds of suggestions on treating it and reasons for the cat doing it. 
    I tried most of them, including putting foil in the areas that I knew
    she went on after cleaning these areas well.  She then tried a new area
    nearby the foil.  I can't carpet my entire 3 floors in foil, and I have
    wall-to-wall light beige carpeting throughout.  I finally decided to
    try the Everclean litter in just one litterbox, thinking maybe she's
    decided she doesn't like the texture of the clay litter.  This seems
    too have done the trick, or at least I have seen her using the
    litterbox with the Everclean in it.  My problem is she is a very small
    cat and goes a very small amount at a time (I did have her checked for
    an infection at the vets) and she may have gone in places I haven't
    seen and I wouldn't necessarily see it.  I haven't noticed any odors in
    my home so far so hope this isn't the case.  The Everclean litter may
    be worth a try anyhow.

    re: 5, 6, 7
    
    
     Love me - Love My Cat (Cat'S'S'S'S'S'S'S) (am I pushing my luck??)
    
    E.T.

    Thanks for the suggestions so far. As yet, there isn't really a
    solution here that I haven't already tried.
    However, we are getting a new carpet for the hall ina couple of
    weeks, so maybe that will solve the problem, and get rid of 'her'
    smell so she won't be able to sniff it out and do it again.
    
    If it doesn't work, the choice between Geoff or the cats will be
    a hard one, and not one that I will make lightly !
    I think I'll have to make a list of all the pros and cons of them
    all and decide from there :-)
    
    Fran, Rusty and Lily.
    

    Fran -
      as an intermediate solution, you might try confining her to one
    room with a box and food when you are not around to supervise her.
    At least then if she urinates outside the box the damage will
    be confined to one room. 
      Nancy DC

    Nancy, thanks for the suggestions. Unfortuantly we only have 5 rooms,
    as we live in a one bedroom flat, and she does only ever do it in
    the hall, but due to the size of our flat it doesn't take long for
    the smell to drift through all the rooms.                     
    
    Fran, Rusty and lily.
    

    RE: .5, .6, .7-priorities are priorities, but consider the following:
    
    A cat-1)only wants some affection, food, and a clean litter box
          2)gives back affection in large amounts
          3)is entertaining
          4)is reasonably loyal, though interestingly independent
          5)doesn't borrow the car
          6)doesn't sue you for support
          7)doesn't spend money on clothes
          8)doesn't nag too bad
          9)keeps you company when you don't feel well
         10)cleans up food she drops on the floor
    
    Given the above, the cat should stay!
    
    Eric

    >Thanks for the suggestions so far. As yet, there isn't really a
    >solution here that I haven't already tried.
    
    Did you have your vet prescribe either Ovaban or Depo-Provera?
    
    Deb

    When the old carpet is taken up, treat the floor underneath with
    something like Nature's Miracle to remove the urine odor which
    has undoubtedly gotten into the floor, before you put the new
    carpet down.