ask Psychic Cat. maybe he can help

thank you guys for your suggestions

petfinder called my cat a bow with claws that needs to be fixed...they mixed up cats cause she is fixed and front declawed

JustErin said:

Maybe she's sick, a UTI perhaps. I would have her checked out by a vet first.

Yeah, that is what I was going to say. My neighbors cat pissed outside its litter box when it had a UTI.

http://www.nativeremedies...cats.shtml

[Edited 12/4/10 22:24pm]

Buy lots of laundry detergent... and some toys for your kitty. May I recommend letting lose a few hamsters in your home while you are out.

All good advice. She may be ill, or she may just be mad at you (I had to stop myself from saying pissed off). But I think they may sell a spray that's meant to deter them from peeing where you don't want them to go. I'm not 100% positive on that, but I think they do. I'm just thankful none of my cats have ever done this, because they'd be finding a new home if it didn't stop REAL quick.

Rub it's nose in the pee so it learns not to do that.

Don't let your pet on your bed.

luv4u said:

Rub it's nose in the pee so it learns not to do that.

Don't let your pet on your bed.

This is terrible advice as it does nothing to deter unwanted behaviour. It's just cruelty in it's most ignorant form.

JustErin said:

luv4u said:

Rub it's nose in the pee so it learns not to do that.

Don't let your pet on your bed.

This is terrible advice as it does nothing to deter unwanted behaviour. It's just cruelty in it's most ignorant form.

That's what you do to puppies so they learn not to do it. I've seen some owners do that and it works.

luv4u said:

JustErin said:

This is terrible advice as it does nothing to deter unwanted behaviour. It's just cruelty in it's most ignorant form.

That's what you do to puppies so they learn not to do it. I've seen some owners do that and it works.

It does sometimes work with dogs if you "give them the scent" and then take them outside until they go there. I'm not sure it would work with a cat, though (I don't know that, but I don't think it would).

luv4u said:

JustErin said:

This is terrible advice as it does nothing to deter unwanted behaviour. It's just cruelty in it's most ignorant form.

That's what you do to puppies so they learn not to do it. I've seen some owners do that and it works.

That's what ignorant people do, and no it doesn't work. It's a form of animal abuse.

Sorry, you're wrong.

JustErin said:

luv4u said:

That's what you do to puppies so they learn not to do it. I've seen some owners do that and it works.

That's what ignorant people do, and no it doesn't work. It's a form of animal abuse.

Sorry, you're wrong.

I disagree with you quite strongly. It depends on how you do it. If you angrily stuff their face in it and don't take them outside there's not point. If you just put their nose to the scent and then take them outside until they go again it's a strong training tool that works quite well with some dogs.

Cerebus said:

JustErin said:

That's what ignorant people do, and no it doesn't work. It's a form of animal abuse.

Sorry, you're wrong.

I disagree with you quite strongly. It depends on how you do it. If you angrily stuff their face in it and don't take them outside there's not point. If you just put their nose to the scent and then take them outside until they go again it's a strong training tool that works quite well with some dogs.

Any animal behaviourist will tell you it is ineffective and a form of abuse...working in the animal field for several years, I've worked closely with dog behaviourists.

Just google "does rubbing dog's nose in pee work" and see what the reputable experts (not to mention animal rights groups/humane societies) say.

Just one example.

Common mistakes

One traditional method of punishment - rubbing the dog's nose in its own mess - is particularly counter-productive. As noted above, dogs and wolves have a natural urge to defecate where the rest of their pack does. They locate the spot by scent; this is why dogs will generally spend some time sniffing the ground before they relieve themselves. Thus, rubbing the dog's nose in its urine or feces actually reinforces to the dog that it should continue eliminating in that particular spot.

Another HUGE mistake people make.

Another extremely common mistake is for owners to punish a dog for eliminating in the house when they have not actually caught the dog in the act. If the owner finds a mess on the floor and goes to find the dog and scold it, the dog will believe it is being punished for whatever it was doing when the owner found it. Dogs are totally incapable of associating the punishment with their earlier actions, even if their owner drags them to the mess and points it out to them. Punishing a dog when it cannot understand what the punishment is for only makes it confused and upset, possibly creating entirely new behavioral problems.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...sebreaking

Like I said, I'm not talking about rubbing their nose in it. Especially not with any stress of anger involved on the part of the owner. I've seen people physically force their dogs nose/face into the ground while seething with anger - that does no good at all. But I've had success with calmly showing a puppy it's "mess" (no matter what it is, taking it outside until it goes again (either way) and then rewarding it. And no offense, but dog (and animal) "behaviourists" can suck it. They're not dogs (or animals), they don't know what a dog is thinking. They're just guessing like the rest of us.

It's ok. I have a hard time admitting when I am wrong as well.

JustErin said:

It's ok. I have a hard time admitting when I am wrong as well.

Actually, you have a hard time admitting somebody else may be right, but I still love ya. In case you didn't notice, I did partially agree with you. Otherwise...

Seriously though, how can anybody honestly believe that any human being knows whats going on in an animals head. They learn by repitition and some are more intelligent and/or stubborn than others.

Keyumdi said:

Keep your bedroom door closed.

My dog who used to be the best dog in the world has gotten old and senile. She now lets go on the carpet right in front of me. Poor thing. Not one year ago she would have been completely embarrassed about having gone in the house.

Take your dog to the vet! She might be sick. Seriously. I had a cat that would get these bladder infections and would pee outside the box. I was talking on the telephone in my living room and Doris squatted right in front of me, let out a scream and starting peeing directly on the carpet. I could see bright red blood in her urine. It actually looked like she was peeing blood. I immediately hung up on the person I was talking to, scooped her up and put her in her carrier and to the emergency vet. Yep, bladder infection. She would get them a few times during her life. So I always believe that if an animal pees or defecates right in front of you, it's trying to tell you it's sick.

Some folk might be "pissed off" when animals mess up carpets and furniture. They shouldn't be pet owners if they value their possessions more than their animals. Carpet and furniture can be replaced, and I guess some will feel so can the animal, but when you love your animals unconditionally, it's not that important; at least not to me. The carpet was cleaned, no harm, no foul.

Cerebus said:

JustErin said:

It's ok. I have a hard time admitting when I am wrong as well.

Actually, you have a hard time admitting somebody else may be right, but I still love ya. In case you didn't notice, I did partially agree with you. Otherwise...

Seriously though, how can anybody honestly believe that any human being knows whats going on in an animals head. They learn by repitition and some are more intelligent and/or stubborn than others.

They don't claim to know what's in their head.

They study their behaviour... hence the term Behaviourist. They're not called Animal Mind Readers.

Behaviour can tell you everything....like right now...your behaviour is indicating that you really do not want to be wrong about this.

But really, many people claim that anthropomorphism is the worst thing you can do when it comes to dealing with animals, yet methods like this one has it's foundation firmly placed in anthropomorphism. What makes sense to you doesn't mean it makes sense to an animal. You need to understand what truly makes sense to an them and since they can't tell us verbally the only way to do that is to study their behaviour.

I mean, come on...what makes more sense....training methods that are based on working with natural instinct and behaviour or by assumptions that human thought and emotion will work?

So really...who really should "suck it"?

[Edited 12/4/10 23:56pm]

purplemookiebut said:

my cats been getting restless at night alot. she will scratch against cabinets,doors and miniblinds. she yodels at night too to the moon...she can do this 5 mins after she ate.

i just started spraying her with the water bottle. actually she stops really fast and is scared of the bottle now. she seems to be getting even closer to me and more loving since i started the water bottle...go figure???!! she's sleeping on my beg again instead of in the living room...she hasn't done that it years!

I used to use the water bottle, but after a while, that wasn't working anymore. They started loving the water I guess, they are used to it since I give them a bath every week. Now I use a fly swatter...they see that thing and go to running. They are usually just so upset if I don't come home at night and stay at my sister's instead. And if anyone else is in the house, they get real mad and start running crazy and keep up noise all night. As long as its just me in the house, they are cool and sleep all night on the bed or couch with me. They are super jealous..

Your cat is either:

1. Pissed about something, or

2. Trying to tell you something is physically wrong with it.

The fact that she peed 3 times on your bed in one day (where she knows you sleep and probably has slept herself) leads me to believe that it might not be feeling well, and is trying to express something is wrong by going as extreme as possible to get your attention.

If it was a one off thing I would say you simple have a kitty going through a rebellious teenager phase. But again, the 3 times in one day thing has me suspicious. It might be time for a check up.

Ottensen said:

Your cat is either:

1. Pissed about something, or

2. Trying to tell you something is physically wrong with it.

The fact that she peed 3 times on your bed in one day (where she knows you sleep and probably has slept herself) leads me to believe that it might not be feeling well, and is trying to express something is wrong by going as extreme as possible to get your attention.

If it was a one off thing I would say you simple have a kitty going through a rebellious teenager phase. But again, the 3 times in one day thing has me suspicious. It might be time for a check up.

^

Yeah the cat definitely has some kind of illness. cats are clean and fussy animals and especially won’t sit in their own dirt unlike dogs can do. A cat would not pee in a bed where the owner and its own scent is, if anything they would see it as the ultimate comfort place.

Sounds like the cat is having bladder control problems of some sort. Just lock the cat out the bedroom and take him/her to the vet. It certainly should not be punished for it, thats out and out cruelty.

JustErin said:

Maybe she's sick, a UTI perhaps. I would have her checked out by a vet first.

yep. This a major red flag! Especially, if this is unusual behavior.

BklynBabe said:

CONCUR WITH VET, CHECK FOR INFECTION AND STONES IN THE BLADDER!!!! My cat was screaming once, more than usual (and she screams all the time) and crying. I look up, she's in the litter box crying. I check and see blood!!! Yup, stones. Easily fixed though, but cost even me a grip and I still ended up treating it myself lol. She did used to urinate on my clothes. Buying an automatic litterbox fixed that. Ask yourself, do you like to use a fresh toilet every time? Well so do cats. I was a crappy litter box cleaner, the ammonia would knock you over! I've had this box over 5 years and put my clothes on the floor now, no problem so first, check for infection. Then rule out behavior. Also Febreze pet odor eliminator is a godsend!!!!!

I had one of those automatic litter boxes, but I gave it away. At the time I had 3 cats, and all three using that one box was too much. Plus the cost of the plastic containers and bags was too expensive. I found that going back to the regular clumping litter would be more cost effective for me, especially since now I have 7 cats.

I'm having a problem with my long-haired neutered male cat. He's defecating in my sink! I have 3 bathrooms in my house, but he will only poop in my sink in the master bedroom. At first I thought it was because I hadn't cleaned the box fast enough, but the other day, after I had come home from work, I was in my bedroom changing and smelled something "off." I checked my sink, and sure enough there was a dried pile, which told me he must have done it shortly after I left to go to work. I checked the box, and it wasn't too dirty for him to have used it.

Now that I think about it, Thumper might have been pissed at me. He had been crying most of the morning to be let out, but it was raining and cold, so I kept them all in. But to be safe, I'm calling the vet on Monday.

TheDigitalGardener said:

^^^^ fuck all that shit. Dogs are where its at.

I don't care for cats either. Besides having an awful allergy of them too.

BklynBabe said:

ALSO....@Erin, there are cases to be made for positive and nrgative reinforcement. I say this from personal and professional experience. However, the tactic would not work for any self respecting cat anyway

Our Sammy peed on the bathroom rug three times. Each time, he was mad at my son for not letting him into his bedroom when he cried at the door. Since we knew he wasn't ill, after the third time I gave him a lecture and shook some newspaper at him for good measure.

He hasn't done it again.

magnificentSynthesizer said:

JustErin said:

Maybe she's sick, a UTI perhaps. I would have her checked out by a vet first.

yep. This a major red flag! Especially, if this is unusual behavior.

damn, if pissing on your bed is USUAL behaviour, TIME TO GET A NEW CAT!!!

I figured out what it is-she was made at me for making her come in and mad another female cat was sniffing around the apartment door