I think I'm going to send my cat back to the shelter.

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I don't know if any of you remember but I have two cats and one of them has the curly tail that I got from the animal shelter a little while back.



Well he keeps going in places he shouldn't and I'm getting sick and tired of having to clean up after him. I've tried and tried punishing him but nothing seems to work.

I'm thinking about sending him back to the shelter. I feel like I gave him a good life.

I just don't know how my other cat's going to take it. They've been very close like brothers.

I've thought out this decision long and hard and it's the only option I can think of.

Is the shelter a no kill? Please tell me it is. Have you ruled out physical and psychological issues? They'll mark territory due to that. Is he fixed? Is the litterbox cleaned frequently enough? Also, when you clean up the mess, use vinegar because it helps to rid the ammonia which attracts the cat to pee in the same place again. Anytime my cats have had issues like that, its due to one of the above reasons. Good luck with your decision. He's gorgeous. I would take him if I were closer.

Hi MissConstrue,

Im sorry about this experience of your with this beatiful adorable cat. Its an heartbreaking title of this thread and even more when seeing a photo of the poor thing. But when you explain then I understand you very well.

nooooo, dont punish him Thats not the way to solve it. Something is disturbing him for some reason and you need to find this very reason. Maybe he is allergic to some food he cant take. Maybe something with the other cat or the environment disturbs him. I have heard that cats can act like you describe when telling something is wrong. Maybe he is sick?

I had a similuar situation some years ago. I was working at a catshelter and was asked to take care of a cat who had problems with her stomach. The cat in question was too stressed at the shelter and they thought it needed a good rest at a silent home with a calm person. I suited perfectly for this in their opinion.

But after a month I felt as you. I couldnt take it anymore and the constant cleaning up was really tearing. Gosh what I cried when I gave back the cat. I knew it was only a temporary solution for the cat to stay with me and it was still under their care, it was never my cat. But I felt so much that I let the cat down. I felt so bad to see it back at the shelter when I knew she didnt like it there........

My cat is too much for me to manage. My apartment is too small, I need to spend a hundred bucks each year for the vet, and the hair is all over the place. I love my cat, but I am going to drive it back to the shelter, give them a donation of $300, and that's it. My cat came to me by way of an aunt who was allergic and had no idea what she was getting herself into when she bought it from PETCO. I am not a bad person. I love dogs and I love cats. But I might get kicked out of my apartment because of my cat and I would rather spend money and time on my family or on people rather than pets.

P.S. Gaya, I don't feel this way about rats

Where is the cat getting into? There are ways to keep cats out of places where you don't want them like putting double sided sticky tape down on the floor in staggered places so he doesn't know where to expect them or to make a diluted solution of apple vinegar and water and spray it around the areas where the cat is going. It stinks to the cat and he won't go near those places.

Have you tried the pennies in the pie tin trick?

Well today he sprayed against the wall. I tried to get him away from the wall by yelling NO.

But he still kept doing it. He's fixed so I don't think he should be doing this kind of thing. I also keep his litter, water, and everything clean. He's a pretty spoiled cat but he needs to know his place.

I've granted him many priveledges under my care but incontinence is a no no in my place. This trailer is very small and old so it's hard keeping everything maintained let alone the dang rent.

The shelter I'm taking him back to is the one I got him from, I can't say it's a no kill place but I'm sure someone will want him.

Another thing I can't stand about is gets in places he shouldn't.

I had no idea he was in the refridgerator and when I opened it, there he was!



There's no end to this cat!

He looks like my Gus-cat; he too is a stinky pain in the butt. Spray bottle and a plastic bottle with coins in it have both been effective (when I can tolerate the sound of the bottle) in getting his attention. Are you feeding them together? Is there an option to put a smaller 2nd litter box in? Are there other animals outside that are getting his attention? Just curious, hate to see an animal lose their home.


M.

Oh he has it pretty good.

I mean all ever does is lay around the house!



So well fed he can hardly fit in his little cat bed.

You should take him to the vet to make sure he doesn't have a urinary tract infection.

Some cats just like to pee on vertical surfaces. I solved that problem with one of my cats by getting a deep plastic storage box to use as a litter box. He had a vertical surface that it was okay to pee on and we were both happy.

He might want his own litterbox, or he might not be happy with the kind of litter you're using.

That's not 'well-fed' that's medically in danger. If you were in Great Britain you could be charged with animal cruelty for this.

And in terms of him getting into places he shouldn't, invest in a water bottle and some patience (as an side note how in gods name did this cat end up in the fridge? I hope he jumped in when you weren't looking as opposed to 'being there when you opened the door' as you wrote). Cats are naturally curious and if you could take the time to snap a picture it obviously isn't bothering you as much as you let on. Sorry to sound harsh but few things anger me more then people who rehome or dump animals simply because the animal in question has become an 'inconvenience'

With regards to yelling at him when he sprayed the wall, to reiterate punishment does not work for cats and yelling is punishment.

I agree with Xalepax- take him to a vet to make sure there is no medical basis for the spraying.

Please try to look for a no kill shelter or cat rescue in your area. If you relinquish him because of the spraying that will signifigantly diminish his chances of getting a new home and he more likely then not will be euthanized.

I apologise in advance if this comment gets me in trouble with the moderaters.

Last edited by LosFrida on 01 Apr 2009, 10:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.

For a litterbox, I also use a large and deep(16 inch) plastic basin with a lid on it, and a hole cut(up high) in the side for entry/exit. She's really picky about it, and also with her litter. She will only use the cheap, natural, unscented litter, or she will refuse to use her litterbox.



The methods mentioned above are good ideas, and I don't see anything wrong with a little discipline, especially if it means keeping the cat, or not. My cat used to be a chronic "biter" and would, all the sudden, bite you for no reason. Well, that was unacceptable, as is your spraying problem. So, then I decided to give her a light wack on the head with a fly-swatter, everytime she did it, and she has been perfect ever since. Seriously. It didn't hurt her one bit, and she got the message very quickly. Just something to consider, it could save your pet.

Spray bottles work wonders on cats. I used a spray bottle filled with water to discipline my cats when they were young -- they do need to be trained.

Once, my neighbor's cat walked up to my screen door, saw my cats, and turned around preparatory to spraying. I grabbed the water bottle and squirted -- got him right up the butt. He gave me the dirtiest look and never tried to spray my door again.

You guys it was an April Fool's joke about me taking him back to the animal shelter!

Like I'd really do a thing like that.

But he has been using my wall for his turf and I don't know what to do.....

Oh and he's done it again!

Wow, you had me going! Nice one.

Yeah, I thought my cat was big!