Hello

We currently have a black cat called Stanley who is around 15 years old. He's quite healthy and very loving, but unfortunately over the past 6 months he's developed behavioural problems, mostly urinating all around our house. As I am pregant, this presents a real health risk to my baby, so he's going to have to go.

We've tried everything to stop him - pheromone sprays, extra litter trays, all sorts of tips from web sites and vets, but it's just getting worse . Medically there is nothing causing this, our vet suspects it's purely behavioural.

The vet has suggested to put him to sleep, but I cannot deal with this - he's happy, quite healthy for his age, still manages to jump around and play and trusts me implicitly - how can I end his life when as far as he's concerned, his quality of life is so good?

We've tried RSPCA, various cat sancturies (including Thornbury where we originally adopted him around 7 years ago), but they (quite realistically) say that no one will ever take him on, mainly due to his age, so all have refused to take him in.

Can anyone suggest somewhere in Sheffield or Yorkshire that may be able to help out? We wondered if anyone knew someone with a farm who may be able to look after him - either that or someone/place that does not mind taking in an old cat with a weak bladder?

Sorry if this post sounds a little pathetic - just a little upset today and hoping someone could suggest something we've not thought of yet.

Sorry to hear about your problem and I really hope you find a nice home for Stanley, it's just a thought but has Stanley only started urinating since you have been pregnant, I was wonderering if it could be a jealousy thing as some cats can be really funny about things like that. Good luck

I don't know much about cats, but try posting about your cat's problem on http://www.dogpages.org.uk/ they have a board for "cats and other animals" and they might be able to give you some advice on how to stop the weeing, or details of a rescue/person looking for an oldie.

What an upsetting position for you to be in. My friends' cat use to urinate when she was pregnant both times, but stopped when she had the baby. Not sure why they would do this.
Suppose you don't want to take the hygiene risk of waiting to see if it stops. It's a very old cat and might find it distressing to settle in a new home, maybe this is why the vet suggested you have him put to sleep as the kinder option. Obviously this would be a dreadfully hard decision to make if your cat is fit and well. Good luck to you.

Thanks for the support :)

I only just became pregnant (hence the urgency for a solution). Until now we've avoided the inevitable, hoping he'd sort himself out. But in the end, I'm not going to risk my baby, no matter how much I love Stanley. Our doctor has told me to avoid litter trays and the like throughout the pregnacy (to avoid toxoplasmosis).

We're prety sure it's stress related - it all started around two months before we moved house - perhps he started picking up on the general stress we were in. Of course, we expected him to 'mark his territory' upon moving into the new house, but it's been 5 months now and it's just getting worse. Unlike our old house, there's a lot of cats here (Nether Edge), some real big male ones, he's always out scrapping. I'm sure this is part of it as well, but I wish he'd just spray outside...

I know this will sound hard but perhaps the vets advise could be the kinder option. I think a cat of that age has done very well, I don't know how well an old cat would settle somewhere new and different people, seems he's been through a bit of stress already.
I know for sure if you're pregnant you shouldn't be going near the cat litter, so weeing round the house is really a big no no.

I was told to buy a water gun and spray the cat with water when he looks like he is about to pee in the house.

My friend swears by it and said that her cat only ever tried peeing in her house once and when she ambushed him and squirted him, he got the shock of his life and never did it again, she did tell me to tell you to aim for the face.

I hope it works for you.

Jo
x

I'd also suggest you try to do some research on toxoplasma - its already endemic in the population. I find it hard to believe that it represents a risk that would even register when compared to airborn pollutants, mercuary etc...

I think the local branch of Cats Protection place their stray cats with 'foster owners' until a permanent owner can be found. Maybe they could help by finding someone to take Stanley temporarily, just until the baby's born.

Try the Cat Shelter, see the link in my sig.

Originally posted by lazyfish
I think the local branch of Cats Protection place their stray cats with 'foster owners' until a permanent owner can be found. Maybe they could help by finding someone to take Stanley temporarily, just until the baby's born.

We tried them, unfortunately they were concerned about him weeing and felt no one would want him.

Originally posted by max
Try the Cat Shelter, see the link in my sig.

They've put us on the waiting list, but it may take several months to find space for him. Thanks for the suggestion.

try CATS. I will PM you with their number.

Just want to say thanks to everyone for the support - we'll keep looking for alternatives, hopefully we can sort this out in a way that's best for us and Stanley.

Isn't the Toxoplasmosis parasite carried in the faeces?

Is there anyway in which you can test Stanley's 'output' for the bug?

Joe

Not sure exactly where the toxoplasmosis comes from, but it's not just that - it's generally not a good situation to have pools of cat urine all over the house - the smell is atrotious and is ruining our home. On Tuesday he urinated all over the dining room table - that was really the last straw :(


I'd just like to say thanks to Bigflesh for giving us Jackie's number at CATS. She says she can organise a place for Stanley in a santuary that doesn't lock cats up in cages - he'll be free to roam around the santuary for the rest of his life and may also get adopted if someone takes a shine to him. They don't put cats to sleep either. They just require a donation to help pay for his upkeep.

janeL, I am so pleased I have managed to come to the rescue and put you in touch with Jackie. She is such a nice lady and will see your moggy right, I'm sure. Don't know if you have had chance to see the cats new digs yet, but I am sure you will be pleased. Just make sure she gets a good donation as all her donations go to the animals (I belive).

Regards,

Bigflesh