Cat repellent? How to deter peeing/marking.

[dottyblue]

I thought we had our peeing issue under control and my cats have started up again. I swear I'm going to tie knots in their urethras if this doesn't stop...

<deep breath>

Does anyone have any suggestions for an indoor, hardwood floor safe, cat repellent? Their current favorite spot is right by the front door.

I have cleaned the floor with GotPee and the blacklight shows no pee residue. The smell is completely gone as well (and I should know with my pregnancy nose).

We can't put a litter box there or we won't be able to open the front door. There is a space about 6" deep and about 20" wide behind the door where I could probably put down a litter box mat to keep them from peeing on the floor, but I'm hoping to just plain keep them away from the area.

I have seen that lavender and rosemary may deter them. Has this worked for anyone? I may see if I can find lavender essential oils.

We are also going to start spraying them with water whenever they are sniffing around that area, but we can't obviously do that a night (when they usually pee). Am I going to have to shut them in the bathroom with their litter boxes whenever we can't monitor them?

[stephanie305]

Have you tried Feliway? I used the plug-in when my guy was having behavioral issues a few years ago and was peeing next to his litter box. I found it worked really well! You can also get it in spray form. I bought it on Amazon for a lot less than what it cost at Petsmart.

[dottyblue]

Aug 27, 2012 10:21:51 GMT -5 stephanie305 said:

Have you tried Feliway? I used the plug-in when my guy was having behavioral issues a few years ago and was peeing next to his litter box. I found it worked really well! You can also get it in spray form. I bought it on Amazon for a lot less than what it cost at Petsmart.

Yup. It doesn't work. I actually think that it is encouraging them to mark (I think they are too smart and realize it's not "their" scents). I have both the spray and the wall plug-ins.

[stephanie305]

Oh man, that sucks. I know how frustrating it is dealing with a cat who pees outside of the box. I hope other ladies have ideas for you.

[msmerymac]

I would definitely start putting them in a more enclosed space at night, with a litter box and water. It might actually help them feel more secure. If they can deal with that, eventually you might let them have the run of the house again. Do you know if it's both cats or just one that's doing it?

[mrs.jacinthe]

If you're trying to deter them from that particular area, can you get a scat-mat and put it on the floor there? That won't bother you humans as long as you don't step on it without shoes ... or maybe a ssssscat?

That's all the ideas I have.

[dottyblue]

Aug 27, 2012 11:20:30 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

If you're trying to deter them from that particular area, can you get a scat-mat and put it on the floor there? That won't bother you humans as long as you don't step on it without shoes ... or maybe a ssssscat?

That's all the ideas I have.

OMG, this is BRILLIANT. I have never seen this before. I think I have my solution!

[dottyblue]

Aug 27, 2012 10:48:01 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

I would definitely start putting them in a more enclosed space at night, with a litter box and water. It might actually help them feel more secure. If they can deal with that, eventually you might let them have the run of the house again. Do you know if it's both cats or just one that's doing it?

I'm pretty sure it is both cats (although I'm not certain).

The only thing I'm worried about is that we would need to shut them up during the day while we are at work too... so we're talking 16+ hours per day of being shut up. I'm worried about spite-peeing at that point, so I'm hesitant to confine them.

[monarch]

Feliway didnt work for my cat. But the kitty prozac did, I was in shock, I didn't expect it to work at all. Our vet said cats arent smart enough to pee out of spite. He also suggested we lock her in a smaller area for the first few weeks after we started the meds.

Good luck!

[tinydancer]

Feliway works great. It calms the cat right down and stops the peeing.

Another thing I just found out. Cats hate green apple. Put a few Granny Smiths in the area where the cat is marking. Seriously.

[dottyblue]

We got the Scat Mat and put it in the corner he had been marking. He got zapped 6 times (SIX! He's a persistent booger) the first night, and hasn't gone near that area since.

Problem solved, and I don't have to keep spending money on Feliway, which never worked for my two cats.

[alovewithin]

Feliway collars work waaaay better. I used the wall plug ins they did nothing for my cat. I put that collar on her and i swear I had my old cat back. She started doing things she hasn't done since I adopted our second cat in march. I felt so bad and guilty that I didn't buy the collar first off.