can I stop my cat 'going' behind the tv?

Mariel

In my old house we discovered my youngest cat had been using behind the tv as a toilet, we'd wondered where the smell was coming from! Now we're in a different (rented) house with carpets and the first thing she did was go behind the tv and wee. Since then they've been confined to the (large) kitchen/conservatory but it just doesn't feel like they are part of the family. Is there anything I can do to stop her doing it?

Buttonmoons

I just discovered my cat has been peeing on coats!! OH took his coat out the cupboard last night, and it was stinking of wee, we got home last night and he was a bit worse for wear, so ditched his other coat on the floor, woke up this morning and it was drenched. I was not amused!

I'm not sure how you stop them either, but because your cat is going to the same place, maybe washing the area with biological powder to remove all trace of smell might help, and then maybe dousing the area in lemon juice? I know my cats hate lemon.

It's awful isn't it. Im fretting about my house stinking of wee now. Not nice!

blue_monkey_2

'Get Off' is made of Eucalyptus Oil so it might be worth getting some and soaking something in it - bamboo reeds for example - and then putting them where the cat is going, or putting some on some material and putting it where the cat is going. And it will smell nice and you'll not have blocked up noses either! Worth a try.

creased-leach

I'd love to know- our darling young male has peed on me, and yesterday our eldest daughter, in bed!

That is NOT a nice way to be awoken at 6 in the morning!

Mariel

Another problem is I rent the house furnished and it is a massive heavy tv on a broken stand so the back if it isn't really accessible. I presume the 'Get Off' stuff is sold in pet shops? I'll go to our local one tomorrow and see what they think, sounds like a good idea. I also thought about getting a covered litter tray and putting it there but I don't think there would be enough room.
creased-leach that's awful! And it has reminded me of when the youngest was small, she used to get into bed with me and I'd often wake up with a puddle by my feet.

Fire_Fox

Noah tried to wee on the floor next to the tray this morning and when I stopped him he went into the hall and wee'd on my coat! I am pretty sure the reason was the tray wasn't clean enough, he'd done a poo overnight and I hadn't got there to scoop before he needed to go. Bio washing powder to get rid of the smell, or the cat is more likely to choose the same spot again.

Aside from that do you have any idea why the cat is doing it? Have they been stressed? Is it possible they have a water infection? Do you have sufficient litter trays for all the cats in your household? Do they perhaps not like the litter? Are the trays large enough for the size of the cat? Is one cat guarding the tray at all so others don't want to go near? Is the tray too close to a feeding area or too public?

Information from the Purrs website on litter, trays and cat behaviour:
http://www.purrsinourhearts.co.uk/index.php/topic,4791.0.html

Mariel

When confined to the kitchen she goes in the litter tray or outside so I dion't think it is that, she just seems to prefer behind the tv. I hate the cats not being able to sit on our knees in the evening then come up to bed with us like they used to. I could even cope with them using the stair carpet as a scratching post like they did in the other house and promise the landlady I'll replace it when I leave.

Fire_Fox

Mariel wrote: »

When confined to the kitchen she goes in the litter tray or outside so I dion't think it is that, she just seems to prefer behind the tv. I hate the cats not being able to sit on our knees in the evening then come up to bed with us like they used to. I could even cope with them using the stair carpet as a scratching post like they did in the other house and promise the landlady I'll replace it when I leave.

Not what, I asked quite a few questions? Noah normally goes in the litter tray, even his first day with me when he was terrified. He is a VERY clean cat so to go outside the tray the first thing I looked at was myself and the flat, what went wrong?

It doesn't have to be a criticism of yourself, as in my case I'd only been up ten to fifteen minutes so I don't feel bad about not having scooped the tray out! There is generally a reason when a cat goes outside the tray, if you absolutely had to would you choose a clean litter tray or behind the TV?

What changed in your old house when the weeing behind the TV started? Were you packing? Was the door shut so your cat couldn't access it? Did you change the type of litter? Was there a new cat? It sounds like the present situation is quite stressful for all of you: the cat has moved house and now can't spend time with you any more, perhaps when she does you are on edge in case she pees? How many cats, how many trays do you have and where are they? Are they private, are there open and covered ones?

spike7451

My Daisy (& old Orbit (rip) too) go running around the place at a rate of notts if the litter is'nt changed.Even when I bought Daisy into her new palace-de-puddytat,she never went anywhere apart from her tray.
She's a very clean little gurl!lol ( currently chaseing her ball around & rucking up the carpet mats! :-)

underlay_guru

Hi,

A sheet of sticky backed plastic laid on the carpet behind the TV should stop the little blighter going behind there......!

Buttonmoons

What are those pen light things that show up cat wee does anyone know? I'm going crazy thinking they are wee'ing somewhere, and I can't smell it but then if I'm in the flat I wouldn't pick it up as badly as an outsider.

There was only 2wees in the boxes all through the night. Im suspicious.