Conference misery::feline_v1

    Cats that are in season will do things like that.  Some of them
    spray, others have bowel movements.  The problem is that after a
    while it becomes a habit and then it is harder to stop.
    
    Amonnia based cleaners don't usually work in the case of cat urine
    since cat urine has the same odor as amonnia.  Try using a product
    made for cat urine like Natures Miracle, or Outright.  Also, Lysol
    may take away the smell temporarily, but wont fix the problem.
    
    Good luck.
    
    Jo

    While Nature's Miracle and Outright work real well, you might
    have a difficult time finding them right away (I had to drive all the
    way to Nashua to find them, or would have had to send away ). So, in the
    interim, and ASAP, wash it out as best you can and pour some WHITE VINEGAR
    on the spot (actually, saturate the spot). Then, when you get a chance,
    use the Nature's Miracle or Outright.

    As for the Lysol, I'd recommend against it since it can be can cause 
    problems for cats (there are several topics on Lysol in this file, do a
    SHOW KEY/FULL LYSOL.)

    Deb 

    HI,
    I second the white vinegar remedy it really works!!!
    
    You see cat urine is ammonia based and vinegar is alkline based and the
    cancel each other out so that the cat can't smell the spot anymore.
    
    Try it lou'll like it.
    
    Feline fine,
    
    Sue & Panther & Spot
     

    
         I have a 10 week old kitten that keeps insisting on peeing
    or pooping at the end of the hall.  I'm afraid I will not be able
    to break him of this.  We just moved and I think the people that
    lived there before had animals that did this since the spot smells
    so bad.  My husband won't let me keep him if this is a habit, and
    I'm not too fond of cleaning his messes.  
         Anyway, I have three questions.  First of all, will vinegar stain
    or bleach the carpet?  I've been afraid to do this because I didn't
    want to ruin the carpet.  Second, how do I get the kitten to use
    the box?  If I put a box at the end of the hall it will sort of
    be in the way. (But if I have to be inconvenienced....)  The vet
    said to keep him in a small room with the box for about a week.
    The only uncarpeted small room I have is the bathroom, and I don't
    have the heart to lock him in there for a week.  Does this mean
    I can't let him out? (He sneaks to his "spot" when he is upstairs).
    Lastly, Is this natures miracle as great as it sounds?  I've been
    told you can never get the smell out, and your cat will always do
    his "thing" there. 
         He uses the box as far as I know when he is downstairs.  I
    have always had a cat, but I just put them in the box when I brought
    them home, and I never had this problem.  I am getting so frustrated!
    
         Thanks for any advice,
    
            Willa, Sharmin, Hobbes (Hobbit), and Bear (the 'bad' cat) 
    

    Go ahead and lock him in the bathroom.  You can still take him out
    when you are home, just be sure to watch him.   If you see him head
    to that spot, scoop him up, bring him into the bathroom and plop
    him in the litter box.
    
    	-Nancy

    And don't forget to lavish praise on him EVERY time he uses the
    box.  You'll get alot further with positive reinforcement.
    

    1. if you are worried about the vinegar staining or bleaching the
    carpet (and I've never seen it do that), try it in a small,
    inconspicuous spot, like a corner or a carpeted closet.

    2. Yes, Nature's Miracle works as well as you hear that it does.

    3. You say that your cat uses the downstairs box regularly, but not the
    upstairs one. Is it possible that the sides of the upstairs box are
    just too high for the little one to get into or feel safe in? Maybe a
    shallower box might be warranted until the he gets bigger? (I had this
    problem with the twins).

    Deb

    
    RE: .7
    
         Actually there isn't a box upstairs.  I thought he would 
    know to go downstairs.  I got another kitten (Hobbes) 2 weeks before
    Bear, and he didn't have any problems remembering to go downstairs.
    I haven't had a kitten in 11 years, and it seems I have forgotten
    all the kitty tricks.  I only had my one persian all that time.  She
    has been so easy to take care of, I forgot how to train new furfaces.
    
     Willa
    
    P.S.  I will keep him in the bathroom, and get a box upstairs.
    

    I have noticed that new kittens tend to "test" the waters when they
    get to a new house.  I always suggest to buyers that have this problem
    to put the kitten into "Intensive Litter Box Training" (ILBT). 
    There are several methods, one is putting them in a small room with
    litter box, food, water.  A more effective method for me is similar
    to crate training (housebreaking method) a puppy.
    
    On a Saturday, or some day that you will be home all day, put the
    kitten in his carrier.  Leave him there for an hour, at the end
    of an hour, take him out, offer food and water and love, and then
    put him in the litter box.  If he goes in the box, lavish praise
    on him.  If he doesn't, still praise him, play with him for a bit,
    then put him back in the carrier.  Continue to do this all day so
    that when he finally does go, you are there to tell him what a good
    boy he is.  Cats usually sleep most of the day, but kittens have
    bursts of energy, take him out and play with him during those bursts,
    then when he is settling down, put him in the litter box, then back
    in the carrier.  This method has worked wonders for me.  By reinforcing
    the good behavior, you can change the undesirable behavior.
    
    Also, if you do find him messing, don't show your anger towards
    him as you toss him into the litter box.  He will then associate
    the litter box with your anger, and not want to use it.
    
    While he is still little, a box upstairs will be a good idea.  He
    is still a tiny baby and it is probably too far to go down to the
    the other box.
    
    Kittens are cute and fun, but training them can be exhausting.
    
    Jo

    Get the Nature's miracle too.  Soak that area of the carpet with it.
    It will smell _terrible_ for about a week while it is drying, then
    the carpet will be okay.
    

    
         I hope I can find this Nature's Miracle here in Colorado
    Springs.  I guess I know what I'll be doing after work today!
    
     Willa
     
      P.S.  Thanks everyone for you advice.  I WILL be using all I can
    get!!!

    Re: .11
    
    try a pet store.  If you can't find it, I think there is a
    phone number for the company in this file somewhere and they
    can tell you who carries it.
    

    I have tried various solutions to cat pee on the rug (I think this
    section will enventually be turned into a tiled entryway, but that,
    of course is dependant on the owners of the complex), and tho the
    products seem to kill the odor in general, it's hard to get it really
    out of the carpet.
    
    Thusly, I am intrigued by the suggestions--Deb, does the white vinegar
    really get it out of the carpet bottom (so, like it doesn't smell
    if you are sitting on the floor?)?  How about for that Nature's
    Miracle?  Do either work for "older" spots??  
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    kim

    Kim,
    
    I have had great luck with Nature's Miracle.  It is an enzyme, and
    it works on the urine and disolves it.  It does work on older stains.
    It isn't a "cover up the odor" product...it gets rid of the urine.
    But, while it is eating up the urine, it STINKS!!!  It is not until
    it is completely dry that you will know that the spot is gone. 
    This can take some time.
    
    The white vinegar will help keep the cats away from the spot, but
    I don't think that it takes the urine stain out.
    
    Do you remember when we went from the Feed store, to the pet store
    then back to the Feed store that day?  Nature's Miracle was one
    of the things I was comparing prices on.  The Feed store won, so
    it you want some, buy it there.
    
    Jo

    Morgan Hill is a looooooongggg way to go for kitty pee cover up--mebbe
    I'll check out some places more local.  :)
    
    Thanks  tho!
    
    kim

    Kim,
    
    I got my bottle of Nature's Miracle at An-Jan Pet Supply.  I don't
    remember how much it cost but I think it was in the $3.00-$4.00
    range.
    
    There are a few An-Jan's around now.  Main one is on Monterey Highway
    in San Jose but there is also one in Cupertino on Steven's Creek
    near the Blaney intersection and another one somewhere on the East
    Side near Tully I believe (I don't know where it is 'cause I avoid
    the East Side like the plague).
    
    Jan

    Monette's pet stores carry Nature's Miracle.
    

    
    
    	What about for a 4 year old cat that poops when you're
    	not home or at night when you're sleeping?
    
    	Our latest adoption does this and is why her former owners
    	let her go.  They have another cat and now have a baby (human)
    	:)  and don't have the time to un-train Samantha from doing
    	this.  Their vet told them it was because Samanth was upset
    	when Angela left her for the day to go to work.
    
    	Any suggestions?
    
    	JJ
    

    
    Mine used to do the same thing, along with the pee in the breezeway.
    We took to isolating him with us in the bedroom complete with box.
    We also isolated him from the breezeway (TWO baby gates stacked).
    After about 2 months (inconvenience for us) he has (so far) been
    very good.  Part of his problem, we think, was domination by the
    other guy.  Coincidently we took them to my mothers for 5 weeks
    while we were on vacation and he was perfect and has been perfect
    since we came but.  But he still isn't allowed on the breezeway!
                                     
    We also used the lavish praise and "yummies" when he did go in the
    box.  We have taken the second box out of the bathroom and back
    down cellar where we started.  So far so good, but I still don't
    trust the little bugger.
    
    I'm still hunting for Nature's Miracle in Nashua....you other noters
    must have bought the last bottle!

    There is a new An-Jans Feed Store on Almaden and Branham in the
    new shopping center.  I think there is an Orchard Supply Hardware
    across the street.  This one isn't at all like the first, doesn't
    even look like a feed store!  No big bales of grain stacked out
    front, this one looks more like a pet store.          
    
    Jo

    RE: .19
    
    Try Nashua Pet & Aquarium.
    
    Deb