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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO
Created:Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:5089
Total number of notes:60366

3281.0. "problem with cats and dog" by TOOK::M_OLSON () Wed Jan 24 1990 20:10

I have two cats, a five month old puppy, and a problem.

The cats are peeing and shitting in the house.  This started after we got the
dog. We know that one of them had a urinary tract infection, but that has 
cleared up.  We are cleaning the litter box like crazy, but it doesn't seem
to help.  The vet suggested that the dog was causing stress for one or the
other (or both) of the cats, and that that is why we have this problem.
He isn't very helpful about how to remove the stress.

These two cats are both fixed, one female (tiggie) and one male (duncan).  They
are about 5 and 6 years old.  Their arranged marriage occured 3 years ago.
They are not buddies - they seem to have the house divided up.  Duncan has, 
at other times in his life, gotten along well with other cats.  Tiggie is
a spas cat that has never been particularly friendly toward anyone or anything
except me and (after 6 months), Jim.

We have had the dog for about 3 months.  The dog likes to play and the cats 
do not.  The cats run away to the top of the cabinets or to the cat door to
the basement where the dog can't reach them.

Is there any way to calm the cats down?  Has anyone else had trouble introducing
a dog to cats?  
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
3281.1Where to research thisVAXWRK::LEVINEWed Jan 24 1990 20:196
The following keywords will provide useful in your search for information
on this topic:  DOGS, LITTERBOX_PROBLEMS, FUS, CYSTITIS.  See note 3201
for information on how to use keywords if you're not sure.

Pam
3281.2WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityWed Jan 24 1990 21:1413
    Do you have a puppy gate?  If not, you may want to get one.  I just
    introduced a puppy to 20 cats (yes, that is 2-0) and haven't had
    this problem, but, I don't allow the dog to mingle unsupervised
    with the cats.  The dog has also been trained that chasing the cats
    will not be tolerated.  The dog may have the cats so intimidated
    that they are afraid to go to the litterbox.  Or, maybe the dog
    stands in the way between them and the box. 
    
    Also, if you have two cats, that don't really care that much for
    each other, it might be a good idea to have two litter boxes.
    Sometimes they aren't crazy about sharing.
    
    Jo
3281.3oh arghh!!TOOK::M_OLSONWed Jan 24 1990 21:2011
The note on dogs that looked promising had 26 replies about cat names. 

I have read the notes on litter box problems - none of them discuss dogs.
We are trying the things suggested there anyway.

Both cats have been to the vet and are now in fine health.

I appreciate pointers to other notes, and I am aware that I didn't mention
that I had already checked out the litterbox problems notes.  But it trys
my patience to be pointed to a note that has nothing to do with the problem
at hand (inappropriate keywords not withstanding)!
3281.4We're doing the best we can adding keywords!VAXWRK::SKALTSISDebThu Jan 25 1990 01:3621
    RE: .3

    Did you use an enzymatic cleaner to clean up areas of the house
    that were soiled by your FUS cat? If not (or if you cleaned with
    something like ammonia) your cat may be drawn back to the same spots.

   > But it trys
   > my patience to be pointed to a note that has nothing to do with the problem
   > at hand (inappropriate keywords not withstanding)!

    You may want to peruse the keywords a little further. Another keyword
    that you might try is "behavior_problems". Also, "Defecation".

    Know what tries this moderator's patience? When folks insist on
    describing certain bodily functions in fully spelled out Anglo-Saxon. 
    If your vocabulary is so limited that you don't know a synonymous term for
    what you are trying to describe, please at least substitute an "*" for
    the vowels.

    Deb
    co-moderator, FELINE
3281.5Is the puppy housebroken?STAR::PMURPHYThe Paws That Refresh!Fri Jan 26 1990 17:424
    Since this is a puppy, are you absolutely sure it's the cats messing in
    the house and not the puppy who may still need housebreaking training?