Lupin is one of the. most unusual cats that I have ever seen and I think the

Americans would call her a IIcalico". She has separate areas of tortie colour

(black, red and cream) but in addition lovely large milk chocolate patches, all

set on a white background. She is a stunning girl. By the look of the photo

probably enjoys eating and knocking over house plants if my cats are anything

to go by. She has a film star personality sometimes very loving but sensitive

and easily upset.

From talking to owners when they bring their cats into and out of the cattery,

one of the most common and distressing problems suffered by our pussies is

urinating in inappropriate places. This is a complex behavioural problem - this

very brief offering is only a start - it is important to watch your cat and learn

every detail about what he is doing, when he is doing it, where he is doing it,

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how he stands/squats, as well as the general context/events surrounding the

behaviour.

I1 The first step is a medical check at the vets. There is no avoiding this first

step: you would feel dreadful if it were left, and subsequently discovered that the cat had been suffering a painful urinary

infection. Your vet is also a very good source of sound advice as are the veterinary nurses. He may also have an animal

behaviourist working at the practice who would be the ideal person to help. If the cat has not been neutered he may

suggest this as a sensible step as much of the behaviour is linked to sexual and/or territorial behaviour.

The problem is more common in male than female cats but it is a myth that

female cats do not do it. My female cats stand and spray a little urine repeatedly

when they are in season - I have to make the best of it as I breed cats, but

female cats should be neutered at about 6 months unless they are to be bred.

Urine can be delivered from a squatting position or a standing position the latter

being used to spread the smells over a large area to IImark" - in the case of a

male weeing on the outside of a door frame the message reads IIkeep out this is

my territory, or in the case of my female cats "l am in season - if you are an entire

smelly boy, come up and see me sometime".

Having eliminated medical problems what is left is often anxiety, insecurity,

unhappiness of some kind. A very common scenario is that another cat is using

the resident cat's cat flap - it may not seem too much of a problem to the owner.

You may consider it quite nice to have another cat to pet and then put back out.

This is a terrible invasion of your cat's territory and person - and you are

collaborating. He thinks the best thing to do is to show the intruder that this is a taken territory and proceeds to wee -

especially in the area of the cat flap and maybe your bed (as it is particularly precious). He is only trying to make himself

feel more secure and to discourage the other cat. Your reaction may be strong (we are taught from tiny children that this

is a disgusting substance and are shocked and worried for our carpets etc) and from the cat's point of view very

frightening and this may cause even more anxiety which causes - you've guessed - more weeing to try and make him

feel more secure.

Other precipitating factors can be: - house moves, builders in, furniture being moved, strange cat got in (even once)

strange cat looked through window, new human resident, new feline resident etc.

What can be done about it?

Try to take steps to reduce the cat's anxiety e.g. fit cat flap that only opens when your cat wants to come in, shut

bedroom doors if he is wetting on the bed, remove plastic bags if he is attracted to wee on them.

"DON'T SHOUT AT HIM/HER"

Keep him/her confined to a small area that is easily cleaned if problem is bad and retrain him/her.

Use Feliway plug-in which is a friendly cheek hormone signal which calms cats and increases their security, which is

available from vets.

Clean areas with plain water and purchase from the vets a product to get rid of the smell from the cats' sensitive nose. If

he smells it -he will repeat the behaviour. My parents cat is anxious when she can't go out in the cold weather and

secure her territory by patrolling it. So she wees on the towel under her litter tray. She is usually well controlled by the

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