Cat Boarding, In-Home Pet Sitting

I just wanted to say something quick about cat-sitting!  This may or may not be a service that many of you have formally used, but in one way or another, I’m sure many have had to ask a friend or family member to pop in once and a while to feed your little ones, while away on vacation or business.  As a pet guardian myself, and having been in a new city, this was something that became a bit of an issue.  I would like to let you know about Urban Tails; I am a contractor with them and I have looked after a number of cats in the west-end.  It’s so much fun to meet so many cats and it really puts the clients minds at ease while they are away, due to great communication policies and many, many little perks!

Exceptional care
Exclusively for cats.

Whether your cat prefers pampered cat boarding,
personalized in-home cat sitting visits,
or a loving, long-term host home
for temporary accommodation,
Urban Tails is delighted to cater
to your kitty’s whims.

Peacock feathers included.

They offer in-home sitting services as well as an awesome resort that houses cats while you are away.  I suggest that you peek at their site to see how cute and customized the resort is.  It is a great business with a great team who focus all of their love and attention onto our cats!  They gain your trust from the get-go and really strive to achieve a stress-free holiday for not only your cat(s), but for you as well.  They are located in Vancouver, but offer their services to most of the lower mainland.  Check them out!!

 

Mina’s Struggle

A few posts back, I mentioned that I was going to write about Feline Hepatic Lipidosis.  Much time has passed and I have yet to reach the extent of knowledge I would like to have before posting a blog on the disease.  Because of it’s dangers and risks, I wanted to do as much research as possible so that my post would be beneficial and educational to many cat guardians like myself.

Unfortunately, my very close friend has recently had a run in with this disease.  Her beautiful, playful, mischievous black cat named Mina, was recently diagnosed.  My best friend has dealt with a lot throughout this ordeal but is one determined lady and devoted all of her time and energy into getting Mina better (one of the many, many reasons I love her so much).  She has documented her journey to help educate and prepare those who might end up in situations like she did.  Please have a read if you’re interested. http://minasmomentsdarkzein.blogspot.com/

Mina

 

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

Summer is coming!  Summer in Vancouver, as I recall, is humid, sweltering, and gorgeous.  All things my fat hairy cat wishes it wasn’t.  That is, until she is naked.  I have a routine with Sterling, and at the time of year where she starts to shed really bad, she looses her hair.  Or most of it anyways.  She, yes she, gets cut like a lion.

I was really lucky when I lived in Calgary because I used to take her to the groomer that I used to work with.  I trusted her, she did a fantastic job, and she gave me a deal.  Sterling was rarely stressed from the experience and was able to enjoy her summer.  Prior to me shaving Sterling, she would spend her summers flopped, (not happy flopped from what I could tell), not playful and very lethargic.

Now her summers are spent exactly the same as her winters.  Less hairy, but same energy levels (which, despite her size, are pretty average for an adult cat).  She still lies in the sun instead of avoiding it.  Flopping still occurs, but it’s more of the “I’m so cute, come and pat me” kind rather than the “if you try and touch me right now I’m going to eat you alive” kind.

I have been avoiding doing any research to find a good groomer in Vancouver to take Sterling to because I felt overwhelmed with what the cost was going to be, and whether I could trust someone.  It seems uncommon to find groomers in Vancouver who are willing to groom cats.  Well, enter my awesome partner.  While I have been at work, he has been researching groomers in Vancouver.  He was coming up empty.  He couldn’t seem to find any cat groomers online.  He found a plethora of dog groomers; not helpful.

After some extensive searching, he came across one.  And then he saw that she was “mobile”.  Meaning that she would travel TO THE CAT!  Then he saw that she was located in North Vancouver.  Well, he thought it was worth a phone call.  One week later, she arrived!  She came with this epic razor that had a vacuum attached to it  She was very aware of Whispers (she does NOT like vacuums) and did her best to conceal the vacuum in the hallway where the noise would not travel as much to where Whispers was hiding.  The groomer placed Sterling on her favorite place to sit (the bistro table in front of a big sunny window) and did the job.  The groomer took about 45 minutes to shave Sterling, and afterward, there was NO MESS!  It cost a fraction of what other groomers can charge.  The trust aspect was a non-issue as my partner witnessed the whole thing.  He even helped the groomer hold Sterling throughout.  A comfort I’m sure Sterling appreciated.

My partner arranged all of this while I was at work, so I came home to a stress-free, lion cut Sterling.  Obviously, here’s my recommendation:  Classy Cats, “Cats in the City”.  Do it.

 

Oops, Whispers did it again.

Hello again, it sure has been a long time since my last post.  I blame this on our recent move from one condo to another.  We had an unpleasant episode with Whispers involving her bladder and it’s choice of functioning; or lack thereof.  She developed, quite instantly I should add, a bladder infection, blood in urine and all.

We had an interesting (I use this word as politely as I can) experience with the Vet where they were unable to “extract” any urine from Whispers for testing, and ultimately, we ended up collecting Whispers urine at home.  I will save you the gory details on how we managed that.  They then performed a urinalysis and concluded ONLY that Whispers had blood in her pee.  Duh, I could have told them that.  Here’s where it got sticky.  There was strong suggestion of performing a further urinalysis, as well as x-rays (VERY costly) and switching her food.  If you’ve been reading my previous blogs, you would understand why the latter might make me lose sleep at night.  Generally, Vet offices offer food that cannot be purchased elsewhere.  This means that they can charge whatever they like, and in this case, we would have been paying significantly more than we are used to.  Having said that, the food they offer (in my opinion) does not meet the quality that I am used to feeding my pets.  I cannot justify, nor stomach, the thought of feeding Whispers and Sterling food that is low in quality and high in cost.  I am interested in learning the benefits of switching to such food and how I can relate that to my standards.  In this case, I learned that a low magnesium or ash diet is beneficial for a cat you suspect has crystals in her urine or even worse, kidney stones.  I did not learn this from the Vet.

All of these procedures were being suggested with the vague promise that we “might” be able to determine a diagnosis and then the treatment would “most likely” be antibiotics.  However, the x-ray “might not” reveal or conclude anything.  Oh, and to top it all off, they labeled Whispers as “an aggressive cat” which meant they would have to put her under (asleep) for these tests.  I don’t know what reaction they expected from a cat when sticking a needle into her bladder to get some pee out…  Ultimately, there was too much risk for Whispers with no promise of a positive outcome.  Because of this, my partner and I decided to obtain alternative means of treatment for our sweet, sick Whispers.

This was when we called a Homeopathic Vet, who travels to YOUR house for a vet visit.  Something that has turned out to be key for Whispers treatment as she is easily stressed out by, well anything really.  The less we need to transport her to and from a vet, the better.  So this vet came by our home, took an extensive history of Whispers and did a physical (which I witnessed our cat begin docile and turned annoyed at worst; not aggressive AT ALL!).  She then secured our trust even further by summarizing very accurately, Whispers’ personality.  How she strives to be the head of the pride, but for some reason, her low self-esteem pulls her down and she revolts by doing things like peeing on our stuff, and picking on Sterling.  She very nicely provided us with a “remedy” of some sort of moss-derived liquid.

We gave this remedy to Whispers twice and watched her transform.  It was really outstanding actually.  Quite quickly within the next few days, Whispers had us all wrapped up in her spell.  Her confidence has clearly boosted (I know, who would have thought…) and she is quite obviously more happy, more involved, more playful, and her litter box issues diminished almost entirely.  We are continuing to deal with this new Vet of ours and she has been great.  She has proven to have the best interest of Whispers in mind, not her bank account.

In addition, we took the food issue into our own hands.  As we have standards that we like to reach when feeding our cats, we researched our best option to switch their food.  We had been feeding California Natural Salmon and Sweet Potato, a great formula.  However, the ash content was 3.5%.  We managed to find a beef formula of Wellness which has a 1.95% ash content.  Bingo!  The cats love it, it exceeds our quality standards, and doesn’t break the bank.

Disclaimer (because I’m tacky):  I am not advocating either type of Vet.  I have had great experiences with our normal vet in the past.  There seem to be more than one Vet at our normal clinic.  The first few times we went there, we had exceptional experiences.  For this instance, the new Vet didn’t see eye to eye with us; she had treatment recommendations that we were not comfortable with.  As such, we had a better outcome from a homeopathic vet.  I advise you to use the resources available to you responsibly.  If you doubt anything, and you can afford it, get a second opinion.  Chances are, if you are having an issue with your pet, and you are seeking the help of a Veterinarian, you have made the right first step.

 

Copy Cats

I am 100% certain that my cats copy each other.  They observe long-term behaviour and for whatever reason, they slowly develop similar behaviour.

The copying is mutual.  At first we thought it was Sterling copying Whispers, who was taking on more of a dominant role in their relationship since being introduced to each other.  But no, Whispers, who is VERY different from Sterling, is slowly surprising us with how much her personality is changing.

When Sterling lived alone with me, she followed me around everywhere, talking, purring, playing chase and “flopping” (a term we use for when Sterling gets our attention with a dramatic meow and throws herself on her back with her paws in the air).   All of these things have successfully gotten her an abundance of pats and attention.  When she moved in with Whispers, she became a little withdrawn, as though she understood she was the outsider.  Her and I still kept our very strong bond but until Whispers gave in to the strange foreigner, Sterling stayed by my side only.  She has this relatively new thing where she carries her toys around the house while making the strangest noise, like she is talking to her toy.  I’ve found out that this is representative of her “bringing us her kill”.  She’s very loyal to us and wants to please us with what she’s got.  Sterling only ate treats from the floor, none of this “sit pretty” nonsense for her.

Whispers is a more reserved cat, who spends most of her time alone, doesn’t have a lot to say, but can get very playful on a whim and before you know it, she’s running laps in the living room with fat tail and a deep growl.  She is very loyal to my partner, but keeps it a secret, she doesn’t want anyone to find out she’s a cuddly suck.  She often perches herself in front of windows and watches the world go by, and she sleeps at the foot of our bed, every single night.  She has always buried her food.  She buries her food after eating to ensure no one *cough*Sterling*cough* will attempt to consume any of it.  She just won’t have it.  She prefers to take treats from our hands rather than off the floor.

Over the years, Sterling has begun to enjoy her time alone, finding particular interest in “Whispers’ spots” creating occasional battles over who gets it.  She cuddles with me mostly when it’s just the two of us, or there isn’t a lot going on.  She’s recently been found on the foot of our bed during the day, somewhere you wouldn’t normally find her, and before she eats her dinner, she will randomly “unbury” the dirt.  She will now take treats from our hands, after “sitting pretty”.

Whispers has starting talking about everything.  She follows us around and often asks for attention now, she has her own way of “flopping” and that is standing behind you and gently placing a paw on your arm or leg.  She has, just a few weeks ago, began talking at her toys while they are in her mouth.  Something we have never seen her do.  She now plays a mean game of chase.

All of these recent developments have really let us consider both of their personalities much deeper and realize how extensive their bond with each other is.  They are good friends now!

Do your cats have silly similarities that you are slowly picking up on?

Sterling and Whispers, flopped.

 

A Terrible Case of the “Cat Cold”

Here is a learning experience that my partner and I went through when Sterling had a bad case of the “Cat Cold” or URI – Upper Respiratory Infection.

Sterling is a very social cat, and usually follows us around the house.  When Sterling got sick, we had been settling in our new home, after moving across provinces.  One day Sterling missed her breakfast, and I assumed she was having new-house jitters.  When she missed dinner and I noticed her general absence throughout the day, I found her in the closet.  She would meander from the closet to other small dark spaces, away from everyone.  She wasn’t sleeping, just huddled.  She was also randomly coughing.  It was strange, but unmistakable coughing.

This combined with her social absence indicated that something was wrong.  One main thing to be aware of when you’re questioning the health of your cat is any behaviour that is out of the ordinary.  For any issue.  You know your cat, and you will (hopefully) notice if she is struggling to feel happy and healthy.

The first thing I checked was her nose.  It was dry and I knew that was bad.  (A healthy cats’ nose should be wet to the touch, NOT dripping, but wet.)  When I picked her up, she complained, and was very hot against me.  I felt the inside of her ear (where the hair stops growing; the ideal spot to check manually for a fever, make sure not to push too far into the canal) and she was burning up.  This was when we rushed her to the vet.

Common symptoms:

Sneezing
Runny nose
Coughing
Wheezing
Discharge from the nose or mouth
Respiratory problems
Oral ulcers
Conjunctivitis (discharge from the eye)

It was a Sunday night, of course, so we had no choice but to take her to the emergency vet clinic close to our home; knowing full well that it was not going to be an affordable visit.  We still chose to take her because even if the cold itself wasn’t threatening to her, I knew a high fever can introduce a risk of organ damage.

Because of our personal financial restraints at the time, we were only able to let the Emergency Vet treat Sterling with the most immediate issue; dehydration.  They also took some blood work to rule out any underlying problems.  They injected a fluid into the scruff of her neck which would help her dehydration and they gave me VERY HELPFUL TIPS for bringing down Sterling’s temperature until we were able to take her to her regular vet the next morning.

• Keep her in the bathroom overnight and remove any towels or rugs from the floor so she has to lie on the cool floor.

• Bring icepacks in with her and lay them around her while she sleeps; try to avoid direct contact.

• Place her on a wet cloth
  

• Do as much as you can to keep her cool

• Leave her food and water in the room with her – if her fever goes down at all, her appetite may return Something to consider if you feed your cat dry food only and you are attempting to battle dehydration – coat the kibble in room-temperature water and let it soak in.  Just another method of introducing liquids.  This would be favourable over giving your kitty canned wet food that she is not used to.  You don’t want to risk upsetting her system any more than it already is.

• Let her rest

The following morning, Sterling was obviously feeling a bit better; some of her food was gone and the fluid-filled sac around her neck had dispersed.  A good way to tell if your cat is dehydrated is to grab the scruff of her neck in your hand and release.  If the skin feels squishy and settles immediately, dehydration is probably not a concern.  If the skin sticks or stays “bunched” for a few seconds before falling, your cat is probably suffering from dehydration.

When we brought her to her usual vet, they reviewed her blood work with nothing abnormal to state and prescribed her some penicillin.  After discussing some information about this “cold” we determined that Whispers caught it some time ago in Calgary and passed it to Sterling.  Infected cats may carry the virus for the duration of their life.  If that is the case, the cat may suffer from flare-ups during high-stressed times.  This cat can pass on the virus to other cats even if she isn’t actively symptomatic.  This was most likely the situation between Sterling and Whispers.  Because of this, there was no risk of Whispers “catching it” from Sterling.  When you have multiple cats, and you are unsure how it developed, it’s a good idea to separate them from one another.  It spreads quickly.  We also figured out that Sterling was probably suffering from a compromised immune system due to the recent relocation.  She was a big stressed ball of fuzz.

As I mentioned above, Sterling was not eating for a few days.  I did not know this at the time, but there is a very common, very dangerous disease that affects many cats that is linked to their diet, specifically, diet flaws.  It is called Hepatic Lipidosis; Fatty Liver Disease.  Watch for an upcoming entry where I will discuss some of the risk factors involved, the symptoms, and some ways to avoid it.

 

Kitty Scratching Deterrents

If you are one of many people getting frustrated at your cat for sharpening her claws on your new leather couch or other furniture,  I have some suggestions before taking the surgical leap into declawing.

First off, declawing a cat is equivalent to a human losing the tips of their fingers, down to the first knuckle.  I have cut a good portion of the tip of one of my thumbs off, and I can tell you that even one year later, I still don’t have full sensitivity back and doing anything with that thumb feels “off”.  Consider that feeling with all of your fingers.  And then consider burying your poop in a clay-filled container with those fingers.  Not only is it unnatural, but there has GOT to be some significant discomfort.

I have also heard and read about a number of cases where some cats acted out after their surgery.  They would start marking, or become more frightened or aggressive.  Not to mention the risks you introduce if you cat spends any significant time outdoors.  There are raccoons where I live, and they are vicious!

Soft Claws.  The alternative to surgery.  They are soft plastic nail covers for your cat that can be applied by you, or your vet if you would prefer.  http://www.softclaws.com/

This site also has great suggestions for cutting your own cats claws, especially information about the quick.  (The little veins at the base of your cats nails).  If you accidentally cut too much of the nail off it hurts your cat and the quick will bleed.  We generally wrap our cats up in a tight blanket and take out one paw at a time.  Neither of them like having their nails trimmed.

Because cats do little damage with their rear claws and do a good job of keeping them trim themselves-by chewing them-many cat owners never clip the rear claws. Others trim their cats’ rear claws three or four times a year or have them done by their veterinarian or a professional groomer. http://www.softclaws.com/article.asp

Ssscat.  I use it, not because my cats scratch the furniture, but because one of them used to pee in bad places.  It would serve the same purpose, if there is a particular couch or chair or bed that your kitten is scratching, place the bottle of Ssscat nearby and the issue will slowly disappear.  Honestly, this little can of air does wonders!  http://www.multivet.net/en/products/ssscat/ This is a great alternative, or addition to the good old squirt bottle.  Ssscat is nice for the times you don’t personally catch them in the act.

Orange or citrus deterrents.  Cats do not like the smell of citrus.  Try spraying the furniture in question with a fabric-safe blend of citrus essential oils.  Try to avoid using any products high in chemical content.  You want to deter them, not poison them.  Perhaps your cats will opt out of getting up close and personal with it.

Tin Foil. A friend tried this out when her cats were wearing out her couch from where they would sleep.  She placed flat sections of tinfoil on their “spots” and that was the end of that.  It’s worth a try.

Organic Catnip.  Try attracting your cat back on to his/her favourite cat tree.  Have a look at my homemade toy suggestions.  Catnip brings attention to anything you want.

I have said this before and I shall say it again:  No hitting, no yelling, no scolding, and no punishing.  None of these methods will solve the problem and they will just make your cat scared of you and resent you even more.  There is a solution to this problem, your kitties will love you for trying these out before putting them under the knife.

 

Plastic Versus Non-Plastic Dishes

I learned, while working at the small pet supply chain I keep mentioning, that plastic bowls are pretty gross.  Just like when you accidentally keep something in the fridge for too long inside of a tupperware-like container, and mold makes an unwelcoming appearance.  It’s hard to know for sure if you cleaned it well enough to get rid of the bacteria completely since mold can penetrate plastic.  I typically throw away plastic that’s gone moldy.  It sure is a waste which is why collecting less plastic containers and more glass, or stainless steel “to-go” containers is the way to go.

Similarly, I don’t keep Sterling’s food or water in plastic bowls/dishes.  She drinks water from ceramic dishes and eats her meals out of stainless steel dishes.  For this same reason, I don’t agree with self-dispensing water jugs.

Say "No" to plastic!

As we all learn more about plastic, not only about the harms for us, but the waste it produces, I could not justify keeping Sterling’s water in a plastic jug, dispensing week old (or longer) water.  Fresh water is very important for your pets long-term health.

In addition, plastic bowls scratch and dent easily.  If you have the type of cat who insists on scratching out all the debris sitting on top of the water (sounds weird, though I’ve seen it happen), or a cat like Whispers who “buries” her food when she’s full  to make sure Sterling doesn’t find it… slowly but surely, the plastic dish is going to get nicks and scratches in it.  Another way for bacteria to collect.

I understand fully that plastic is sometimes unavoidable, but as long as you make a substantial effort to avoid using it, and recycling it if applicable, you’re helping your pet, yourself, and the planet.

A nice looking porcelain dish that will last a long time and is easy to clean!

 

Litter Box Etiquette

As I’ve identified, I have a cat who makes the litter box situation a tough one, and we’ve had to battle over numerous issues.  Again, here’s what I’ve learned from my own experience as well as having some great friends who are also cat guardians.

First of all, if your cat is experiencing prolonged litter issues such as frequent urination, delayed urination, struggling or crying while urinating, take her to the vet as there may be an urgent underlying problem.

If that is ruled out, and you’ve been told that it is “behavioural”, don’t get mad.  Yelling at your cat or “scolding” her or throwing her into her box after an accident is only going to perpetuate the problem.  We have made the “scolding” mistake until much reading and trials proved this was not a good way to combat the problem, and it made us feel really terrible too.

There is a numbers rule.  One box per cat plus one. If you have one cat, it’s up to you whether you keep one or two but if you chose to only have one, you better make sure you are emptying that thing often enough to avoid any issues!  When you have multiple cats, this rule applies.  I have two cats, we have three litter boxes.  Yes, it takes up a lot of space, but it’s the only way to ensure good use of the boxes.  (We only recently added the third box, and it certainly helped our previously mentioned problem).

Make sure these boxes are being kept in an ideal location.  Keep them away from high-traffic or noisy areas, away from their food, and preferably not on carpet.  Cats can mistake the texture of carpet for litter and that is not fun!  Keep the area free of clutter and things that will frequently change or move.

Scoop regularly; the more often, the better.  When you clean out the litter box, be sure not to use any cleaners that are citrus scented.  Citrus is a natural cat deterrent.  Stick with a mild soap (a natural one preferably) and rinse well.

I used to scoop the litter into old plastic grocery bags, but as I decreased the amount of plastic bags I was collecting by shopping with reusable bags, I came across some inexpensive biodegradable pet waste bags that were a perfect size for scooping cat clumps into.  They are inexpensive, and you can find them pretty much in any pet store or some natural markets.

There are many types of boxes and litter.  So besides what fits in the budget, and what is natural (there are wheat litter, cedar litters, pine litters, newspaper litters etc), stick with what your cat(s) respond to the best.  I use this litter.  If they aren’t satisfied with the litter situation, you will know.  Once you find a style of box and a type of litter your cat likes, stick with it.  No switching allowed!

I recently found out that when your cat does her business quickly and then jumps out right away without burying, it may mean that she doesn’t like her litter.  If she buries her business, steps out of the box and continues to bury, she may think the box is too small for her natural behaviour.  Sterling does this.  Our boxes are the largest boxes you can get your hands on.  I’m quite certain that if her litter box was the size of a sandbox she would still get out and bury, but the key here is that she is using it.

Sterling’s box was once filled with cedar litter which smelled amazing, but she would randomly “miss” the box and when I didn’t catch the clue, she started wandering further and further away from it each time, until she was rarely using her box.  Once her litter was switched, the problem was solved.  It’s sometimes not that obvious, so you really have to be aware of your cat’s normal and abnormal behaviour.

Funny Story:  When my family moved out of the house I grew up in, we heard a few months later from our old neighbour that the upstairs bathroom ceiling had collapsed.  The new owners had been emptying the cats litter into the toilet.

I know that there are “flushable” litters, and the cedar litter Sterling had before was one of them, but ever since I heard about that, I refuse to flush any litter!  Use your discretion!  To me, flushing clumping litter seems silly.  If you’ve ever emptied a litter box full of soiled clumping clay, you can imagine how that might affect your plumbing.

 

Pee Battle

I have a cat who likes to pee in places that are not her litter box.  I am not talking about Sterling, however, I’m talking about her pal Whispers.  Whispers is a female cat, like Sterling, who was rescued by my partner before I met him.  She is approximately 7 years old and she is a generally shy, reserved cat, but with the ones she loves, she can be the biggest suck, and a great hunter!

Whispers happy in her "catsle"

Her and Sterling pretend to hate each other, but we often find them secretly conversing, what one of my roommates likes to call “kitten conventions” where they obviously discuss how to further trick us into thinking they are enemies all the while they are plotting against us.

Halloween Convention

Anyways, Whispers has a pee problem.

She has had this problem ever since my partner can remember and there are a variety of different triggers.  As I mentioned, she was rescued so this may have been a reason for previous abandonment.  When it gets bad, we always get a little nervous and take her to the vet just to make sure it isn’t a medical issue.  So far so good.  Her triggers are all related to missing some sort of routine, or not getting her way.  She usually picks a “spot” and pees there if she’s feeling put off.

In our old house, she localized her accidents to pieces of carpet close to the doors where she was let outside to roam in the summer.  One night, we accidentally closed the door to our mudroom while she was relaxing in it, and we woke up the next morning to find this:

Angry poop and spilled dirt

Angry poop and burried pee carpet

Since we relocated from Alberta to British Columbia, the problem got way out of hand.  Things that we noticed as triggers were:

• Guests staying with us, she has been known to pee pretty much right on top of them in their bed.

• My partner and I being away overnight, generally we came home to a soiled bed.

• Re-arranging furniture.

• If something is laying on the ground that she doesn’t like (a towel, clothing, bedding), she would pee directly on it.

• Not being allowed to go outside when she wants/expects to.

• Not being fed when she wants/expects to.

• If there are “foreign objects” i.e., random boxes or laundry baskets sitting around her litter box.  She’s afraid of a lot of things, and with fear comes the automatic association between litter box and being scared, which is a large reason why she would refuse to use her box.  This one was the easiest to figure out, and the easiest to combat.

As we noticed more of a pattern with these things, we became very aware of them, and we basically do things “Whispers’ way” most of the time now.

We began by taking her down to her litter box twice a day.  This avoided mid-day bladder emptying on our new carpet or couch.  When at her box with her, we would praise, pat, and make sure there were no unwanted items lying around.  My roommate created a “Whispers’ House” with some empty cardboard boxes (her favourite thing) sprinkled with catnip.  It became a happier place for her to go and seemed to retrain her.

We purchased waterproof mattress covers for our bed as well as our pull out couch, as they were targets on a number of occasions.  She hasn’t tested their quality so far.

We cleaned and cleaned our carpets and couch each time there was an incident, paying great attention to getting the odour out.  One great product for this has been Nature’s Miracle. http://www.naturemakesitwork.com/home/index.php Before we use that, we soak up the pee with something equivalent to Sham Wow, (You’ll say wow every time!).

These things have nearly eliminated Whispers’ problem, though she does get upset every now and then, and after one frustrating day, we decided to purchase the miracle that is “Ssscat”.  It is a can of compressed air with a small motion sensor at the top, and when the sensor goes off, a quick but loud jolt of air comes out.

We placed the can near her favourite pee spot and when she gets close it goes off, scares her, and she gets distracted from peeing.  We usually hear it go off, and immediately take her down to her litter box.

Hoping not to jinx our success, this has stopped the problem.  Poor Sterling wanders past it every now and then, with no intention of peeing in mind, and gets the crap scared out of her.  She gets over it pretty quick; she’s not as timid as Whispers.

As Christmas gets closer, and things around the house turn slightly chaotic, we’ll see how she acts.  We are going out-of-town for one week and would be ecstatic if we returned to a clean bed!

Check out some simple rules for the litter box situation!