Cat pheromones and birds...

[Andie]

My cat Coco is a little pest and wizzes ALL over the house. Curtains, fridge door, walls. He still uses the litter tray when he wants to but he is just a pain.

We have tried EVERYTHING. His kidney function etc is all perfect. We even tried hormone shots etc. They worked for a little but they wore off faster than they should have. The vet recommended this thing that plugs into the wall and emits cat pheromone. Some how this stops them peeing?

The cat vet can't tell me though if it is safe for a house with birds. I will not even consider it if it is not safe. IT is not like a freshener that squirts into the air. But I am still worried.

Does anyone know?

[Ashling]

No idea 0_0 You'd have to find out what ingredients are in these pheromones (which are chemicals) and find out if they are natural or artificial. Natural should be ok but artificial is when you should be concerned. I hope someone has the quick answer though!

[TAGyourIT]

Have you tried cleaning the litter box more often and adding more litterboxes throughout the house? I know that some cats WILL NOT go in a litterbox they deem "dirty".

That has to be VERY frustrating. I would try the pheromone. I have heard good things about them. You might also try giving him a little rescue remedy. That stuff works wonders.

I would be worried about the ammonia from the cat urine everywhere being more harmful than the pheromones. You can also get that Natures Miracle for cat urine from PetSmart to clean everything.

I hope you can get it worked out. I know you must be going bonkers.

[Sandybottomsmn]

I have had calls about this at work, and they are safe for birds. They do not emit any actual odors that you will be able to smell, and if it is the Feliway brand they are natural ingredients. I have two in my home and have used this brand for the last 5 years around my birds with no ill effects. At the last clinic I worked at we also sold them to homes with birds (and we were a small animal and bird specialty clinic)
One of the things that really helped with my cat was I bought a LARGE under the bed storage container and filled it with liter and hid it behind the couch. This and the feliway really helps. Most cats who have inappropriate urination issues (not related to medical conditions) have anxiety which causes them to pee around the house, hence why the pheromones help. Kind of a mild cat version of an breathable version of prozac. Although sometimes it doesn't work and you have to give them the real stuff..
Good luck.. peeing kitties sure do stink ;)

[mommaof3]

I am thankful when we got our Tiger a few weeks ago that his old owner told us that he absolutely doesn't like a dirty litterbox. I keep ours in the bathroom which causes a litter mess but everytime I go in there I clean it out if I notice it needs to be clean and I vacuum the floor around it. And so far we haven't had any issues with our guy. I am OCD anyhow (like literaly, I am what they call an organizer, cleaner and washer) and get super stressed if things arent "perfect" that includes their placement. I like the idea of multiple litter boxes throughout the house. I would think that would help. But the pheramones thing doesn't sound like it would be bad for the birdies.

[Andie]

I have already got multiple litter trays. The stupid cats wee in one and poo in the other! That was NOT the point! They were meant to choose one each!.

I know it is marking, the 'bad' kind of peeing because he does not poo on the floor. He always does that in the litter tray.

I was prescribed tablets for him from the vet because the other cat is happy and we decided not to do anything that might change him. So far, he is still spraying but much less often. I jsut sneak up to him when he is siting on someone's lap and pop the tablet in. He is very good with taking them!

[Lori~D]

Is he neutered??????

[Andie]

Yeah. It is almost compulsory to have it done here.
We have to register our cats too.