Toby Pees On Everything - Carole Wilbourn
Carole Wilbourn, The Cat Therapist, has been the leading voice in feline therapy for over 5 decades. She has helped thousands of cat moms and dads explore, face, and resolve cat behavioral and health issues. Carole is truly the most trusted Cat Therapist in the United States.
Cat Therapist, Feline Therapist, Carole Wilbourn, Cat Problems, Cat incontinence, Cat problems, Cat health, Feline health, Feline Therapy, Cat Therapy, Feline anxiety,
5653
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-5653,single-format-standard,theme-bridge,bridge-core-3.0.5,qi-blocks-1.0.6,qodef-gutenberg--no-touch,woocommerce-no-js,qode-page-transition-enabled,ajax_fade,page_not_loaded,,qode-title-hidden,side_menu_slide_from_right,columns-3,qode-theme-ver-29.2,qode-theme-bridge,wpb-js-composer js-comp-ver-7.9,vc_responsive

26 Feb Toby Pees On Everything

Posted at 01:45h in Blog by
Toby is often on the run from Bobby

Urine puddles, aggression and grief
(Indiscriminate Urination, Grief Angst, Displaced Aggression, Patience Supports Mental Health)

“Sunny from Animal Village New Mexico, gave me your name. My beautiful rescued Snowshoe Siamese has started peeing on everything. We treated him first with meds for infection. No improvement. He is now on meds for stress. Still no improvement! He’s 12,” said Nellie, and she scheduled a phone consult.

Tinkled On Cat Mats
As we did the consult, Nellie clicked on speaker phone and the link to the relaxation music I’d sent. She filled me in on how they’d adopted Toby when he was about five years old in 2012. “Although he had a microchip, when the shelter contacted his family, he was disowned. From the start Toby tinkled on the cat beds. We figured it was a fetish. Only now this behavior has escalated to our rugs, beds and more.”

Toby’s Companions
“Bobby is fourteen, and his fave bud passed on several months ago. The two guys were inseparable. Bobby’s grief has manifested in aggression towards Toby. He even sometimes ambushes Toby when he’s in the litter box or litter box bound. Bobby is more or less oblivious to Stella, their female companion. Stella is ten and she will sometimes hiss at Toby. She tends to be more aloof with her interactions.
The cats all slept with us until recently when Toby peed in our bed,” said Nellie. “Now he spends the night in my office.”

Stella is a cuddle cat

Symptom Of Angst — Not Fetish Or Spitefulness
“Toby’s incidents from the start on their cat beds were a symptom of his angst and discomfort — not a fetish. When he had an anxiety attack, his stress targeted his bladder. Toby purposely detoured-avoided the litter box as an S.O.S. for your help. The soft cat beds reminded him of the intimacy and comfort of the mother cat. They returned him to his comfort zone.”

“So his abandonment triggered his anxiety?” said Nellie.
“Yes,” and I went on to explain that his vulnerability could’ve started during the gestation period. The mother and/or father cat could’ve been out of sorts. Also, Toby might’ve been the runt of his litter or/and didn’t get the right nipple. Any one of these issues may have contributed to his emotional fragility — his mental health.

Toby’s Patience Supports His Mental Health
“Phew, so it’s almost a decade that Toby’s incidents have signaled his angst, and now he’s really over the edge — the fact that he pees all over. We’re about out of patience.”
“Yes, you are and likewise with Toby,” I explained. As his angst increased, his incidents have become more frequent and more in your face, so to speak. There’s no way for you to ignore or rationalize them. Toby’s decade of patience is now on the decline. His incidents are out of desperation. Although a cat is a model of patience, when his physical or mental health is challenged he becomes desperate.”
“What’s thrown Toby over?” said Nellie.
“It’s a combination of irritants — senior cat status, lower stress tolerance, and Bobby’s aggressiveness is the significant cause.

Bobby is still in grief mode over his best bud companion

Bobby’s Grief Gap
I told Nellie that Bobby’s boundaries are blurred without his very best bud. It’s easier to experience anger instead of sadness and Toby has become Bobby’s tension target — a way to release his fear and grief.
“So what can we do to restore peace? We don’t want to break up our family?”

Treatment Plan To Chip Away At Aggression And Fear

  • Play the link of music to recreate the relaxation and confidence of the session. The music will be their security object.
  • Line Toby’s litter box with wee wee pads or paper towels to recreate the comfort he received from mother cat’s fur. Praise the cats whenever they use the litter box.
  • Feed Toby a bladder friendly food, even though he doesn’t have a medical problem.
  • It may be necessary to change Toby’s anxiety medication to support his behavioral program and also to have the vet prescribe one for Bobby. The medication can slowly be weaned later on. Wait about a week to see what progress they make before you speak to the vet.
  • Remember to always acknowledge the other cats verbally, “right guys” or “isn’t that good” whenever you interact or touch one of their companions. This creates unity and chips away at jealousy.
  • Tell Bobby how it’s so generous of him to be the role model to Toby and Stella. We want to change his attitude and m.o. with a positive reflection. Repeat and repeat.
  • It may be necessary to sequester Toby in a small space with all his comforts when you’re out or can’t be with him. You may have to use this technique more often, depending on his rate of recovery. When a cat is anxious he seeks out a small space.
  • Tell them how courageous and mellow they’re becoming instead of negative banter.
  • A heating pad or hot water bottle will relax and comfort them if they like heat.
  • Encourage them to play together with a few toss toys or wands. This will enable them to be close without friction.

I reminded Nellie that there may be break-downs. However, they will recover sooner as their stress tolerance and confidence increases. It’s a paw at a time that will create this game-changer.

…..