Before we answer this week's letter, we'd like to let you know about a wonderful fundraiser that One By One Cat Rescue of Kutztown, Pennsylvania, is conducting. They're selling car magnets and rubber wristbands with messages that encourage people to adopt from shelters and spay or neuter their pets. The car magnets cost $7.90 each, and the bracelets cost $5 each; this price includes shipping charges. For more information and to see what the magnets and wristbands look like, click here.

We wanted to mention this fundraiser not only because one of Mama's friends from a cat-centered web forum is in charge of it, but because we think it would be a great idea for other shelters. Car magnets and rubber bracelets are really popular here in the United States, and we think that shelters all over the country could benefit from such a low-overhead and potentially high-yield fundraiser.

And now, on to this week's letter.

Dear Sinéad, Siouxsie and Thomas:
My male kitty Cedric often doesn't pee in the litter box. Cedric is around 5 years old and is neutered. We rescued him when he was a year old from the local animal shelter. Both he and his adopted sister Lillia eat a natural homemade diet (courtesy of Dr. Pitcairn's book). They are both very healthy, happy, vigorous cats except for this one issue.

When we lived in our previous house, he had a specific place in the dining room he liked to do his business. We moved shortly after the habit began and in our new home, he again chose the dining room. We shortly thereafter removed all the damaged carpet in the dining room and replaced it with hardwood, so he found a several new places with carpet - the landing of our staircase, a corner in our bedroom and a corner in our office. Several times I have cleaned the stairs thoroughly and used one of those enzyme cleaners to try to get the smell out. I tried a "no-go" aid on the location and have put obstacles in his way. He gave up on all the other locals except the stairwell and unfortunately, I can't block that off as we all need to get up and down the stairs. But my carpet is all yellowed and ruined and he does it when I'm not around so I have no way of knowing if there is pee there or not. To make matters worse, he chooses different places on the landing so I never know where to clean.

We have tried varying litters (when this began, we had not recently changed litters, litter boxes, or litter box placement), we have three boxes and clean them all two times a day. We have had him checked for medical conditions. The strange thing is, sometimes he does use the litter box. And he uses it to poop, so why must he insist on peeing on the stairs intermittently?

Our vet posited that he is scared of the washer and dryer (the litter box is in the laundry room), except that we have seen him visit the laundry room when both were running and he didn't seem scared at all. This also doesn't jive because at the condo, where this all started, the litter boxes were in the guest bathroom. No scary noises there.

When he does use the box, he doesn't cover anything up and runs out of the room like a maniac and won't let us touch him for several minutes after he has used the box. He does the low crouching slinking thing. Did something happen to him in that year before he came to us? How can we encourage him to go pee in the right place?

Thanks,
Summer

Sinéad: Well, Summer, judging from what you tell us, it does sound like Cedric's problem is rooted in fear or anxiety.

Siouxsie: The fact that he will poop in the box -- but he runs out, terrified, as soon as he's done -- tells us that at some point, something traumatized him while he was in the box.

Thomas: Since he doesn't feel safe in the box, he's using other locations to pee, and only uses it to poop because he absolutely knows he has to.

Sinéad: We're not sure how Cedric came to be so traumatized around the litterbox, but we do have a few suggestions that might help.

Siouxsie: First of all, think about this: Is there any characteristic that all the places Cedric urinates have in common? Are the locations in brightly lit areas, or are they under tables or in protected corners? Are they near windows or as far away from windows as possible?

Thomas: Then compare the characteristics of the place where the litterbox is located to the characteristics of his favorite peeing locations. What's similar? What's different?

Sinéad: Maybe if it's possible to make his litterbox environment more like the places where he pees, he'll feel better about peeing there.

Siouxsie: If he prefers a cave-like area, perhaps you can buy or build a cavern-like enclosure for his box. On the other hand, if he prefers open spaces and you're using a covered catbox, try removing the cover and see if that helps him to feel better about peeing there.

Thomas: If Cedric seems to have a preference for carpeted floors, you could try purchasing some carpet samples, area rugs, "carpet tiles" or small remnants, in a texture and color similar to that of the carpet Cedric likes to pee on, and put them under the litterboxes. Make sure the carpeting extends beyond the edges of the boxes so that he can step on the carpet before and after he uses his box.

Sinéad: Area rugs and carpet tiles are much easier to clean than full-size room carpets, so even if Cedric does decide to use that carpet as a litterbox, you can just pick it up and throw it in the washing machine.

Siouxsie: The emotional component is generally more difficult to deal with. Deep-rooted anxiety and stress can take a long time to resolve -- as you probably know, if you know anyone who's been in counseling or recovery because of traumatic events in their lives. But there are some things you can do to help Cedric with his fear and anxiety, too.

Thomas: As usual, we recommend Feliway, a cat pheromone analogue that has been very successful in helping to alleviate spraying, inappropriate urination, and fighting between cats. Mama's used Feliway for us, and it worked like a charm.

Sinéad: Feliway comes in a spray and in plug-in diffusers. Mama used the plug-in diffuser and the spray together to help us when some of us (ahem) started having fighting and spraying issues. On the advice of Gail, the lady who owns CatFaeries (where Mama bought her Feliway), Mama used the diffuser in the room where we spent the most time and used the spray in each room of the house, twice a day, until we started feeling better.

Siouxsie: If you order Feliway from CatFaeries, Gail can give you personalized advice on how best to use Feliway to help Cedric get over his anxiety and trauma.

Thomas: CatFaeries is now selling Anti-Icky-Poo, a urine-removing spray that works better than anything else on the market, too.

Sinéad: In all fairness, we should tell you that Feliway is also available at large pet stores and online through places like Drs. Foster and Smith (where they're currently having a sale on Feliway products). Anti-Icky-Poo, along with Anti-Icky-Poo kits and other accessories, is also available here (at their own website), but it costs less if you buy it through CatFaeries.

Siouxsie: But we encourage you to support independent merchants whenever possible. Purrrrrrrrrrr....

Thomas: In addition to using pheromones, many cat lovers have had great success in treating anxiety with flower essences and homeopathy.

Sinéad: We encourage you to find a veterinary homeopath in your area. We really believe that if you find a good homeopath, who understands cat psychology and the principles of homeopathy, you will be able to undertake a program that will help Cedric let go of the fear and anxiety that keep him from feeling safe in the litterbox.

Siouxsie: While you're looking for a homeopathy, we recommend that you use some flower essence remedies to help treat Cedric's anxiety. We've used flower essences from Green Hope Farms, and we love them!

Thomas: Green Hope Farms has a whole line of animal care flower essences, including an essence to help treat anxiety.

Sinéad: And best of all, the Green Hope essences are preserved in a Red Shiso Root tincture, rather than the alcohol that's usually used to preserve herbal remedies and flower essences. That means it tastes better and doesn't burn our tongues.

Siouxsie: If you do get essences from them, we recommend you start with the remedies called Anxiety, Abandonment & Abuse, and New Beginnings.

Thomas: One other thing you can do to keep Cedric from peeing on your carpets while you're at work is to close him into one room. This may sound cruel, but it may also help him to learn that he needs to use the litterbox instead of your carpets when he needs to do his business.

Sinéad: Of course, if you do this, you'll need to make the room as pleasant as possible. Be sure that he has toys, food and water, a bed (or other comfortable resting place) and, of course, a litterbox. If you keep him in one room while you're at work, the odds are good that he will start to feel safer with the litterbox -- because, after all, if he's the only cat in the room, he knows nobody's going to attack him while he's peeing.

Siouxsie: This positive conditioning may help to undo the fear and anxiety that Cedric has built up around the litterbox.

Thomas: If you choose to do this, please do everything you can to help Cedric feel that being put in a room of his own is not punishment. Get him used to "his" room by spending time in there with him, playing with him, loving him and giving him treats, so that he comes to associate "his" room with positive things.

Sinéad: It's unfortunate, but some cats don't respond to any of this and may need drug therapy to help relieve their anxiety issues. We hope that you will try the solutions we suggested, and be patient with Cedric as he relearns proper litterbox behavior.

Siouxsie: However, if none of this works, you may have to resort to anti-anxiety drugs. If our suggestions don't work to get Cedric back on track, we suggest you ask your vet for a referral to an animal behaviorist. These professionals have lots of information on techniques you can use for behavior modification and may be able to recommend other treatments we haven't thought of.

Thomas: Good luck, Summer. We wish all the best for you and Cedric, and the rest of your family.

Got a question? Need some advice? E-mail us at advice@paws-and-effect.com. None of the material in this column is meant to be a substitute for regular veterinary care.