Re: Help! Cat peeing on carpet.

[ingo]

Dixon posted under "Pets and other Critters":

How can I get cat piss out of the carpet?
Also, how can I stop her from doing that? She used to let me know whenever she needed to be let out to go peepee or poopoo, but when I went away for a week's vacation about 3 months ago, she started peeing and pooping in the house; maybe she was upset that I'd left, but she's never done that before when I've been gone. I thought she'd finally gotten back to her normal behavior, but she did it again the other night, when I was in the next room and she could easily have gotten me to let her out. Any advice from you critter experts?
Thanks!
Dixon
---------

Ingo responded:

Sell the house...kill the cat....
:D

Here comes the follow-up:

[petermargolies]

Sell the house...kill the cat....
:D
The author of these comments should understand that people form very strong attachments to their pets and while I assume this is an attempt to make light of the subject, the line between humor and insensitive boorishness (one which I have been known to cross myself) needs to be respected. This is a serious subject that is often difficult to deal with and this comment is not helpful. Just because Barry is not currently available to moderate this website is no reason for us to run amuck.
Pete

[petermargolies]

Sorry but I don't accept your explanation or your appology. Had you meant your comments only for the individual who has the cat-pee problem, you would have sent your response to that person only. Instead you sent it to the entire group, with the suspected intent of infuriating those with more regard for the feelings of others than you exhibit. While I gave you the benefit of the doubt the first time around, your explanation shows your true colors. There is more than enough boorish insensitivity to go around in the real world without polluting cyberspace with your version of it here as well. Perhaps you'd feel more comfortable in a group with others of a like mind. Why not try workinghardtobeajerk.com. I think you'll find many like-minded people there.

[Deb]

Just because Barry is not currently available to moderate this website is no reason for us to run amuck.
Pete

Ingo (as well as myself) IS helping moderate while Barry is taking a break. Your response brings up the question of what is appropriate posting and how do we deal with a posts we don't like or are offended by. I like that Ingo felt comfortable to make the joke and that Peter felt comfortable to share his experience of this. The beauty of this site is that we are free to have more dialogue around anything that comes along. Any expression may be considered disrespectful to one person, but not to another. I don't know that it is our job as moderators to make that distinction. As a moderator over at the yahoo list I would have given Ingo a little "swat on the butt" for adding that kind of commentary because the "rule" over there is "no conversation". Here, that is not the case. Here, his post was my first big laugh of the day, which I always appreciate. I know Ingo and I know Dixon. That's why I could laugh. I love cats and hate them at times too. I had to deal with the cat pee thing and know how frustrating it can be. I, too, am sorry if anyone was/is offended by finding humor in "...kill the cat". I think there is something to be be gained by exploring our desire to be authentic and self expressive and the self sensorship we exhibit when we consider possible responses to our authenticity. We could move THIS conversation to another thread over in waccotalk if anybody wants to continues. Cuz this is definitely off topic now.

Meow, purr, hiss...
Deb
(moderator)

[Lorrie]

AMEN!!!






Ingo (as well as myself) IS helping moderate while Barry is taking a break. Your response brings up the question of what is appropriate posting and how do we deal with a posts we don't like or are offended by. I like that Ingo felt comfortable to make the joke and that Peter felt comfortable to share his experience of this. The beauty of this site is that we are free to have more dialogue around anything that comes along. Any expression may be considered disrespectful to one person, but not to another. I don't know that it is our job as moderators to make that distinction. As a moderator over at the yahoo list I would have given Ingo a little "swat on the butt" for adding that kind of commentary because the "rule" over there is "no conversation". Here, that is not the case. Here, his post was my first big laugh of the day, which I always appreciate. I know Ingo and I know Dixon. That's why I could laugh. I love cats and hate them at times too. I had to deal with the cat pee thing and know how frustrating it can be. I, too, am sorry if anyone was/is offended by finding humor in "...kill the cat". I think there is something to be be gained by exploring our desire to be authentic and self expressive and the self sensorship we exhibit when we consider possible responses to our authenticity. We could move THIS conversation to another thread over in waccotalk if anybody wants to continues. Cuz this is definitely off topic now.

Meow, purr, hiss...
Deb
(moderator)

[MarkPenn]

We could move THIS conversation to another thread over in waccotalk if anybody wants to continues. Cuz this is definitely off topic now.


Well, this hit a nerve with me; and I have to disagree, Deb - I think it's right on topic, that being "Pets and Other Critters", and the subtitle being "Anything to do with non-human life forms". That's exactly what Peter is talking about: peoples' attitudes about animals, and if anyone thinks that killing a cat is anything near funny, even meant in the best of lights, then I have to question their level of understanding of something like this.

Have you ever had a cat killed? Do you know how often that happens? Would you joke about it to someone who has experienced it? ('Cause you just did, in this public forum...) It's just not funny. No more funny, really than "Kill the _____ (fill it in with some description of a human)". And if you were making a joke with Dixon, then it should have been done privatey, because it's certainly not the kind of "joke" I'd want kids to be laughing at (ok, I admit, that last sentence of this should have gone to WaccoTalk).

Ingo, I don't know you (as Deb does), so I have no idea of the intent behind your "joke". I will certainly not judge you from this (I think Pete was too harsh), but I will say that even your half-hearted apology (your apparently sarcastic "sensitive people" and "tender souls" remarks) shows that you don't understand many peoples' level of committment to their pets. This is supposed to be an "enlightened" group - I will say here (and then I will shut up) that making any "joke" about killing an animal is a very "un-enlightened" thing to do. That, essentially is my "Pets and Other Critters" forum comment.

The "insensitivity" part of all this is indeed another subject, and one for WaccoTalk. I'll look over there to see if anyone has chosen to discuss it.

OK, soapbox yielded.

--Mark

[Moon]

Sorry but I don't accept your explanation or your appology. There is more than enough boorish insensitivity to go around in the real world without polluting cyberspace with your version of it here as well. Perhaps you'd feel more comfortable in a group with others of a like mind. Why not try workinghardtobeajerk.com. I think you'll find many like-minded people there.

Hey, no prob!--close down the website, kill Ingo.

[Dixon]

Haw haw haw! "Kill Ingo"! Stop, you're killin' me!

I'm away from the email for three days, and when I get back I find that my cat posting has indirectly engendered a minor shit-storm because a couple of self-appointed arbiters of taste have upset themselves with needlessly negative interpretations of Ingo's innocent joke. Can't I leave you kids alone for three days without you getting into trouble?

As the initiator of this thread, I'm gonna allow myself the luxury of one response here; if I discuss this subject any further hereafter, I'll take it to Wacco-Talk.

1. NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS JOKE. We could shout the words "Kill the cat" at maximum volume 24 hours a day and not a single creature would be harmed thereby in any way. We could paint detailed pictures of cats being put through meat-grinders or babies being speared on pitchforks and no one would be harmed in the slightest. It's just a joke, get it?
2. The joke does NOT carry the implication that Ingo doesn't take the actual killing of cats seriously.
3. The joke does NOT imply any endorsement of cat-killing by Ingo.
4. To assume, on the basis of this joke, that Ingo is insensitive is not logically justified. It's a JOKE, fer Chrissakes! You don't have to like it, but relax!
5. Anyone who tells many jokes will inevitably piss someone off sometimes. There's virtually nothing you could joke about that isn't a sore spot for somebody, and many of the funniest jokes play on racist or sexist stereotypes or disturbing aspects of life such as death. For a joker, joking is a way to come to terms with disturbing realities, and have fun doing it.
6. Some people prefer to deal with their difficult feelings about disturbing things (like the killing of animals, for instance) by avoiding thinking (or joking) about them. I personally don't think that this avoidant strategy is the best way to deal with these feelings, but I respect your right to make that choice. BUT, I don't feel any obligation to collude with you in your avoidant strategy by censoring my self-expression.
7. If you engage in public discussions, people will say things you find disturbing. Get used to it. Or, if you're really traumatized by jokes, spare yourself the trauma by opting out of public discussions.
8. Peter's speculation that Ingo is motivated by an intent to infuriate others is another needlessly negative interpretation. It's hard to imagine why Ingo would want to infuriate anybody. Peter, if you think people are doing things just to piss you off or, for that matter, if you think Ingo is losing any sleep over whether you accept his apology, you probably have an over-inflated view of your importance.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest, folks. Now excuse me--I have to get back to the kitchen and turn down the oven before I overcook yo' mama.
Love;
Dixon



Sorry but I don't accept your explanation or your appology. There is more than enough boorish insensitivity to go around in the real world without polluting cyberspace with your version of it here as well. Perhaps you'd feel more comfortable in a group with others of a like mind. Why not try workinghardtobeajerk.com. I think you'll find many like-minded people there.

Hey, no prob!--close down the website, kill Ingo.

[SJM]

Thank you, Dixon!!!!
Someone needed to 'splain the concept of a joke to some of this crowd.




Haw haw haw! "Kill Ingo"! Stop, you're killin' me!

I'm away from the email for three days, and when I get back I find that my cat posting has indirectly engendered a minor shit-storm because a couple of self-appointed arbiters of taste have upset themselves with needlessly negative interpretations of Ingo's innocent joke. Can't I leave you kids alone for three days without you getting into trouble?

As the initiator of this thread, I'm gonna allow myself the luxury of one response here; if I discuss this subject any further hereafter, I'll take it to Wacco-Talk.

1. NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN THE MAKING OF THIS JOKE. We could shout the words "Kill the cat" at maximum volume 24 hours a day and not a single creature would be harmed thereby in any way. We could paint detailed pictures of cats being put through meat-grinders or babies being speared on pitchforks and no one would be harmed in the slightest. It's just a joke, get it?
2. The joke does NOT carry the implication that Ingo doesn't take the actual killing of cats seriously.
3. The joke does NOT imply any endorsement of cat-killing by Ingo.
4. To assume, on the basis of this joke, that Ingo is insensitive is not logically justified. It's a JOKE, fer Chrissakes! You don't have to like it, but relax!
5. Anyone who tells many jokes will inevitably piss someone off sometimes. There's virtually nothing you could joke about that isn't a sore spot for somebody, and many of the funniest jokes play on racist or sexist stereotypes or disturbing aspects of life such as death. For a joker, joking is a way to come to terms with disturbing realities, and have fun doing it.
6. Some people prefer to deal with their difficult feelings about disturbing things (like the killing of animals, for instance) by avoiding thinking (or joking) about them. I personally don't think that this avoidant strategy is the best way to deal with these feelings, but I respect your right to make that choice. BUT, I don't feel any obligation to collude with you in your avoidant strategy by censoring my self-expression.
7. If you engage in public discussions, people will say things you find disturbing. Get used to it. Or, if you're really traumatized by jokes, spare yourself the trauma by opting out of public discussions.
8. Peter's speculation that Ingo is motivated by an intent to infuriate others is another needlessly negative interpretation. It's hard to imagine why Ingo would want to infuriate anybody. Peter, if you think people are doing things just to piss you off or, for that matter, if you think Ingo is losing any sleep over whether you accept his apology, you probably have an over-inflated view of your importance.

Thanks for letting me get that off my chest, folks. Now excuse me--I have to get back to the kitchen and turn down the oven before I overcook yo' mama.
Love;
Dixon


Sorry but I don't accept your explanation or your appology. There is more than enough boorish insensitivity to go around in the real world without polluting cyberspace with your version of it here as well. Perhaps you'd feel more comfortable in a group with others of a like mind. Why not try workinghardtobeajerk.com. I think you'll find many like-minded people there.

Hey, no prob!--close down the website, kill Ingo.

[Moon]

[QUOTE=Dixon]Haw haw haw! "Kill Ingo"! Stop, you're killin' me!

I'm away from the email for three days, and when I get back I find that my cat posting has indirectly engendered a minor shit-storm because a couple of self-appointed arbiters of taste have upset themselves with needlessly negative interpretations of Ingo's innocent joke.
Etc., etc., etc.
Dixon

Wow! I thought you would like my joke; it's a direct, exactly-parallel
take-off on the one you made. Now i do wonder whether your intent
was innocent. If you can't take it, don't dish it out.

[WhirledWords]

:rofl:Dead cats are funny exactly because they are serious. One of the many possible human reactions to how damn serious life and death are is humor. Sometimes that humor is sublime (Aristophones, Chaplin, M.A.S.H.), sometimes it is sophomoric (Ingo - do you mind being a representative of this category? I would think not). Sometimes we choose to laugh at that which pains and frightens us. This is not a bad thing.

...but, not everyone accepts the same standards of humor. This is called taste. Not everyone agrees about what is funny

...but hopefully those of us on Wacco value free expression. I think that the value of free expression is greater than the value of good taste. Being overly cautious to express in care of everyone's taste and sentiments supresses exploration, being free to express means we are free to explore.

One may legitimately say that Ingo's remarks were in poor taste, one might even say they weren't funny, but I will defend to my death (so shoot me) his right to say it.

P.S. - Did you hear the one about the grandmother who kept climbing up on the roof?

[wildflower]

Well SAID!!!.....I had the same experience when I questioned Ingo privately about this and the same thoughts when he gave me the explanation that he had posted the abusive/supposedly humorous reply publicly(while he claims it was meant for Dixon) and his helpful reply privately(when we all could have benefited from it)!!! You say this so well and I couldn't agree MORE!!!

respectfully
Karin Lease


Sorry but I don't accept your explanation or your appology. Had you meant your comments only for the individual who has the cat-pee problem, you would have sent your response to that person only. Instead you sent it to the entire group, with the suspected intent of infuriating those with more regard for the feelings of others than you exhibit. While I gave you the benefit of the doubt the first time around, your explanation shows your true colors. There is more than enough boorish insensitivity to go around in the real world without polluting cyberspace with your version of it here as well. Perhaps you'd feel more comfortable in a group with others of a like mind. Why not try workinghardtobeajerk.com. I think you'll find many like-minded people there.

[wildflower]

Another post that rings bells with me...animal cruelty is NOT A JOKE......


Well, this hit a nerve with me; and I have to disagree, Deb - I think it's right on topic, that being "Pets and Other Critters", and the subtitle being "Anything to do with non-human life forms". That's exactly what Peter is talking about: peoples' attitudes about animals, and if anyone thinks that killing a cat is anything near funny, even meant in the best of lights, then I have to question their level of understanding of something like this.

Have you ever had a cat killed? Do you know how often that happens? Would you joke about it to someone who has experienced it? ('Cause you just did, in this public forum...) It's just not funny. No more funny, really than "Kill the _____ (fill it in with some description of a human)". And if you were making a joke with Dixon, then it should have been done privatey, because it's certainly not the kind of "joke" I'd want kids to be laughing at (ok, I admit, that last sentence of this should have gone to WaccoTalk).

Ingo, I don't know you (as Deb does), so I have no idea of the intent behind your "joke". I will certainly not judge you from this (I think Pete was too harsh), but I will say that even your half-hearted apology (your apparently sarcastic "sensitive people" and "tender souls" remarks) shows that you don't understand many peoples' level of committment to their pets. This is supposed to be an "enlightened" group - I will say here (and then I will shut up) that making any "joke" about killing an animal is a very "un-enlightened" thing to do. That, essentially is my "Pets and Other Critters" forum comment.

The "insensitivity" part of all this is indeed another subject, and one for WaccoTalk. I'll look over there to see if anyone has chosen to discuss it.

OK, soapbox yielded.

--Mark

[ingo]

:rant:

I really want to hear the one about the grandmother who kept climbing up on the roof now...how much longer the suspense?

Ingo :lol2:

[Dixon]

Ooooops--communication breakdown! I wasn't dissing your "Kill Ingo" joke; I loved it, and was truly complimenting you on it. I guess I didn't make it clear that the next paragraph, wherein I bitched about the cat-joke shit-storm, was a change of topic, not a reference to your Ingo joke. Are we clear on this issue now?
Dixon



Wow! I thought you would like my joke; it's a direct, exactly-parallel
take-off on the one you made. Now i do wonder whether your intent
was innocent. If you can't take it, don't dish it out.

[Dixon]

By the way, I haven't heard anyone who complained about the "Kill the cat" joke express any discomfort with the "Kill Ingo" joke.
One more thing: I want to thank those of you who posted helpful responses to my cat pee questions.
Thanks, all;
Dixon

[Moon]

By the way, I haven't heard anyone who complained about the "Kill the cat" joke express any discomfort with the "Kill Ingo" joke.
One more thing: I want to thank those of you who posted helpful responses to my cat pee questions.
Thanks, all;
Dixon
I think the difference is that mine was a joke about a joke.

[Moon]

Ooooops--communication breakdown! I wasn't dissing your "Kill Ingo" joke; I loved it, and was truly complimenting you on it. I guess I didn't make it clear that the next paragraph, wherein I bitched about the cat-joke shit-storm, was a change of topic, not a reference to your Ingo joke. Are we clear on this issue now?
Dixon

OK, got it. I was really surprised, thought "Wait a minute! That's just the same joke he made about someone else." But now i understand it was meant to be a new topic.

[petermargolies]

The idea that dead cats are "funny" because they are serious is absurd on the face of it and a lame excuse at explaining away boorish, insensitive behavior.
With free speach comes responsibility. The responsibility not to shout fire in a crowded room unless there actually is one - no matter how funny that thought might appear to you. Would you tell a child his/her parent is dead because the thought of the child's reaction to this sort of "joke" strikes you as humorous? Comments about killing Ingo are likely to have been made by people who see humor in pouring gasoline on this proverbial forest fire.
After a career in journalism that included writing more than a thousand columns, I've learned that while many things may strike me privately as funny, they also may offend many others. It took a while to develop a writing style that did not offend some while humoring others. What I came to understand was that it could not be considered a joke if people weren't reacting with universal laughter, no matter how funny something struck me. In the end I came to understand that the only person I could joke about was myself. That sort of self-depricating humor was laughed at by everyone - including me.
I chalked up Ingo's original attempt at humor as self-centered ignorance and gave him the benifit of the doubt. Life's lessons are not always easily learned, but once realized they should be internalized and respected. This community is much too small for us to be attempting to humor some of its residents at the expense of the rest. It's just not funny when so many people react differently.
This sort of behavior is worse than sophomoric. You insult too many sophomores when you characterize it in that way. I would call it infantile.


:rofl:Dead cats are funny exactly because they are serious. One of the many possible human reactions to how damn serious life and death are is humor. Sometimes that humor is sublime (Aristophones, Chaplin, M.A.S.H.), sometimes it is sophomoric (Ingo - do you mind being a representative of this category? I would think not). Sometimes we choose to laugh at that which pains and frightens us. This is not a bad thing.

...but, not everyone accepts the same standards of humor. This is called taste. Not everyone agrees about what is funny

...but hopefully those of us on Wacco value free expression. I think that the value of free expression is greater than the value of good taste. Being overly cautious to express in care of everyone's taste and sentiments supresses exploration, being free to express means we are free to explore.

One may legitimately say that Ingo's remarks were in poor taste, one might even say they weren't funny, but I will defend to my death (so shoot me) his right to say it.

P.S. - Did you hear the one about the grandmother who kept climbing up on the roof?

[ingo]

Dear Peter;

thank you for your expression of life-long experience. I am sure that "your" way has good value in different circumstances, but, please, do not expect me to cater to your needs, because that will not happen.

In the promotion of free speech I stand behind all of our expressions, including yours, Peter. However, in the promotion of positive communication, I am feeling taken back by your constant use of personal condescending insults to strengthen your "unself-centered" opinion.

This world does not evolve around you, Peter, but it includes you, and you are, as you can see here, a player in the setting of a tone. Could it be that your tone is out of tune with the cosmic melody of harmony?

Satchidananda always said "when you point one finger at someone, look what the other 3 fingers are doing...and the thumb is the witness" :thumbsup:. I liked him. Bless his soul.

:sunshine:Ingo

[Allen]

:rofl:Cat Pee :rofl:

I do not like it on the Dubya Bee Bee.
I do not like it all-over me.
I do not like it in the Hall.
I do not like it on the Wall.
I do not like it on my Ham.
I do not like it Sam I Am.


:D


Hugs to all you Wackos.:hugs:
Allen

[JollyJane]

WOW Dixon, Ingo and all... way to go!

29 replies (30 counting mine) and 301 views of this category.
It's amazing!!! I think it's the most number of views per any post so far !!!!!

Personally, it seems to me that we need an animal category for all those
who prefer to have hard feelings for those who don't hold their same views
in life, and another animal category for those who believe that each human
has a right to their own interpretation of life, INCLUDING WHAT IS and IS NOT FUNNY!!!
This whole thing caused me to laugh, and to forget about my OWN problems,
which were very similar....people doing their own thing, being bumped into
by other people who feel it's okay to get angry with anyone not on the
same wavelength.
One problem I still have though.....where do I post about farming, and
raising animals in cooperation with others? OBVIOUSLY NOT in THIS
CATEGORY.....
Hope all the negativity can chill.....our country came with some concept
that there was FREEDOM of RELIGION ie what a person believes, and their
right to live as they personally choose.
JJane

[QUOTE=Dixon]How can I get cat piss out of the carpet?

[JollyJane]

Hi Mark
In my last post I talked about some feelings but this comment you made below,
is, IMO, a judgment about another human being's rights. THAT, judging and
controlling what others do, hating those who eat animals, etc. is what is an
"un-enlightened" thing to do. It's saying that YOUR viewpoint is "holier than"
another person's.
In Tennessee they have a saying:

OPINIONS ARE LIKE A..HOLES, EVERYBODY HAS ONE.

That's what IS FUNNY about "kill the cat" NOT ONE PERSON in this entire
list actually believes that anyone would ever suggest to Dixon to kill his cat!
BET YOU it's true. I'll ask now....
Did ANYONE reading the ORIGINAL COMMENT take it at face value?

I'd like to actually have a place where we could have threads about other
things, like the Town Hall Meeting coming up Sept 21. Where we could get
heated and passionate about how we can plan to take care of everyone we
have in our community....put VALUE into each other, respect each other's
personal choices.

Thanks for listening to my views...
JJane







<snip> This is supposed to be an "enlightened" group - I will say here (and then I will shut up) that making any "joke" about killing an animal is a very "un-enlightened" thing to do. That, essentially is my "Pets and Other Critters" forum comment.
The "insensitivity" part of all this is indeed another subject, and one for WaccoTalk. I'll look over there to see if anyone has chosen to discuss it.
============================================================</snip>

[WhirledWords]

The depth of interest in this absurd thread is because it si deep and serious.

Q: What has four legs and an arm?

A: A pit bull.

Is this funny? Sometimes yes. I tell the joke, people laugh.

What if I told it in a large group and one person had a child recently maimed by a pit bull? Would it be funny then? No. Would I feel badly for remindng this person of their personal tragedy? Yes.

Father Tomato gets teed off cause Little Tomato is always lagging behind. He squashes Little Tomato and shouts "Catchup!" Is this funny? Is it a joke about infanticide?

We are complex beings. Humor is one way to confront the DARK and take the power AWAY from it. Humor is brave...and sometimes it is foolishly brave. Better that than some goody-goody attitude that makes us beholden to treat the DARK as so effing powerful that we may never joke about it.

Ha, Ha, Mr. Death, I tweak your big nose.

[calicat]

i have just put a wanted ad in for a carpet or rug because my cat(s) ruined my rug. What I did, reluctantly, since I know the culprit -- a new addition to the family, an old cat who was never house trained -- is put a cat box in the most obvious pee place and made all the favored pee (and poop) spots inaccessible by barricading them, for now, with drawing boards. No more problems of finding pee and poo on the rug, but it still stinks despite many applications of rug cleaner especially made for this. Hopefully when I get a new carpet, the problem will be solved. Good luck to you.

[paulrankin]

This is supposed to be an "enlightened" group - I will say here (and then I will shut up) that making any "joke" about killing an animal is a very "un-enlightened" thing to do.


If you meet the Buddah on the road kill him... does a cat have Buddah nature?

[Vet-To-Pet]

Medical vs Behavioral?:pawprint: :kittycat:
The first thing you should do is make sure your cat doesn't have a bladder infection (cystitis), which might account for "inappropriate urination" bahavior. The fact that she's urinating and defecating outside her litter box makes me suspect that the problem might be behavioral in origin---she started this when you left her home without you. Whoever was caring for her might not have been as efficient at cleaning her litter box as you usually are, or she might have simply gotten her schedule (you are a big part of her "world"---with you gone, her simple schedule went all out of whack) confused; who knows what goes on in these little kitty minds?

After ruling out a medical problem (by having her examined by a veterinarian), you might have to do a little bit of trial & error to correct her inappropriate behavior. First, get a good cat urine cleaning prodcut---there are several on the market (one that comes to mind is "Simple Solution"), that work by not just deodorizing the spot(s) to our sense of smell, but that actually use some enzymes that break down the components in urine that might linger in the carpet, which your cat is still able to smell/detect. She will probably continue to return to that spot as long as she detects that urine scent (the defecation is probably going to clear up once the urination problem is resolved). Clean it, clean it, clean it. Put something (a piece of furniture) over that spot, at least until she starts using the litter box again. you might have to do some "detective work" to determine if there's anything other than your recent absence that might have thrown her "world" into a spin---a new person in the household? A new type of kitty litter? A new animal in the house (or someone, human or animal, who's no longer in the home)?

Animal behavior is a serious interest of mine---I've attended several professional (veterinary) seminars on behavior-related topics. Inappropriate urination by cats is one of the most common problems that people encounter, and there are a variety of explanations for why it occurs with all kinds of variables to consider in each individual situation. Please feel free to contact me if you'd like to discuss your particular situation in more detail.
Paula Loniak, DVM
Vet-To-Pet
707-540-2020

How can I get cat piss out of the carpet?
Also, how can I stop her from doing that? She used to let me know whenever she needed to be let out to go peepee or poopoo, but when I went away for a week's vacation about 3 months ago, she started peeing and pooping in the house; maybe she was upset that I'd left, but she's never done that before when I've been gone. I thought she'd finally gotten back to her normal behavior, but she did it again the other night, when I was in the next room and she could easily have gotten me to let her out. Any advice from you critter experts?
Thanks!
Dixon

[bludogger]

The best product for removing kitty pee and smell is "Anti-Icky-Poo". It is the best and you only need a little diluted with water to perform miracles!
You can find it at Western Farms and probably the Sebastopol feed store.

[Heartfire]

My other cat started peeing all over the house when he came down with a kidney infection from eating food too much processed food. Until we got it under control the Dr. recommended putting his food where he is peeing...they will not go "potty" where they eat. However, you might want to have your kitty checked out for any infection then change it's food, if you can afford it, to a raw diet which can be obtained at the Farm store downtown. It comes in either medalions or patties in a variety of meats. My cat has gone from being quite sick to thriving on this food. You will have a number of brands to choice from and it is up to you what you can afford. My cat weighs about 7 lbs and eats 1/4 a patty at each meal. Best of luck,

Nancy Marie

[In Wonderland]

Well first of all, after reading all the controversy - I guess I'll quietly add, DO NOT KILL THE CAT!

But seriously (the above was my Monday morning attempt at humor!) --

Sometimes diabetes or another ailment will affect a kitty in such a way that they pee and poop where they shouldn't. If it continues you should definitely take the kitty to the vet's.

Also I don't understand why you don't have a litter box/ or did I miss something? (AMybe yo have one and I didn';t get that.)

Cats like their litterboxes as then they don't need to go out when it is too cold or too hot or too rainy.

Hope that helps.

Carol


Dixon posted under "Pets and other Critters":

How can I get cat piss out of the carpet?
Also, how can I stop her from doing that? She used to let me know whenever she needed to be let out to go peepee or poopoo, but when I went away for a week's vacation about 3 months ago, she started peeing and pooping in the house; maybe she was upset that I'd left, but she's never done that before when I've been gone. I thought she'd finally gotten back to her normal behavior, but she did it again the other night, when I was in the next room and she could easily have gotten me to let her out. Any advice from you critter experts?
Thanks!
Dixon
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Ingo responded:

Sell the house...kill the cat....
:D

Here comes the follow-up:

[kmbarnes55]

They have an enzyme product that will take the smell out-It's called "Miracle ______" (something) and is in a white bottle with red printing. It really works. There is also another one (can't remember the name) that keeps them from going back to the same spot. I get it at Frizzel Enos in Sebastopol. Ask at the counter and they will tell you. I use that one now and it seems to live up to the claims.

[scamperwillow]

I suggest you get a litter box - the cat may go outside sometimes but also needs a litter box for emergencies or other reasons. They change their habits. Sometimes my cat will only go outside, sometimes she will only go in her litter box. You can get that nice natural pine litter that smells good and can be disposed of in your garden.



Dixon posted under "Pets and other Critters":

How can I get cat piss out of the carpet?
Also, how can I stop her from doing that? She used to let me know whenever she needed to be let out to go peepee or poopoo, but when I went away for a week's vacation about 3 months ago, she started peeing and pooping in the house; maybe she was upset that I'd left, but she's never done that before when I've been gone. I thought she'd finally gotten back to her normal behavior, but she did it again the other night, when I was in the next room and she could easily have gotten me to let her out. Any advice from you critter experts?
Thanks!
Dixon
---------

Ingo responded:

Sell the house...kill the cat....
:D

Here comes the follow-up:

[edie]

I suggest you get a litter box - the cat may go outside sometimes but also needs a litter box for emergencies or other reasons. They change their habits. Sometimes my cat will only go outside, sometimes she will only go in her litter box. You can get that nice natural pine litter that smells good and can be disposed of in your garden.

Litter box- of course. My cat didn't want to use it. I tried a trick and it worked: I watched her when she went outside and scooped up some of the soil or gravel where she peed on and dropped it in the litter box and placed the box in front of the door where she would get out (to get her started) It took her a few days but it worked- she got the idea.

A fantastic, perfect cleaner: "Nature's Miracle- stain and oder remover" at pet stores.