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John Young
You've come here from www.yourcatsecrets.com where the subject is "Introducing your cat to your home", but feel free to post about anything related to cats, kittens.
Please! No advertising or pornography!
Thanks, and have fun!
John Young
posted by JohnY at 11:19 AM
3 Comments:
I'm here because a Google search turned up your article on "the Glass Catbox." Your theory about cats responding to the plasticizers being released from plastics is similar to my own thoughts on the subject.
However, I have a situation that is completely the reverse. I have a male cat (a feral stray, rescued when he was around a year old) who is a full-time indoor cat, and we've had a spraying problem with him.
The problem comes and goes. He's always been high-strung and easily stressed. He's one of those cats who enforces a routine, and gets upset when things in his environment are changed.
There have been lots of other stress factors in the last year. The death of our other cat to an extended illness, the adoption of a new kitten, and a bathroom remodel.
Anyway, he's spraying again, and it's become a major problem, and almost all his spraying targets are plastic. Mostly he finds some out-of-the-way area and sprays large plastic storage boxes (I'm a pack-rat, so I have LOTS of these around). He's also targeted a chair with vinyl upholstery and plastic toys.
From what I've read, those plasticizers can mimic female hormones. My wildly speculative theory is that to some male cats these might resemble the smells from a breeding female.
A lot of Googling has turned up a few other instances of this plastic-spraying behavior, but no hard research to explain it. I think it's quite possible that this is happening a lot more than anyone realizes, but it isn't being recognized or reported as such.
In our case, removing the plastic isn't an option. I'm considering trying to the "Comfort Zone" plug ins in hope of calming our neurotic cat.
It's hard to be sure, since his spraying locations keep changing, but he may not be repeating after the plastic surfaces have been treated with an enzyme-based odor remover, and I'm wondering if PRETREATING new plastic items with enzyme sprays may remove or destroy the smells that he's responding to. It's an idea for somebody to try anyway.
Dear J. Steven
You did not mention the sex of your new kitten, and that could be playing a huge role in your male's spraying issues.
I have a male cat who was abandoned in a remote rural area; then rescued by an old lady who paid me $20.00 and a cat comb to adopt him. He is of course neutered now, but that doesn't mean he doesn't remember his youthful days spent increasing the surplus kitten population. He welcomes any new neutered female cat/kitten, but he definitely does not want another neutered male around. My experience has taught me that neutered or not, male cats still follow the "males must compete" instinct. Although he has been neutered for about ten years (he is about twelve years old now), Bragi still "calls the girls" every night at about 9:00. "Ra wow? Ra wow?" he pleads. Of course they never comply with his wishes, but that doesn't mean he stops asking.
He shares his plastic cat box with his Harem of two females, and he loves being the Sultan. He loves jumping in the cat box right after one of them has used it. He has no spraying problem outside of the box.
So, if your new kitten is a male, this may be contributing to the problem. If it's a female, then perhaps your male just isn't the pediphile or lech that mine is, in which case I don't know what to tell you.
But I offer this advise in case it might help:
Get him a girlfriend to share his litter box with.
Good luck!
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