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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

1820.0. "psychologist needed!" by DELNI::HYER () Mon Oct 03 1988 23:18

    Reference NOTE #1742...
    
    ...to date no luck in breaking the bad habits of Otis.  As long
    as there is a litter box within 6 inches of where he usually hits
    he is fine.  I moved it three feet to the other side of the room
    and he went right back for the carpet.  We have cleaned and cleaned
    and disciplined on the rare occasions we catch him at it. 
    
    He has been to the vet, clean bill of health.  He is fine when visiting
    "grandma" or our summer home, but reverts back as soon as he is
    home.
    
    Anyone know of any animal behaviourists in the N.H., Mass. area???
    Or is it cheaper to rip up the carpet and get tile???  I'm one very
    frustrated "furface" parent.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1820.1	some suggestions?	SKITZD::WILDE	Time and Tide wait for Norman	`Tue Oct 04 1988 13:15`	25
	Some suggestions - you may already have tried them, but... Move the food dish/water dish closer (if it is far away) or farther away if it is close. My cats seem to have decided how far away the box and the food must be for them to be happy....strange, but it works for me... I would suggest restricting Otis to one room with his box for a long time, like weeks, letting him out to play with you only when you have time to be RIGHT THERE and playing with him....when you play, frequently pick him up and move him to the box (in whatever room he has been restricted to) so he will get the idea he HAS to go to the box no matter where he is.....Of course, praise lavishly when he uses the box when you take him to the box....Of course, all the above is dependent on you selecting a place for the box and leaving it there - moving it around is not a good idea for a marginally housebroken cat. Also, talk to a kennel owner or someone who can tell you what to do to remove the odors from the carpet and floor underneath...chemicals are required and as cats are run by their nose, you MUST kill the odor of all mistakes. I have a "dim bulb" cat that can lose his housetraining if I move the box, so I know what you are going through...he isn't brainy, but I love him anyway....and as long as I restrict him to the room with the box for awhile, he "patterns" to that location for doing his stuff - luckily, the other cats are smart enough that if I give them a box, they will find the one they can get to and use it...needless to say, deciding to move the cat box in my house is a major decision.
1820.2	Reposted due to NOTES glitch	VAXWRK::LEVINE		`Wed Oct 05 1988 11:16`	13
	================================================================================ Note 1820.2 psychologist needed! 2 of 2 AIMHI::MCCURDY 0 lines 4-OCT-1988 13:47 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -< a pookie anaylst.... >- In answer to you request for a kitty analyst.. Pookie has one.... I called her when Pookie was "difficulities adjusting to Happy. Her name is Betty Lewis, she lives in amherst nh, she did a super job with Pookie.. you may contact me off line.. on aimhi::mccurdy and i will give you her number.. regards kate