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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

4586.0. "She won't use box at shows " by DEMON::MURPHY () Wed Apr 24 1991 14:59

    I'm hoping someone will have some suggestions on a problem my spayed
    female, Holly, has while at cat shows.  It seems she won't empty her
    bladder in litterbox there.  It is the same brand litter I use at home
    and I even tried changing the box from the standard cardboard one
    provided to plastic.  I hung a privacy curtain in front of it hoping
    that would help but then she just went and curled up in the box instead
    of 'using' it.
    
    Not only does holding her 'p' all day cause her to be uncomfortable but
    I am also concerned about her getting a urinary infection.
    
    Someone has suggested adding some salt to her food causing her to drink
    more water but she really doesn't eat much at shows except maybe a lick
    or two of baby food.  She doesn't act stressed out unless she's just
    not displaying it to me.  As a matter of fact, she seems very relaxed
    as many people passing by have commented on that (as well as how
    beautiful she is). :-)
    
    Thanks
    Pat, Holly, Thai, D.P., Jamie, Buffy, Midnight (& Cookie)
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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4586.1JUPITR::KAGNOI'm51%Pussycat,49%Bitch-Don'tPush it!Wed Apr 24 1991 15:4816
    Pat,
    
    Back when Kirby was alive and I was showing him he would never use the
    litterbox at shows, even with a privacy curtain.  There is really "no
    place like home" when it comes to mother nature calling :^).  Holly
    might simply be one of those cats who doesn't feel comfortable using
    the box at shows since there is still a lot of hustle and bustle going
    on around her and the overall environment unfamiliar.  I'm concerned
    that if you did try some of the suggestions mentioned in your base
    note, that it would make the urge to urinate that much stronger but
    still not cause her to use the box which would no doubt be
    uncomfortable.
    
    Hmmm, perhaps a Feline shower who has dealt with this problem firsthand
    can shed some more light.
    
4586.2JUPITR::KAGNOI'm51%Pussycat,49%Bitch-Don'tPush it!Wed Apr 24 1991 15:495
    Another thought is that maybe she just doesn't have to go :^)!  That
    would solve your whole problem now, wouldn't it?  :^).  If she doesn't
    eat/drink much at the show then chances are she might not have a full
    bladder.
    
4586.3No Place Like HomeDEMON::MURPHYWed Apr 24 1991 16:3315
    Thanks for your response, Roberta.  I still can't help feeling that she
    does have to go but just won't until she gets home.  Was hoping I could
    find some way to encourage her to use the box at least once while there
    but it's probably hopeless.
    
    My first horse was like that (not that he'd use a litterbox of course)
    :-)  But no matter how long we'd be out on the trials he seemed to wait
    until we returned to the barn before he'd go and ONLY in his stall. 
    Never could get him to relax enough on the trail to "let down". 
    Maybe Michele can relate to this since she knows horses too.
    
    "You can bring 'em to the box but you can't make them use it!
    
    Pat, Holly, Buffy, D.P., Jamie, Thai, Midnight (& Cookie)
    
4586.4WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JOset home/cat_max=infinityWed Apr 24 1991 18:2216
    Don't worry too much about it.  I have been showing cats for six years,
    and many of them do not use the box at shows.  Right now I am showing
    No Minor Dude! for his owner and we have yet to see him every use a box
    at a show.  He will use the one in the car (while we are driving), the
    one at the hotel, the one at home, the one at my house when he stays
    with me, but he won't go at a show.  He is not scared, or grouchy, or
    acting like he is at all uncomfortable.  I don't worry too much about
    it, it seems to be his choice.
    
    Off and on over the years I have shown lots of cats that prefer not to
    use the box at the show.  It has never resulted in any kind of health
    problem.  The only real problem that we had was with Laci, who would be
    "moved" to go by the motion of the car on the way home.  Once we
    started putting a litter box in her carrier all was well again.
    
    Jo
4586.5USDEV1::NDCPutiput Scottish Folds DTN:297-2313Fri Apr 26 1991 08:4610
    I've stayed overnight twice now for shows, once with Shadow only
    and once with CC too.  (We shared with Diane, Allison and Alex, my
    feline Nephew - love that "puffalump").  Anyway, I swear that for two
    solid days neither CC nor Shadow used the box!  I even tried buying 
    them a new covered box for the hotel room.  I think Alex was pleased
    with it, but the didn't use it.  
    
    That does bother me a bit, but I have to assume that where this is
    concerned they know better than I.
      Nancy 
4586.6SUBURB::THOMASHThe Devon DumplingFri Apr 26 1991 08:5710
	My eldest cat will only go outside, he won't use a litter box at all.

	When he cut his paw, I was ment to keep him in for 5 days, after 2 days
	when he was sat by the cat flap cring to get out, I relented.
	I let him out, then brought him back in and re-applied lotion and a new
	bandage. I ended doing this twices a day for the next 3 days until it
	healed.

	Heather