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Post by aston on Jun 10, 2014 9:57:24 GMT
I have been a member of the forum as a dog owner for a long time and I am now a cat owner on the forum also  I was hoping someone would be able to help. Up until yesterday Hera was absolutely fine at using the cat flap and now shes gone off on and one and really doesn't want to go out. She will still come in through it fine though. Using my trusty spy cam i set it up looking out into the garden and happened upon a male cat spraying around the flap and the bottom of the door. I assumed this is why she suddenly doesn't want to go out? I was wandering if anyone knows the best thing i can use to get the spray off the dog and what i can do to prevent male cats doing this? Is this actually the reason she won't go out through it or is it completely unrelated. |
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Post by scallywag on Jun 10, 2014 10:28:52 GMT
Awww she looks lovely Aston, wondered where you had disappeared to  Im sure tonib or some gen'd up catty person will be along. Sorry not much help am I  |
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Post by aston on Jun 10, 2014 11:02:05 GMT
Lol no worries. I don't know what to do. Because she won't go out she keeps peeing on the door mat  |
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Post by scallywag on Jun 10, 2014 11:21:15 GMT
Lol no worries. I don't know what to do. Because she won't go out she keeps peeing on the door mat Opps well that's gotta be gotten rid of cause its going to attract her to the spot all the time else tonib where are youuuuuuu I know's you are on here. well you were last time I looked Bet she's done what I do, stayed logged in LOL then bugger off LOL |
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Post by tonib on Jun 10, 2014 11:40:41 GMT
aston, welcome to the dark side (as scallywag would say) The other cat (whether male or female) in Hera's territory will more than likely be the reason she doesn't want to use the cat flap to go out. To clean the sprayed area use a 50% diluted solution of distilled vinegar (malt vinegar will work just as well but can stain) We use it for cleaning any accidents with our cats, be it vomit or missed litter trays, or even spilt coffee! There is also a Stain & Odour removal spray available from Pets at Home & other suppliers. Make sure you get the one for cats. Found this from Cats Protection info. As to stopping the cat visiting. Do you think its a stray? In which case I would contact cat rescues to see if they can trap it & take it in or at least neuter it. If not it becomes difficult as options to deter cats in general would also apply to your cat so not much help. Cats Protection had these suggestions (along with others that would also deter your cat:- • Shoo a cat away by either shouting or clapping your hands when you see him enter your garden • Squirt water near the cat using a low-powered water pistol – not a super-soaker – being careful to avoid his eyes. Most cats hate water Edit: just seen the bit about Hera using your door mat as a litter tray. Does she have a litter tray indoors - if not that might help that problem but as scallywag said remove or thoroughly clean the mat & the floor underneath to remove the smells that will draw Hera to using it for peeing. Thinking about it she may also be delivbrately using the mat so that she leaves her scent as a deterrent to the other cat.
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Post by tonib on Jun 10, 2014 11:45:16 GMT
scallywag - did leave myself logged in overnight & have also spent a fair bit of time this morning typing various replies. Hope someone else can also provide assistance.
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Post by tonib on Jun 10, 2014 12:06:51 GMT
aston, I've just seen on your other thread that Hera is only 4 months old. Silly question but is she neutered? If not then this could be attracting a tom cat.
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Post by aston on Jun 10, 2014 12:54:03 GMT
She's not neutered yet. The vet said she wasn't quite ready but if we wanted to we could do it early but they don't like doing it. We're going to phone again at the end of the week and get her booked in because I want to get her done as soon as possible. We only let her out in the mornings for an hour or so before I call her in and then again in the afternoon for an hour. I'm going to have to stop her going out all together until she is done I think because we don't want to risk kittens. (I know by letting her out we're risking this anyway but she never leaves the back garden and we can see the whole garden and her out there while we're sat at the table and we always have an eye on her when shes out). I've never seen another cat come into the garden when shes out. She's just so destructive if we shut her in. She does have a litter tray and she used it fine until she went out side. It's next to the cat flap and she still does poo in it just not wee.
Theres so many cats around here. Before Hera I was always finding them in the front garden but never around the back which is where the flap is. There was a cat that hung around the back garden when we moved in. I had the spy cam set up ayt night and I used to watch it. But since Rio and Isis were toileting out there after a few days I never saw it on the camera again. The majority of the cats I have seen have collars so don't think they are strays.
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Post by SarahHound on Jun 10, 2014 21:14:59 GMT
I don't like to sound bad but perhaps its a good thing she isn't going out as she shouldn't really be out until she's spayed. Might be a good idea to wait until she is because it only takes a short moment of looking away, as I'm sure you know! Then once she's done she can get back into the routine as quite likely the male will stop bothering her. |
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Im sure 
