February 14, 2007

• Either she doesn't like the location of the litterbox, or it's not kept clean enough. Another possibility is she's ill; sometimes if there's a urinary tract infection, a cat will pee on a soft surface because it's more comfortable. I would consult your vet. If she isn't sick, they can suggest ways you can get her back to using the box. I would also move the box back inside, away from the garden. Garden is too similar to litterbox, and may be the cause of some of the confusion. Good luck!
• Ah! Good memories. Happy Birthday, Monkeyfilter!
• Could be there's a foreign cat smell outside, too, that's making them want to "mark territory" where they can. Female cats don't often do this, but I've known of one or two. And yeah, litterbox/basket confusion is possible, too. Once there's a cat pee smell in that basket, it may be near impossible to get the "pee here" concept dislodged. Talk to vet!
• Also, I have found Feliway helpful in the past.
• Barring illness, I'd say that Flo doesn't like going in the garden, and thinks you've reconsidered the whole indoor-bathroom thing. Also, is it fairly cold where you are right now? That could be a factor. Th fact that she does it around feeding time when she knows youre there to observe seems to be a clue that she's sending you a message.
• Thanks T.U.M. I had suspected she's trying to send us a message but have no idea what said message might be ... I don't speak cat. We're in London so it is both cold and wet at the moment ... Flo has also monopolised cat basket so she could be marking territory to prevent Terry getting in there ...
• I tried Feliway for another cat problem with no luck. YMMV As far as cats that are otherwise healthy, urinating in front of you is always to get your attention, and almost always to express their unhappiness with something. My guess would also be the movement of the box. Especially if there's the hint of a chance that another (neigborood) cat could be urinating in or near the box.
• I, too urinate publicly in order to get attention, but is is usually to express my artistic side by creating imaginitive yellow snow calligraphy.
• *rolls up newspaper for Ralph
• I'm afraid I have no suggestions, but your cat's name reminded me of this: The Flo Control Project.
• That's impressive!
• Brilliant!
• That's so geeky awesome, it's indescribable! Only problem is it might let in another cat with a profile similar to Flo's. Or a skunk carrying a cutout silhoutte of Flo herself... Also, Flo is very cute. dickdotcom, it might help us give better advice if you post pictures of your kitties. (Or else I just love the squee.) But I hope moving the box will help. One more option I just thought of is to try putting a box in both places (original place, and in the garden) for a while, to see if that helps. That way, you don't get Terry peeing because he's mad that the box is moved from the garden.
• That is the coolest house hack I've ever seen. The camera inside the old lantern body is what sells it for me -- poor man's waterproofing. The only thing it lacks is a wingnut. Nothing says "I built it in my garage" like a wingnut.
• Now I just watched Flo having a good old shit in the back garden quite happily ... so now I'm baffled ... Terry's seemingly unaffected Thanks all for Monkey wisdom
• MonkeyFilter: The only thing it lacks is a wingnut. Lovely kitties ddc!
• Oh, my goodness, what gorgeous beasts! Both masters of the "kibbles wouldn't melt in our mouths" look, too.
• Dear Sir, Subject: I do not like your cat (I do not think it is "all that"). I note its soft and pleasant fur, Its twitching nose, contented purr, Soulful gaze and whiskers clean, Softly gait and muscles lean - These attributes are without fault. They please the eye and don't assault The ear, or any hand the feline's back Wouldst stroke. I could not dare attack These perfect aspects of the beast, Yet why I say I like it least Of any that in this world grows, Is but the ruling of my nose. Why, as an animal awake The fellow's charms are hard to shake! Yet, come evening, come the time For men and beasts to sleep, one crime The scoundrel always does repeat Serves to makes his charms less sweet. My criticism's only this: His bed - dear Sir - quite smells of piss! Hope his bedwetting you'll forbid - Yours sincerely, quidnunc kid.
• Me-ow!
• Hats off, gentlemen!
• *leaves extra saucer of milk out for quid*
• Our cat peed on the couch to let us know she didn't like the enclosed cat box. As soon as we took the cover off, she started using the box like a charm. When I had two cats, I found it useful to have one box for each cat, so I second the notion of keeping the box in the garden and putting another box in the original indoor location. (It could also be the weather, which is another vote for an indoor box. It's so cold here now that my dog keeps trying to poo in the house, much to everyone's dismay.)
• And the new indoor box will likely be used a lot less than the old one that was in the same location, needing fewer changes.
• M: get him a fuzzy coat and slippers? (Not a pipe, though, even if he likes the tabbakee)
• I say, well done old Quid! Quite smashing!
• Urine top-hole form today, Quid. That's thinking outside the box! You've drawn a line in the sand; that's a number one poem.
• *can't rhyme for diddly-squat*
• That poem's golden. Showers us with glee, it does.
• He's a whiz at verse, he really is. A wee bard.
• Piss off the lot of you!
• I suppose one should be relieved at such a piddling remark.
• *can't rhyme for diddly-squat* How about "hot to trot?" "All for naught?" "Firm and taut?"
• Given and got? Ripen and rot? Manic astronaut? pills, booze, and pot? made wet with snot?
• Classically speaking, "red hot" is the proper complement. My gal is red hot / Yo' gal ain't diddly-squat or is that doodly-squat? Darn it, I forget
• Forget or . . forgot?
• doodly
• Not!
• Candybar danced upon the edge ragged with claw marks Yesterday she was nimble upon fresh pats of sand Today she faltered approaching the box, another false start The floor soiled, yet we continued to give her a kind hand She gave me comfort when I was in despair The least I could do was help her get in there Her eyes let me know that she was ashamed Kitty was no longer a kitten, she was versed in old age A pat to her head let her know, "take your time darling, you're still the star of the show!" A purr of acknowledgement fluttered across echoes of her past My baby, long gone, but her stains still intact... RIP you dear soul
• *sob*
• :( But, OMG, those two cats is TEH SKWEEE! They can't possibly be from the same litter, can they? So damned cute.
• They may be TEH SKWEEE ... but they can't do this
• Bad news for certain monkeys
• (perhaps videos are still allowed...)
• Oh, there's still enough squee left to go around.