Ragdoll Cat Forums

Hi everyone,

So I haven't been lurking the forums as much as I usually do since I've gotten Kevin. He's a handful and I have to devote most of my free time to him. Mostly because I would feel guilty not doing so.

I went out with a few of my friends this past Saturday and came home around 1pm and found that Kevin had peed on my bed. I had been with him all day so I figured it wouldn't be much different then me going to work just at opposite times. Poor baby must be angry/scared that I left him at night but I cannot put my life completely on hold. Do I just keep doing this once and a while and wait till he gets used to it?

Also I recently have been traveling with him to my boyfriends house -- luckily this is just for two months and I won't have to do it anymore. He's been to his house twice now and seems to have been fine while we are there. Eating, peeing in his litter, playing, and sleeping. I am nervous that the car rides are stressing him out..he cries unless I open the top and let him look out the windows. He doesn't seem to mind as long as he can see where he is and what is going on. It seems like he doesn't like his carrier but he does play and sleep inside of it in the house. I thought he would avoid it since it is now associated with car rides, but he doesn't. What are signs of stress that I should look for? I'm assuming bad behavior and potty issues -- but the only one so far is when I left him late at night.

Poor you! Surprises on the bed are not fun It might be due to a break in regular routine, but as you said you need to still have your life. My only explaination is that he's still a kitten and might still have accidents from time to time, you can try putting him in one room with his food/water/litter when you go out. Raggies can be put out when you don't spend every minute of the day with them (demanding little things!) but it's something they will learn, especially if you lavish them with attention when you come back. That way going out = getting lots of attention when you get home!

I think it was probably the change in routine that triggered the peeing on the bed so next time you leave him at night you'll have to make sure he's shut out of the bedroom. As for the distress in the car, have you considered trying Kevin with a halter and lead? It may be that if he's ok when he can see out of the carrier then he'll be ok with the halter and lead. Give him a few days just wearing the halter, but never unsupervised, at first until he gets used to it, then add the lead. That way you can walk him to the car and hold him securely on your lap or, if you drive with him alone in the car you can get something that clips to the harness and to the seat belt in the car.

Thanks Jo and Jane! You're right the change in routine is definitely the culprit. I also know that I the blanket is a down alternative comforter and I usually have a thick cotton comforter cover on it but I just washed my linens so the comforter cover was missing which might also have something to do with it.

I will definitely try the halter and lead -- which I have both already! I'll put it on him tonight for a few hours before bed so he can get used to it and I'll do the same tomorrow night then maybe add the leash. Then on Wednesday night when I drive over to my boyfriends and try it out but also bring the carrier!

Use a closed carrier. You can get a two door one where he can see out the top when closed.

Some cats, particularly young males it seems, are attracted to high loft bedding and to down, which are even more attractive when together. I would put that away for now, particularly after it has been soiled, since that may cause overmarking. The odor of down cannot be kept from a cat by any kind of cover.

Awww, poor Kevin. He probably was scared at being home alone at night. I didn't leave Dexter overnight for the first time until I had had him home with me for a couple months probably. And he was fine, because he had Leo there to play with and keep company. I was really worried about leaving him for the first time but when I got home the next day he acted like he didn't even care I was gone! Now I leave him overnight once every couple weeks or so and he's fine. I've only had to leave him for an entire weekend one time, but my roommate was there and took care of them.

About the car rides, I think some cats just hate them! Both of mine HOWL during the car rides. And they've always done it. I never let them out of the carrier though because usually it's just me and I don't want to worry about them running all over my car. In a week and a half I'm moving into my boyfriends house which is a half hour drive. I'm not looking forward to the howling, I'm bound to have a huge headache by the time we get to his house!!

Lindz, the Feliway spray in the carriers may help, especially for what to them will be quite a long journey.

(06-07-2010 11:29 AM)FluffyHuffy Wrote: [ -> ]Lindz, the Feliway spray in the carriers may help, especially for what to them will be quite a long journey.

Ohhh good idea, thanks Jane. I want the ride to go as smoothly as possible since I know they'll be stressed when they get to his house. I was thinking of getting a Feliway diffuser for his house too, hopefully it will de-stress them a bit... I'm very anxious for them! But I have a long three and a half day weekend to be home with them while they get used to the change.

Good Luck with the move Lindsey! That is very exciting.. I still have one more year until my boyfriend and I will be moving in together. I promised my best friend who just graduated from her Dental program that we could live together one more year before I move in with him! Life is much easier when you don't need to pack a bag to hang out with your boyfriend. Luckily in 2 months I will be with in walking distance of his apartment (.02 miles) so that will make it easier with out the 30 minute drive!

Is there booster seats for carriers? The carrier I have already has two doors that are metal and he can see through but unfortunately because he is buckled in the seat he can only see me and the roof of my car and he really enjoys looking out the window which I believe is why he cries. I mean, I can just let him cry for the first 15 minutes and then he stops but I hate to do that to him. Which is why the leash and harness seemed so appealing. Isn't it safe if his leash only gives him enough slack to sit up/lay down - I could put him in the back seat as well.

Cats are very flexible. I have never seen a harness that was escape proof and loose enough to be safe itself. Safety is the first issue. He is likely to get used to the ride safely inside the carrier and you are just slowing that process.