Cats and territoriality. They "mark" their territory even if it's the carpet. What do do?

Castrate! Sounds hard, I know, but the cat population is much too high, anyway! you can't let them make thousands of babies. (They're cute, I know, there's nothing as cute as a little kitten) I will look for numbers, but the population-increase of cats is unbelievably high. (Animal Right Clubs are also castrating cats, BTW) It's better to have lesser cats ( sitting in the animal shelter for their whole lifetime), but healthier ones!

even castration or neutering doesn't solve the problem. the key is to neuter before the kitty learns to spray. don't know how to stop the behavior though. will do some checking.

We did all of our cats when I was a kid, and David did his cat, and we never had a problem with marking or spraying...but we did it when they were just 3 months old (as I recall). The trick, as Wolfie pointed out, is to get them before the hormones kick in.

Or stick with a female and have her spayed when she is old enough. That is the best of both worlds.

See, guinea pigs don't do that ...

Don't they procreate very fast or do you only have female ones?

Only female ones. I've thought about taking them to the pet shop, so they can do it once, because no-one should have to NEVER do it in their entire lives, but I'm just not in a position to care for 64 guinea pigs. And I know already that, once those babies are there, I'd never have the heart to take them to the pet shop to be sold, because I'd be scared they land in a place where they have to stagnate in a small cage, and where 'caring' for them might mean feeding them.

My cat Fabio was neutered before he learned to spray, yet when I adopted new cats, he began to spray everything in the house. I finally had to exile him to the outdoors, where he lives happily (so it seems) every after. He comes to the back door twice a day for food and the occasional petting session, and my house is once again odor free. Of course, I am fortunate to live in Southern California where I need not worry about him freezing to death in winter.

Also, my vet (or should I say my dog's vet?) says that neutering cats too young may give them urethral stenosis problems later.

1/2 a year of age is ok, I think. Terry, when cats do this, sometimes it is because they are anxious, afraid or don't like a situation/place. Most often, they'll have one or two favorite places to do it. One approach is to use menthol oil ("Japanese Herbal Drops") and drip on the spot. THe idea is that the strong menthol will drive off the cat, thus denying this spot. Downside: the whole place smells, too - just differently.

Re: Population in many animal shelters - mainly the communal ones-, they have a pragmatic policy of having animals around for a certain time (a few day to a few weeks), and if they have not been claimed by an owner or found a new home, they are just deleted. I think that was the english term given to me. And I know people whose own neighbor called the animal catcher on their cats just to hurt them.

Sadistic people - for them I hope there is Karma or some divine punishment. Truly sick. We call it "euthanized" here...put to sleep...whatever, it is dead! I think Menthol or any other fragrance other than animal might be welcome!

i don't think deleting animals out of the shelter is the answer. just because someone doesn't take a dog or cat doesn't mean they're not worthy.

...of course it does not mean they are not worthy...but what do we do with them?

Shelters have only so many places for the animals, and probably all of them are overcrowded. I understand them killing the "surplus" animals, and hope they do it humanely... And mostly, try to not think about it very much. I confess to using "the ostrich method" about cruelty to animals a lot. I think I'd go insane otherwise.

and if they have not been claimed by an owner or found a new home, they are just deleted. So whenever one wants to give a home for an animal, one should first go to one of these shelters and see if there are animals that one could rescue from being deleted. I wish that people would care to do this more often. My mother�s dog Bonnie is from one of these shelters, kept by the university vet department. She was about one year old, a beautiful black mongrel and nobody came to claim her in two weeks. So we took her (eight years ago) and she�s a wonderful character in spite of the fact that obviously she has been treated badly in her youth.

"the ostrich method" about cruelty to animals a lot. I think I'd go insane otherwise. Gi, I know exactly what you mean. I simply can�t watch it when they show those horrible documentaries in tv about mishandling of cattle. I saw one a few years ago and experienced such a shock that I stopped eating meat and became a vegetarian. I don�t want cattle to suffer because of me and I guess the only thing I can do about it is not to pay for it.

I always wondered what sort of people watch those documentaries...Not for me, either!

me either. both my dogs were free and could have ended up at the pound. my third dog, lucky, died about 3 years ago. we rescued her from the street and decided to keep her. had her for a year when we had to put her down (tumor on the windpipe). it was the most horrible thing for me to deal with. i lost it in the vet's bathroom (wrenching sobs). she had been abused but i don't know how long. she would yelp anytime your feet came near her. she overcame it by lots of tender loving care on our part. i loved that dog qu ckly and earnestly. am so glad that the last year of her life was spent in a loving environment!

Dear Dear Wolfie..*big hugs* for your kind heart and patience and love... I am moved so much by your simple story of heroics on your part and honorable treatment and response from your beloved furperson. Somewhere where furry four-footed things go, she is smiling (yes, they can smile!) down on you and yours. Bless your heart, Wolfie!

*blush* i've dreamt about her and immediately was relieved of guilt. she was so happy and healthy and frolicking. she came to say hello and then had to go on. i woke up feeling so much better and i know she's in a good place! and for those who don't think dogs can smile, you just need to open your heart a bit more. they grin from ear to ear (*lol* quite literally!!)....it is such an honor to be loved by these creatures!

Gi has sent me a priceless set of pictures of her SFO (Significant FurOther), and he is looking coy in one of them, looking like a proper little man, and then grinning wickedly with teeth showing and everything. They do, indeed, make faces and smile. I am happy she came back to let you know she was in a better place and was happy. What a load off of your heart that must have been. *sniffle* *smile*

Can we see a picture of Gi's doggie? Puuuleeezeee!?

Oh, what a cute one that is!!

Hi Patas!!! Is not my furnephew the cutest one in the Universe.

what a cutie pie!