Obi's Issues

[eswepe]

Yay - it sounds like maybe you're making some progress (knocking on wood). Hopefully it was something just as simple as a change in the litter box! I'll keep my fingers crossed.

[Marley's Mom]

I can send over a bucket--Marley has taken to peeing in a bucket that I use for cleaning which is under a sink in the laundry room--- 3 litter boxes--2 different litter media and 1 empty--and still a bucket?
Hopefully this is the end of Obi's issues though!

[Katie]

MArleys funny I love him :)

it's 7:30am and Obi has been let out and fed. He loves a fuss then he wraps around my legs while I mix up his meat with zylkene. I make a cup of tea while he stuffs himself. Then it's back to bed to listen to Aran snore and lots of head scratching and cuddles. He has just laid next to me for 15 minutes with a paw on my tummy. I feel very Obi loved.

He's now watching the birds outside laid on the windowsill cooking his toes on the radiator. He seems so happy. Do they sense it's the weekend too?

[Marley's Mom]

Awwwwwwwwww! Obi is so cute!

[Dan]

He's now watching the birds outside laid on the windowsill cooking his toes on the radiator. He seems so happy. Do they sense it's the weekend too?

I was thinking the same thing because my girl Calysta didn't try to wake me up to play fetch 10 minutes before the alarm this AM (there is no alarm on the weekend). I have this theory, let me know what you think. I don't believe they "know" it's the weekend. However, I think they "figure out" it's not a "routine working grind day" based on cues from us. So, maybe they read our body language or mannerisms and realize..."Ok, we don't have to get up tomorrow/today." I know on the weekdays my mind turns on and I start stirring about an hour before the alarm. I don't do this on the weekend. So, maybe the cats notice this and then they're like, "Ok he's not getting up and he'll be with us today." See what I am saying? I hope that makes sense.

Maybe Obi seems so happy because he realizes based on your body language and break from a working day routine that he'll be with you more today. They are amazingly smart little animals.

-Dan

[Katie]

This is becoming a bit of a mini Obi diary. We had visitors last night and he was put away at bedtimje as per usual. At some time in the night he peed on the leather chair that he has peed on twice before. So i guess it still has an enticing smell. I did have his favourite cardboard box on it but i moved it last night and forgot to put it back (it was a good deterrant).

Have ordered Urine off to try rather than Pets at Home stain and odour remover.

At least it's easy to wash clean.

The funny bit was we got stuck in the bedroom as we only replaced one side of each door handle. Unknown to us the spindles needs to be longer and Aran left the short ones in. He tried the door last night and the handle would moove but the door would not open! We got out eventually using a spoon!

[eswepe]

Yikes! Good thing you had a spoon in there! I live in an older house with original door knobs. I'm always afraid I'm going to get locked in somewhere. The knobs seem to break all the time. Grr.

Bummer about Obi and the leather chair. I hope the odor remover you're getting works!

[Katie]

Small update. Still early days but so far *touch wood* the urine off has worked a treat along with the rethink on litter boxes and behaviour. I still believe he thinks about peeing on the bed if he wants to go. But now I push him off and he goes straight to the litter box. No more determination to get back on the bed and pee there. And sometimes he just goes straight to his box :). No more "where can I find to pee" rain dance.

He is getting used to going to his room at bedtimes. I put him next to his bed and he just snuggles into it. I make sure he gets more organised play time to make up for his alone sleeping. I miss his snuggles a bit but I know it's best for us all.

He loves the wet food only diet and eats so much more. I still give him 1 zylkene a day, usually before I got to work. Anything to help him chill. He is a little allergic to milk protein in it with slight flushing of his head skin and he is a little baldy on his temples. But he doesn't scratch/ itch and it has a noticable calming effect on him. I worry about withdrawing it as he started peeing wrong again the last time I did.

His digestion is brilliant (it was always a bit hit and miss when he had biscuits). No more runny stinky or blood tinged poos.

We all seem a lot happier and calmer - yeay :)

[eswepe]

That's great, Katie! I really hope it keeps up! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[Marley's Mom]

Oh good! I was thinking about little Obi today--so happy he is doing well.

[seamuskitty]

Yay Katie! I am just catching up on this...I must have missed the doorknob and leather chair incidents.

I'm SO GLAD Obi has improved.

[Katie]

Another update as a few members have been having peeing issues too.

Obi now seems fully fixed. Today he was playing on our bed whilst we were having breakfast. The next moment he was off and I was happy to hear him scratching around his litter box. I am still untrusting and watch him for signs of wanting to go on the bed but he isn't seeming to do the bed rain dance anymore and will go to his litter box spontaneously.

His box is scooped post pee or poo and changed twice per week. It's not steralised as such as the vet said the smell of cleaners can put them off the box. If it needs it gets rinsed with very hot water and wiped round.

He no longer has his zylkene excpet if he is been a numpty or we have lots of visitors round that can stress him or he is about to go to the vets. Sometimes I give him one on a Friday when he is alone most of the day (most other times we are around). He still gets red flushing from this but his baldy spots are growing back now. I keep the feliway diffusers topped up and he gets play times and is kept busy (food hidden in a show box, straws etc).

I guess it took about 3 months to get there.

[seamuskitty]

That is wonderful Katie!

I know you were at the end of your rope with his peeing.

Since you were able to modify Obi's behavior you are now an expert on inappropriate urination...

[eswepe]

[Peepers]

Great news! What a relief for you...... GOOD BOY, Obi!!!!

[Furyan]

I really respect and admire you for all the work you put in to get to the bottom of this. You are awesome!!

[Roxy81]

Oh what a relief it must be Katie!! But you and Obi pulled through!! Great Job!!

[Katie]

Thanks for all the nice comments. Obi is sat in front of my screen trying not to let me see. I think he's a little embarrased that he had potty issues and hates the idea of me sharing.

[seamuskitty]

Thanks for all the nice comments. Obi is sat in front of my screen trying not to let me see. I think he's a little embarrased that he had potty issues and hates the idea of me sharing.

Tell Obi we love him no matter what his potty issues were.