Has the cat been fixed? We have a male cat and the only way I would allow a male cat to live in my house was to make an appointment right away to have him fixed. How old is your cat and would you consider doing that to him? Mine has never sprayed. I think Frank is 4 years old now. I think? Maybe 3 at the youngest.. Feels like 400 years. I'm not a cat fan........ lol

Debby, neutering and spaying is a priority with me, and Rocky was neutered a long time ago.

My sympathy about the spraying as I've had that experience. The vet told me that anything that changes (new furniture, moved furniture, etc.) can trigger the inappropriate peeing. Our cat was a skinny, nervous little thing. Kitty ruined a beautiful upholstered chair by peeing in the seat, she peed on the bed, she peed in my suitcase when I was packing to travel, so I had to pack in the garage. Cat urine is just so bad. Good idea to give kitty lots of outdoor time.

The ceiling situation is so discouraging, must be kind of depressing too with no light in the kit. And now rain, so sorry!! Maybe you could relocate a lamp in there temporarily. Don't worry about the dishwasher, that will come later.

So now we know Rocky doesn't like things that are "out-of-place".

If it's any consolation, we are inundated with roof inspectors. Had 2 come by my home and offer to damage my roof for me, so the insurance would cover a new roof. ◄ No I'm not kidding. They explained exactly how they would stomp on it where the two roof lines meet...making it look like hail damage. So when we arrived to turn the sprinkler system on a rental this weekend....and there was a roof inspector waiting there.....I was super nice....then when he left....I blew UP! I'm having a memo sent out not to let ANY roof inspectors on my roofs! One renter reported having as many as 3 inspectors a day contact her by phone or ring the doorbell. What a racket!

I know you have a legitimate claim Alisande. But...believe me....the insurance company has a reason to go-off....

I too wonder about the tarp and would definitely get a second opinion on the cat.

The "Cat Friendly" and American Association of Feline Practioners are both marketing self designations, not professional credentials. If something other than a vet in general practice is desired, then you're looking for boarded specialists, who have completed extra years after vet school doing internships and residencies (usually at vet schools). Not those who has given themselves educationally and professionally meaningless credentials. I'm sure organizations like this have focused continuing professional education courses but those don't compare to years of added training of specialists by specialists in programs that are accredited and closely monitored.

At first pass, one possible specialty to consult with would be a boarded veterinary internist. That credential is after the vet degree is ACVIM Small Animal - American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. Or a behaviorist, that's ACVB.- American College of Veterinary Behaviorists. Small animal internists are equally adept with dogs and cats. Behaviorists are not very numerous and often consult from a distance.

Good luck with the leak and with the cat.

Sorry, I believe you're misinformed. The AAFP (and it's an Association, not Academy) can be joined by any vet by sending in an application (with identifying information requested only) and paying the membership fee. There are no further requirements or pre-reqs.

There is no "certification". There are no ongoing requirements. It's a marketing association for vets in general practice, those who haven't completed the much more rigorous steps to become a specialist.

That involves a highly selective application match process that most are not successful with, completion of internships/residencies that last as long or longer than vet school itself, , and successfully passing what for many specialties is a series of tests giving by each respective college over several years. A non-trivial percentage of those who complete residencies DON'T pass the board certification process. My understanding comes from the experiences of a close family member whose dedication involved years and years of persistence and hard work. to complete this labyrinth successfully.

Residency training for internal medicine and the board exams involve the specifics of both dogs and cats and of course they're medically quite different. Once in practice, a vet with a strong preference can choose to encourage one type of animal client over another but the training covers both. I'm not surprised you've encountered some less than impressive, not always competent people with elite credentials, Why expect this pool of professionals to be any different than as with medical doctors or dentists, as examples, for whom the same sub-par population strata is common.

I will agree with you that reverting to a behaviorist may be the second step and may not be needed. Best to let an internist do the assessment and follow their advise.

PS - I took a look at that org's roster look up function, for two zip codes where I know excellent vet specialist referal practices are located. None of the ACVIM board certified vets in those areas were listed as members. Does that say anything about who the "members" are?

Alisande, so sorry that both your house and your cat and your contractors are giving you trouble. I bet you are wondering what more can possibly happen. I know Ive had times like that. You are good to put up with the cat. I think he would be a permanent outside cat if he were mine, or at least have a warm spot in the garage, at most. Cat pee is horrible and it’s nearly impossible to get rid of the smell. Good luck. The house problems will eventually work out. As for the cat, IDK.

In this rural area, I'm happy to find someone designated as VET. :-) Seriously, if I needed to find someone with more advanced training than a DVM, I'd have to travel 150 miles to Cornell University, where I'd drop a lot of money. We had to do this a number of times when we had horses. There are four vets in the local practice, and I've spoken to two of them about Rocky. The most recent conversation was with a vet who has known me and my family for about 30 years. Also, Rocky was given a physical exam and administered a prophylactic antibiotic and steroid just in case. But the repetitive behaviors are a clear indication that he suffers from anxiety, and I learned that Siamese cats are particularly prone to this.

I'll keep giving Rocky outdoor time, and when it isn't so hot (as it is right now) or cold (as it was last week) I'll see if he'd like to play ball with me out there--without Scruffy, of course.

I asked the roofer about a tarp weeks ago, and at that time he said it was unlikely I'd get more water in the kitchen because high wind had driven the rain under the shingles. But I talked to him this morning, and told him lots more water came through last week, and he said he wasn't surprised. He's supposed to call me this afternoon so we can set time for them to make the roof repair, insurance company or no insurance company.

With all of the people and the damage to the house it is not surprising to me that Rocky is stressed. There used to be at least one medication to calm cats that was offered to me by my vet at that time. Check to see if there is still medication to be used on a temporary basis until your house is repaired.

Also look at your insurance policy to see what is and is not covered as it is hard to believe that a roof is not but the interior is. Mine because of the age of the roof had increased the deductible to the point that when I asked for a quote to repair or replace the roof the deductible was within a thousand of the cost quoted. Your roof repair might be a similar cost vs. deductible.

Wishing you good luck with both the roof and naughty Rocky. He may stop spraying once everything is back to normal and he is not stressed anymore. Re. the roof, what type of shingles are you getting? Until we had the roofing estimate done I wasn't aware that you can now get laminated/Architectural shingles with multiple layers for not much more than 3-tab. They are also guaranteed against those ugly dark algae streaks for 15 years. Things sure have changed since our last roof 15 years ago!

Am so sorry for Rocky's and your situation. Sounds like a shotgun approach giving antibiotics without an infection and steroids "just in case." Neither are used for treating stress.

Perhaps you may find something in the following info helpful.

https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/cornell-feline-health-center/health-information/feline-health-topics/feline-behavior-problems-house-soiling

Good luck.

Thanks for the link to that comprehensive article, Mdln. An excerpt:

Cats may spray when they perceive a threat to their territory, such as when a new cat enters the home or when outside cats are nearby. Alternatively, cats may spray out of frustration with their circumstances, including such conditions as restrictive diets or insufficient playtime.

This all started when a stray cat started spending time on my porch--easily visible from the living room windows. She left when I located her owners weeks later, but Rocky didn't stop spraying. The "insufficient playtime" got my attention. I'm hoping being outdoors--chasing moths and mice, etc.--will help.

Kadefol, I assume the shingles will match the rest of the shingles that were used when I had the whole house roof done two years ago. They're architectural style, but probably nothing unusual.

Sorry you're going through everything. Hoping you get things squared away soon.

I have nothing to add about your roof but I do think Rocky is stressed about something. I guess it's your job to figure out what....lol Cats are mysterious creatures for sure. I sympathize because cat pee is the worst, and I had to deal with a female doing that years ago. Good luck to you on both issues.

Oh, you've got a lot to deal with. But with Rocky, I'd definitely try Feliway, a cat appeasement pheromone. It calms cats down and I've used it with 3 different cats with 3 different problems with excellent results. For in the house problems, I use the plug ins--kind of like aromatherapy--but you don't smell anything. For taking a cat to the vet, I use the spray as directed for inside the carrier.

Then after vacuuming late afternoon yesterday I removed the dirt canister and put it on a stepstool in the kitchen, leaving it there while I went outside to mow the lawn. When I came back I found a puddle on the stepstool. Rocky feels compelled to spray anything that's out of its usual place.

Or maybe it was not because something was out of space but that he was reacting to all of the different cat smells accumulated by the vacuum/ canister contents.

As I recall you recently decided to make Rocky an indoor cat. I think he is telling you that this is just not working, that he doesn't like being indoors and that he especially doesn't like being forced into a community of cats who don't like each other. Cats are not pack animals in the way that dogs are. They are mostly solitary and what social networks they have are much looser. Rocky is probably feeling that he doesn't have enough personal space--hence the territorial/ dominance marking behavior.

I don't think THIS advice is going to help you.....I only mention it....just in case. A cat won't pee/poop where it eats. So after you clean up the pee, put a dish of yummy food on top of the spot. (The problem I see with this correction...is the spot keeps changing). In the past....when the cat figures out....OH.....can't pee/poop here...this is where I eat...the behavior stops. (Maybe this will help someone else in the future. Posts are forever....)

LOL Nicole . . . that's right, the spot keeps changing. But no spot for two days now (she says with cautious optimism).

he especially doesn't like being forced into a community of cats who don't like each other.

Ci_lantro, thanks for the advice, but Rocky wasn't forced into a community of cats. The other cat was his best pal outside and remains so inside. Yes, she asserts her dominance more than I would like, and I've said from the start that she probably plays a role in triggering his anxiety, but they get along well and were quite snuggly together over the winter.

"All the different cat smells" in my vacuum cleaner? How many cats do you think I have?

Laceyvail, I do think the Feliway helps. I just have the spray, and I use it mostly at night. I have to be more consistent about it.

What a load of frustrations, Alisande. Lettin Letting him outside is probably a good plan even though it comes with worries.

My MIL is walking her cat in a stroller and says it makes the cat very happy!