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Mintoe (3 year old male neutered Devon Rex kitty) is a piddling monster and I thought I'd post here and see if anyone has any suggestions. He pees in bowls, on soft furnishings, on bags and up the side of the gerbil tanks. He pees on the floor. Apart from the tanks he squats to pee, he doesn't spray. He doesn't do it all of the time and changing litter, litter trays, cleaners used etc hasn't made a difference. He has access to an outside litter area in the cat run as well as litter trays inside the house. He's fastidious about using the litter tray for poo. He's been vet checked for UTI's etc and no medical reason for his piddling nature has been found. Mintoe is somewhat of an enigma in that he actively pees in foodbowls (his own and other cats) both when they're empty and when they're full of food (this may be a reassurance thing apparently). He piddles onto reflective surfaces and I've rehomed a breadmaker, a smoothie maker and had to throw out two toasters so far because he's taken a liking to piddling into them (toast made in a piddled in toaster has a very distinctive smell, one which I hope normal people never have to recognise). Tonight he took it a step further - I caught him urinating off the top of a bookshelf onto the TV wall mounted directly underneath. He's currently locked in a cat carrier, awaiting a trip to the vet in the morning (if I calm down enough I might let him out into a dog crate overnight). I'm fit to murder him right now, I really am. Normally I'm the zen one when it comes to his piddling and OH is the annoyed one but he's really irritated me tonight. Mintoe lives with 6 other cats - 2 males, 4 females. He ranks fairly low in the cat structure but 95% of the time they get along. When he was 7 months old Mintoe was cat-napped from the cat run attached to the house and we didn't get him back for several days. His piddling started a couple of months after that. There are no new strange cats outside that I know of and he doesn't have free access to outside bar through the cat run. He gets wet food (applaws and/or cooked meat) and dry food (royal canin), available 24/7. He has access to running water 24/7 through a water fountain inside and outside. Any suggestions on what to do next? I'm currently considering building him a stud pen. Or using a cork...

Get well soon thoughts being sent for Tammy

Glad you're feeling better and that Holly loves her monkey I didn't think you sounded insincere either

I got one for MIL and it was her favourite present. Thank you

Mia helps Mintoe with a present (and look at Mintoe's face, he is not pleased!): Meanwhile Mao just isn't waiting for help: Mintoe is really getting into the spirit of this and helps the dogs with their presents: The dogs are having a great time with all of the tasty stuff they got: And don't know where to start: In this house, cats play with balls:

After being warned away from the box over the last few days Yama was feeling wary: Unlike Mao - who jumped right in there: Homer pretends disinterest while opening presents (as soon as the camera was pointing the other way he really got into it!): Meanwhile Luci gets a present to start on: And is delighted to find that it's a hamster of her own: Lily and Mintoe are opening another one:

We'll be mad busy tomorrow so we've all opened our presents Yama, Loki & Budda would like to thank Kimbas_mum for their lovely presents but unfortunately they're far too busy stuffing their faces Homer, Mintoe, Luci & Bob ( aka the Clever Cats) are delighted with their presents and send oodles of thanks to the chook family. Lily, Mao, Mia (and Cheesecake who arrived after SS was decided) (also collectively known as the Not So Clever Cats) love their presents and send thank yous to Chasta OH is especially delighted to find that there was a human present in there and is busy stuffing his face. He'd like to thank "his" secret santa too (can't bring him anywhere! ) Everything has been a big hit and we'd all like to thank dirtychook and pheobejo for organising this. Photos to follow very soon...

We lost JD on Sept 18th and the Horde lost it's rudder. We miss you JD, we thought you'd live forever and 14 years just wasn't long enough. On the 22nd October we lost Sufi Princess after a pitifully short 3 and half years and I thought my heart would break. You were my adored Tortie Princess Sufi and it didn't matter that you only barely tolerated us. In June 2006 I lost Furball in a freak accident. He was my shadow, he was that one in a million cat that understood me as well as I understood him. We had 7 years and I thank every power there is that I got to share my life with you. I miss you Fuzz, more than I can ever say. The 3 rescued black cats that live here are your legacy and I hope you approve. (he never really warmed to OH that much, is it obvious? ) Happy Christmas kitty cats.

Best of luck at the vets today Max

Tracy!

Thank you My presents were varied - I got a dehumidifier but I also got a new ipod so it wasn't all bad I won tickets to the Stone Roses Experience last night in the Academy (cheers Livedrive!) and had a great night. Got home in the very very wee hours last night and am only just up!

He's 36 ahead now. I'm currently listening to him on his myspace page - he's very good

About this time last year I watched one of the cats (Bob-O) sit on a lit candle. We moved to covered burners and candles in holders that the cats can't reach after that.

Sending more good thoughts Susies way

Sending lots of get well soon thoughts to Spike Yama Moo has dilated cardiomyopathy too and it's been 2 years since her diagnosis of "heart failure". She's gone from collapsed in the corner of the surgery with a 50/50 chance of making it through the night (that was a dreary November day that I'll never forget) to barely a noticeable sign that she's "ill". I won't lie and say the first couple of months were easy but we've got it under control now. Like Wendberts vet my vet explained at the time that they can only make a best guess at the first visit and further tests are needed to determine the actual problem as well as the severity of it. We were referred to the veterinary hospital for the scans and diagnosis. In Yamas case the build up of fluid was the biggest problem and once we got that (and the infection that followed) under control the dangerous extra strain on her heart was lifted.

Sending loads of get well soon thoughts to Lucy.

Get well soon Susie

I'm not allowed to go into the office with my flu lurgy in case I spread it, you shouldn't go in either for the same reason.

Sending best wishes and get well thoughts to Susie

Squeeze everything real tight when you sneeze, see if that helps I sneezed more times than I could count earlier while on the phone to my boss and he had no objections to me being off sick for a couple of days in case it's contagious. Poor Homer Kitty was sitting opposite me and is still sulking several hours later. Note to self: next time, don't sneeze in the direction of the long haired cat... Loki Poki Collie Chops sends his best get well wishes to his new love Polly Collie and wants to know if she likes herding cats? I lurk on here a lot, mostly from work. I can't reply most of the time but it's strangely soothing sometimes just to read the Refuge. And it's nice to getaway from the work side of an online board too.

Frodo was an especially handsome boy and those pictures have really captured it.

Sleep tight Cuddly Chicken.

Sleep tight Sophie

Sleep tight Bobby

I posted this earlier but after the cut off for migration There was much sniggering in the post office today when I collected two parcels, one addressed to the Cleverest Cats and the other to the Not So Clever Cats Thank you Secret Santas! I've put them up safe (twice actually, the first "safe" wasn't nearly as safe as I thought) until Christmas. OH wants to know why we can't open them now so I'll have to watch him as well as the cats. I can confirm that mine have gone out by recorded delivery.