Need advice! Savannah girl and boy don't get along, girl is constantly peeing/pooping in corner

[meowinNH]

Hi Savannah Chat, I need your advice. My 5 year old girl Savannah (spayed) does not get along with my 2 year boy (fixed). They were ok, then one day had a fight and ever since are like oil and water. She hisses whenever he is near and he often gets aggressive and stresses her out. I hope he grows out of it but I'm becoming skeptical. I also have a 4 year old Savannah boy (fixed) who is the peacekeeper that everyone gets along with.

In the last 6 months, she has begun marketing corners of rooms with pee and poop. There are three litter boxes and I clean them constantly, so I think it's just stress. We also moved to a new construction home 8 months ago, but she was fine at first and they were getting along so I don't think it's related to the new environment. Not sure what changed.

I use Anti Icky Poo to clean the spots constantly but figure she's attracted to the spots she's gone before. Plus it's becoming behavioral now and I've recently had her checked and gotten rabies shots so I don't believe anything is medically wrong.

What should I do or try to help them get along? stop the peeing/pooping. I love them all and can't imagine ever getting rid of her over this.

Thoughts or advice? Think the "Cat from Hell" guy can help me?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[WitchyWoman]

I have a similar situation only without the inappropriate peeing and pooping. Sounds like your F2 may be attempting to show he's he boss. One of my cats is on Prozac for this type of behavior because he bullied one of my F2s. The Prozac has eliminated the territorial aggression although it appears the 2 cats won't ever be the friends they once were. My F1 bullies the same F2 and it's a dominance issue. They got along great when the F1 was a kitten through the first 1.5 years and then something happened to upset the peace and I don't know what. I've enclosed the sunroom in my house where the F2 spends 1/2 the day and then he gets to roam the house while the F1 is locked away. This is the only solution that works. I worked with an animal behaviorist to identify triggers and to try to resolve the conflict but the fixes were only temporary and the only way to keep the 2 cats safe is total separation. I still hope that one day all 4 will be friends again but if not, we still have a less than perfect solution for safety's sake.

I'd recommend giving your F5 a separate room for awhile where she can live in peace and then try slowly reintroducing her to the F2. It's possible that, in addition to her being generally stressed by the F2, the F2 also harasses her when she's in the litter box so she seeks places where she won't feel trapped.

You can also try consulting with an animal behaviorist to learn some techniques for addressing the issue (such as clicker training). It takes time and patience to work with cats who have disputes.

 

[Patti]

A couple of suggestions, in case you haven't tried them already:
Put litter boxes in the corners where she is inappropriately eliminating
Use cat attract as litter (or add it to the litter you normally use)
Try Feliway diffusers or spray
Try putting a dab of vanilla extract on each of their noses
Consider purchasing Cat vs. Cat - it may give you additional ideas
Consider consulting with Marilyn Krieger, the Cat Coach

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Patti covered what I would suggest. Putting the litterboxes in the corners she is using doesn't have to be permanent but it may work...it may be that the three boxes you have are not quite right for her needs.

Look at the position of those boxes, assuming that there is more than one location (which there needs to be more than one location to prevent "resource guarding" especially by your more dominant male). Are they located in "dead ends" or places where she can be ambushed?
Are the boxes clear plastic or opaque? Some cats prefer to be able to see around them for those threatening cats when using the box.

Alternatively, some cats actually prefer to feel protected when using the litterbox. I have both boxes out in the open and a couple located in litterbox furniture, for example I have this one... https://smile.amazon.com/Large-Cat-...86881887&sr=8-56&keywords=litterbox+furniture although the price is way higher than I paid... you can find cheaper ones online. They are more spacious than a covered litterbox but offer privacy to a more timid cat.

I would consider also Witchy's suggestion of reintroducing the two cats after a little breather apart. It can make all the difference..