when good pets go bad

Tue Feb 22, 2011 2:10 pm

apple, neutered cats don't spray. And it's way to hard to describe, but there's no chance at all that there was direct contact with the plants and urine. not even a splash.

Cynthia. Funny you ask about the lavender seeds. I AM growing from seed. They are in a pot with a mix of garden soil and jiffy seed starting mix, 50/50 mix, kept moist, no plastic covers, and kept at about 68 degrees. After about 3 weeks I had given up on them, so I planted a calendula seed. About a week later, all three came up! The calendula and the two lavender seeds I had dropped in. I up potted because the calendula got top heavy and was falling over. he calendula looks like it will be a loss, and one of the two lavender is doing the same. None seem to have responded well to the transplanting. I'll take pictures of the better lavender plant if it is of any help.

Fri Mar 04, 2011 3:59 pm

applestar wrote:At this point, my Q is simply out of curiosity. Does anyone know if domestic male cat - Maine coon in this case, presumably neutered - CAN spray (not just pee)? I had an image in mind of a nature show with cheetah scent marking territory -- striking backlit slow-mo video of aerosolated spray that sparkled everywhere like an explosion....

I found out yesterday that a neutered cat CAN spray. I was on my knees in the garden with a tray of onion plants, enjoying the sun and planting away, when my Siamese came over and sprayed the tray and right over the top, my leg :evil:

. It was so gross, and unexpected :shock:

Bad, Scuba Steve, bad, bad!

This has me thinking that some of the burned looking leaves on my tomato seedlings, are his work as well, and not from me watering them outside. :cry:

It is a little suspicious when one tray out of five gets damaged.

Fri Mar 04, 2011 5:21 pm

Cats, male and female can spray. If they are fixed early enough and not in an environment where they "learn" it from other cats, they usually never learn how to spray.

White vinegar is wonderful on urine. And the smell isn't to bad.

GardenRN, have you gone to get your cat checked just in case? Male cats have a issue with UTI (Urinary tract Infections) and sometimes will pee in areas they aren't suppose too. Keep an eye out and when you notice he goes into the box, if it has a lid take it off. If it looks like he is straining take him to a vet!

Fri Mar 04, 2011 6:08 pm

On the subject of normally good kitties gone bad, I'll submit my Russian Blue, Niro, rolling on my dill seedlings. The poor things were all smooshed, but they seem to be bouncing back now that they're in the shade. Kitty got a good talking to about that one - I sent her to her corner to think about what she did (the ultimate punishment - she hates being disapproved of.)

She also likes to sit on my sugar peas, for some daft reason that we haven't figured out yet - it's not like she's chewing them, that's what the chard is for! :()

Other than this, she's a paragon of good behaviour and even keeps to her own dirt patch off behind the wash-house for bathroom necessities.

Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:33 pm

Isn't that odd, lorax! You'd think the dill's scent, even as seedlings, would be objectionable to Niro. Beautiful kitty, beautiful garden.

I used to save twigs and branches of all sizes as they fell. Small ones would go in some tender veg patch, studding the area to discourage lounging raccoons or berserker turtles.

My kittehs were outdoor by invitation only. I still managed to lose patches of catnip to strays looking for a spa treatment. Made my five very indignant.

I think I love all the critters, but a particular tortie Maine coon is branded on my heart. My 17 lb Tsammikos. 19 years when she passed. I think this link takes you straight to a pic of my girl. I'll edit it out if it doesn't.

http://www.eattheweeds.com/www.EatTheWeeds.Com/EatTheWeeds.com/Entries/2010/9/15_Green_Deane%E2%80%99s_Videos_On_You_Tube.html

Good to know about Natures Miracle vs Petastic. I was a big fan of NM when I had my own dogs and cats and the occasional foster or rescue.

Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:14 pm

alaskagold wrote:Cats, male and female can spray. If they are fixed early enough and not in an environment where they "learn" it from other cats, they usually never learn how to spray.

White vinegar is wonderful on urine. And the smell isn't to bad.

GardenRN, have you gone to get your cat checked just in case? Male cats have a issue with UTI (Urinary tract Infections) and sometimes will pee in areas they aren't suppose too. Keep an eye out and when you notice he goes into the box, if it has a lid take it off. If it looks like he is straining take him to a vet!

I second this. ANY cat can spray. As stated, they are less likely to spray if neutered young. If this is a sudden change, a vet visit would absolutely be in order. Many cats that have urinary tract infections (UTI's) will exhibit a change in litter box habits that can be quite peculiar.

I would NOT expect just the fumes from urine to wilt the seedlings or cause any significant problems. Direct contact, yes, fumes, no.

Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:39 pm

Than, I have to watch her quite carefully in the herb patch - she's inordinately fond of mint and oregano, but they both seem to make her a bit high so I've got to be careful how much she nibbles.

So I'm not so surprised she was rolling in the dill, although I don't think it's for the smell - she does the same thing in carrots. I think it's a texture thing.