Remind me, litter regression

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 6sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 8 months ago by pippakins.

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- 07/22/2012 at 8:36 PM
  Balefulregards
  Participant
  715 posts
  Sigh. So we got here from Montreal and have settled in. The space for Jackson and Coco is as large as the old room, but carpeted.
  
  I wasn’t thrilled with this, but hey. I covered the carpet with those plastic runners/thick vinyl shower curtains and area rugs. I reconstructed the maze haven/tunnel and the hide out under the bed. I did add the NIC panels to one side of the bed as I wasn’t going to cover a 30 ft room with plastic.While they have objected vigorously to the cube panels being zip tied to the bed, they seem to have adjusted to the space all right.
  
  Except for the urinating. I was/am diligent about sweeping up stray poo and putting it back in the litter asap as I assumed territorial marking. I have finally had to strip all the rugs from the area, as Coco ( in particular) will urinate directly next to the litterbox, all over the rugs – you name it. I even saw Jackson pee – I was shocked. He has impeccable litter habits. Better than hers!
  
  As of last night, I had HAD it. 20 days of continual urine cleaning. Last night, I caged them.
  
  They didn’t protest (!). I let them out this morning…..after about 2 hours, Coco peed in three spots. I caged them again. No protests.
  
  I let them out at 5, fed dinner….when I came back at 9:30 – I big urine spot…..I caged them again.
  
  They actually come and get in the cage before I cage them. I refresh the hay and water, and cover with one of the big rugs.
  
  Am I just going to have to keep up on the caging until she remembers her ability to pee in the litterbox? Is this a reaction to the move?
- 07/22/2012 at 8:50 PM
  Monkeybun
  Participant
  10479 posts
  Probably a reaction to teh move. Could be she is smellign some past pet or somethign there, and marking against it
- 07/23/2012 at 9:21 AM
  Balefulregards
  Participant
  715 posts
  I don’t think it is another pet, as the carpet is new. I also thought she could be angry about the vinyl and was protesting. I may have to restrict her freedom more, as she is the prime cuplrit – block her off into a small space until she remembers her manners.
- 07/23/2012 at 9:42 AM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  Forgive me for not remembering, but they’re both Speutered, right? If so, it’s definitely a marking thing and reaction to the move.
  
  Sounds like they are content in their habitat and reluctant to be out far and long. I would let them get used to the surroundings, and it won’t do them any harm to be in the cage for a couple of days. Things we aren’t aware of, like other smells and noises outside, can make them worried. They may need to have the house smell a bit more like you and your stuff after a few days before they feel at home. Meanwhile, spray the stained areas with a 50/50% vinegar and water solution to remove both their marking odor and other odors.
  
  Have you tried an xpen that opens onto their cage so they can run around in a very limited, confined space while getting used to the new home? I would let them explore very gradually. It seems to be what they prefer.
- 07/23/2012 at 10:11 AM
  Balefulregards
  Participant
  715 posts
  Yes, pam, both speutered. I just made an xpen of about 1/4th the size of the open space they had before. Litter box and some (limited comparatively) run space ( about as long as the tunnel.
  
  Jackson – the scaredy boy is MOST offended. He is obviously looking for weak spots in the pen and telescoping to see if he can jump it. Coco seems far more content, overall.
  
  Ironically I thought Jackson was not marking – until I caught him in the act this morning – twice. I’ve washed the spots with vinegar.
  
  We’ve been here 22 days, so I think I assumed it would start to decrease. No decrease at all. However, I think they may have had far too much room to manage (Their open space was about 15 feet by 15 feet) -so the decrease will help.
  
  I will continue to cage them at night, and have them in the open – much smaller – space during the day.
  
  You’d think that after 4 years I would have this down pat, but you forget, you know?
- 07/23/2012 at 1:28 PM
  pippakins
  Participant
  24 posts
  I’m actually really glad to see this post. We just moved last saturday 3 hours away. Pippa seemed fine, and I was really shocked to how well she had adapted to the new area. And then the peeing started so we’ve been wondering and trying to figure out what’s wrong. Thinking if it didn’t start right away, maybe it wasn’t the move. But it doesn’t help that the building is still under renovation; we have construction on 2 apartments on our floor, and the paint smell is still kinda on the walls. Plus, you know, a bunch of new people (she doesn’t take kindly to strangers and she’s had a lot of them this past week), and we set her up in a new nic cage from her old cage/xpen set up. She seems to love the pen but hopefully the peeing stops soon. So frusturating.
- 07/23/2012 at 1:28 PM
  pippakins
  Participant
  24 posts
  I’m actually really glad to see this post. We just moved last saturday 3 hours away. Pippa seemed fine, and I was really shocked to how well she had adapted to the new area. And then the peeing started so we’ve been wondering and trying to figure out what’s wrong. Thinking if it didn’t start right away, maybe it wasn’t the move. But it doesn’t help that the building is still under renovation; we have construction on 2 apartments on our floor, and the paint smell is still kinda on the walls. Plus, you know, a bunch of new people (she doesn’t take kindly to strangers and she’s had a lot of them this past week), and we set her up in a new nic cage from her old cage/xpen set up. She seems to love the pen but hopefully the peeing stops soon. So frusturating.
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