Smelly cats and stinky dogs
Dear Dr. Forsythe: My 89-year-old mother-in-law has had a female cat named Dolly for 17 years. My husband says the cat has always had a problem with peeing in places other than the litter box. This cat has ruined carpeting in my husband’s home, she ruined carpeting in my mother-in-law’s last home, and now the cat is peeing on the carpet in her new apartment here in Sonoma. The smell of urine is so strong it burns my eyes when I go to visit, and it makes me sick to my stomach to be in her apartment for more than a minute or two
My husband is worried that his mother will be evicted due to this problem. My mother-in-law loves Dolly but denies there is a problem and says she doesn’t smell it. She is very protective of Dolly and doesn’t want us to take the cat to see a veterinarian. The odor is so strong that it lands on her clothes, so I can smell it on her even out in public. Do you have any ideas about what we can try? My husband wants to steal the cat away from her and have it put to sleep. We already know that carpet cleaning or replacement is going to be expensive.
Any suggestions you might have will be greatly appreciated. Could there be a medical reason for this problem? Dolly cat is terribly obese as well, her stomach drags on the ground when she walks. What can we do? Many thanks for your advice. – J & J T., Sonoma
Dear J & JT: This sounds like a problem that needs to be dealt with swiftly but with sensitivity. It seems as though Dolly has been such an important part of your mother-in-law’s life that she has adjusted herself to cope with the aberrant urination by living in denial over it. Lucky for her she has a family to look out for her well-being. Cat urine contains high levels of ammonia, and the sour, awful smell is really quite dreadful indeed. If your husband is correct in saying that Dolly has had a urination problem for 15 years, that is about 14 years longer than I COULD HAVE PUT UP WITH IT! Ordinarily, when a cat is peeing outside the box, we presume there is a bladder infection and this is causing the problem. There are a few other differentials, such as bladder stones or F.L.U.T.D. (feline lower urinary tract disease). But if the problem has persisted for so many years, I would be inclined to think that Dolly has a behavioral/stress problem that is interfering with her ability to potty correctly. Once a urinalysis is done and your veterinarian has ruled out a medical issue, there are medications for cats that decrease stress and usually calms them down sufficiently to train them to use the litter box. I would recommend a check up and let the veterinarian rule out a bladder infection and, once this is done, consider a “kitty downer” to help with the problem.
Although I can see that your husband is fed up and stressed out, I don’t think euthanasia needs to be done right away without the benefit of a urine test and medication. However, I am not walking in you and your husband’s shoes: it must be very stressful and disconcerting to have a beloved elderly family member smelling like urine and living with that filth. I urge you take action immediately so your mother-in-law can live in a cleaner, more sanitary environment. It may be that Dolly has such a poor prognosis due to the chronic nature of the problem, and in this case euthanasia may be best for all concerned. If this is the case, I suggest replacing Dolly with another cat very soon so your mother-in-law can pour her love into a pet. Thanks very much and good luck with this complex issue. – Dr. F
Dear Dr. F: The problem I’m writing about is my son Doug, whose wife Edna cares more about breeding her Fox Terriers than being a wife. Every time I go visit my son in Gardnerville, Nevada, their house is filthy and stinks something awful. There are always eight to 10 dogs and puppies running around the house soiling where ever they please. There are more dogs housed in wire cages in the living room, dining room and kitchen. Edna says they are the “breeders” and insists that a messy house is a small price to pay considering how fabulous their dogs are. Not to sound too picky, but Edith doesn’t even bother to run a brush through her hair anymore. Whenever I visit, I feel so sorry for my son. What do you think about people who get so caught up in their dogs that they let their house become filthy and no longer prioritize the important things in life. The last time Doug had a home-cooked meal was during my last visit here, I assure you. – Patty Hanson, San Francisco
Dear Ms. Hanson: I’m afraid that you are shooting yourself in the foot by complaining about Edna so much. While everything you say may be the God-awful truth, Doug is a grown man and I assume knew what he was getting into when he married her. I agree that the situation you are describing sounds gnarly, and it is a shame that people let their breeding pets take over the home and hearth to the point of stink and filth permeating the entire area. But people make choices, and some people are so crazy in love with their dogs that they really just don’t care about the conditions that most of us take for granted. While I agree that it would be nice for Edna to brush her hair once in a while (and a little smattering of lipstick probably wouldn’t hurt either), you best play your role diplomatically and let the effect of the fabulous terriers run right off your back – if not, I assure you, it won’t be long before you are no longer invited to their house – since the dogs clearly come first. Good luck navigating these tricky waters, but please do so with grace and humility, not pushiness or with lots of negative feelings. – Dr. F.
