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The Real World strikes. — Parallax Forums

The Real World strikes.

DavidSmithDavidSmith Posts: 36
edited 2011-12-04 18:28 in General Discussion
I need a urine detector.

The backstory: My mother died and I inherited her cat. The animal is really traumatized after all the trouble and has started to urinate on a piece of furniture. And NO, I am not going to get rid of the cat.

She still uses the regular pan, so I'm hoping I can just train her to leave this piece of furniture alone. The keep off chemicals have not worked, she does it when I'm not there - so it's difficult for me to punish her.

What I want to do, is put have some kind of urine detector and have her blasted w a sound and light whenever she's bad. I DON'T want to blast her just because she gets up there. Oddly enough she spends hours in that spot w no problem - usually. And yes, I have had her checked by the vet for problems.

I have thought of something that might work, but I'm hoping some of you bulging brains w a little experience might have a better idea?

Help!

Comments

  • doggiedocdoggiedoc Posts: 2,245
    edited 2011-12-04 11:48
    Urine contains urea which is 2 ammonia molecules bonded together. This is how the kidneys get rid of nitrogenous waste products. Some of the urea breaks down into ammonia with time. More time more ammonia. You could use and ammonia sensor. Doesn't Parallax sell one of those?

    Paul
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-12-04 11:51
    I had a similar problem with my cat, Browser, years ago when I was absent for a few long stretches. He would pee in the hallway due to stress and separation anxiety, despite the fact that there was someone looking in on him. One thing that helped was moving his food bowl proximal to the scene of the crime. A cat won't pee where he eats, apparently. (Who would?) Maybe that will work for you, too.

    -Phil
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2011-12-04 12:06
    If the other suggestions do not work you can use two pieces of aluminum screen separated by a piece of cloth to make a conductivity mat. The urine soaking the cloth will change the conductivity between the screens.
  • Beau SchwabeBeau Schwabe Posts: 6,568
    edited 2011-12-04 12:37
    Make sure that this is just a nervous condition and not an early sign of kidney problems. On a similar note, make sure that 'kitty' is eating properly. If a cat goes too long without eating properly, there is what is called 'fatty buildup' in the kidneys because proper digestive enzymes are not produced in enough frequency to break down the fatty buildup resulting in a very hard to reverse and most of the time fatal situation for the cat. ... Just speaking from experience. If it is just a nervous condition, ask about pet calmer at the local pet store. Usually used for traveling, used in other circumstances can be beneficial.
  • RickBRickB Posts: 395
    edited 2011-12-04 15:47
    Look for pheromone collars and diffusers. Naturecalm and Feliway are examples. They have a calming effect on cats having separation anxiety.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-12-04 16:24
    Should we ask Browser? I think shrimp curbs the anxiety attacks. :)
  • Dr_AculaDr_Acula Posts: 5,484
    edited 2011-12-04 16:39
    You could borrow the technology from a child's bedwetting alarm. Then again, more fun to make one yourself and it will be cheaper too. Bedwetting alarms are simply two small metal plates and you measure the resistance. kwinn's solution sounds very good. Dry resistance will be >100k and wet will probably be under 1k. Maybe try a 10k resistor in series with the metal plates and detect the voltage change. Perfect job for a basic stamp or a propeller!
  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2011-12-04 16:42
    Publison wrote:
    Should we ask Browser? I think shrimp curbs the anxiety attacks.
    It depends on the source of the anxiety. This afternoon, for example, I gave Browser his shrimp and, as he was eating it, I added a storage bin to a stack that includes his cat carrier. Just the sound of something bumping the carrier was enough to make him abandon his shrimp, run into the bedroom, and hide under the bedspread. He had just been to the vet on Friday, so I guess the memory of the dreaded carrier was still fresh.

    -Phil
  • ElectricAyeElectricAye Posts: 4,561
    edited 2011-12-04 17:09
    A woman I know just put her cat on prozac, or some kind of equivalent of it, because of a very similar situation, peeing all over the place. Apparently the woman's cat has had emotional problems ever since her dog died. A cat grieving over a dead dog - imagine that.
  • bomberbomber Posts: 297
    edited 2011-12-04 17:17
    I am thinking if you move the piece of furniture to another spot (if it can indeed be moved), you would see if the cat's urination is caused by the piece of furniture or that spot in the house.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2011-12-04 18:17
    Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) wrote: »
    It depends on the source of the anxiety. This afternoon, for example, I gave Browser his shrimp and, as he was eating it, I added a storage bin to a stack that includes his cat carrier. Just the sound of something bumping the carrier was enough to make him abandon his shrimp, run into the bedroom, and hide under the bedspread. He had just been to the vet on Friday, so I guess the memory of the dreaded carrier was still fresh.

    -Phil

    That's it! Put a cat carrier on the piece of furniture. My Mom's cat will relocate to the farthest floor from a carrier.
  • bill190bill190 Posts: 769
    edited 2011-12-04 18:28
    Dogs do not "do their business" where they eat. And I have had success with feeding a dog where it is going to the bathroom. Then it stops going in that room and moves to another room. Basically I wind up feeding them in each room, then eventually all that is left is outside.

    Don't know if that would work with a cat?
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