INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Cats are emotional creatures. Cats can feel lonely, bored, frightened, or stressed. They show stress in a variety of ways, from vocalizing to forgetting their toilet habits. By taking the time to observe your cat you, will hopefully begin to see patterns to their behaviors and be able to more fully understand your cat companion. Not surprisingly, most cat owners know how important the litterbox is to keeping all family members, including the cat, happy. When a cat stops using the litterbox to urinate, it can become a major issue and may put the cat out of his or her home. There are many reasons why a cat may fail to use the litter box. It may be as simple as the cat not liking its litter, either the texture or smell. Most cats prefer an unscented litter. An elderly cat may not be able to get into the box due to arthritis. The box may be overly dirty and need to be scooped and cleaned (with soap and water) more frequently. A sudden noise, a dog, or some other noise or animal may have scared the cat while using the litter box. In a multiple cat household, a dominant cat may be keeping a submissive cat from using the box. In these cases, it is always wise to have one more litter box than number of cats. If you have two cats, you'll need three boxes. The litter boxes should be in different spots to keep the dominant cat from guarding the boxes. Urinating in odd spots, like the owner's bed, chair, or on plastic bags, may indicate your cat has a urinary tract infection or other serious diseases. This can also occur when the owner has been away for several days indicating distress at your absence. If your cat does suddenly start urinating outside the box, it is best to consult with your veterinarian to rule out any medical causes for this behavior. Cats actually scratch because they find it enjoyable and in order to manicure their claws. Because scratching is so important to cats, you can't really get them to stop doing it. The best way to get a cat to stop scratching your favorite chair or sofa is to redirect their attention. Give your cat a scratching post and entice it to use the post by scenting it with catnip and toys. If your cat doesn't like the scratching post, it might not be the right texture. Try attaching a different texture fabric and see if your cat likes to scratch that better.

SUMMARY: Understand that cats show unhappiness or displeasure is a wide variety of ways. Make sure the cat's litter box is not causing your cat to urinate elsewhere. Look for other reasons for urination misbehavior. Understand why a cat scratches objects in your house.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Older pipe anchors come loose over time and may need to be tightened or replaced. Pipes are usually anchored to wood floor joists using metal clamps. Replace these clamps if they are loose, or add more clamps if the pipes are easily moved. Install anchors every 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 m) on horizontal pipes and every 8 to 10 feet (2.4 to 3 m) on vertical pipes. Wrap a piece of rubber around the pipe and secure the wrapped area to the joist with a metal clip. If you don't have pipe insulating foam, a piece of rubber inner tube or garden hose will work. Do this every 4 feet (1.2 m) along length of the pipe. Leave room for expansion around the pipe or anchoring mechanism. This is particularly important when insulating plastic pipes. Avoid galvanized anchors on copper piping. Even small pipe movement can create a lot of noise when metal on metal comes against metal.

SUMMARY: Check all pipe anchoring locations. Add cushioning to prevent rattling or banging pipes.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Keep the new cat in a separate room so the other cats can smell her through the door. You can use your bathroom if you don't have a spare room. Give the established cat something with the new cat's scent on it to sleep on. The ideal object is a T shirt with your scent on it that the new cat has sat on. This uses your scent as a "intermediary" and gives the established cat a gentle introduction. It may take a few days for your cats to not freak out or avoid your new cat's bedding. But over time, they should start to get used to the new scent. As a general rule, it is usually best to introduce a new cat when your existing cat is young. This will allow the two cats to get to know each other over a long period of time and hopefully bond as they grow. If you are planning to get a second cat or to add another cat to your household, it's important that you ensure they get along by introducing them properly. This means letting the cats see each other before they touch each other or interact. Consider placing the new cat in a cat carrier and placing this on the floor for the existing cat to sniff around and investigate, without the threat of being chased by the new cat. Alternatively, use a baby gate that is at least 36 inches high. Place it in the doorway of the new cat's room so she stays in her room and does not interact with your existing cat(s). Allow the cats to get a look at each other. Then, praise and reward both of them with a treat if there is no attacking or signs of aggression like hissing. Make sure the cats look at each other five to ten times a row, two to three times a day. Before you allow the cats to physically interact with each other, you need to ensure they have grown used to each other by smell and by sight. They should seem relaxed and calm when they look at each other and be okay with being in each other's presence for an extended period of time. If either cat starts to hiss, growl, or seem uncomfortable, move them out of each other's sight. Keep the baby gate door closed to the cats cannot interact with each other. Always quit while you're ahead and don't force the cats to get along. Patience is key as it may take some time for your cats to accept each other. Once your cats seem comfortable looking and smelling each other, you can start to encourage them to interact. Use a fishing rod type toy to play with the cats at the same time. You should also give each cat her own toy to play with. This will help the cats to associate being around each other with play time. If one cat starts to act aggressive, use the fishing rod toy to distract and redirect the cat. However, if both cats display any aggression or tension, separate the cats and return them to their separate spaces. You should never leave the cats alone to play until they seem comfortable and accepting of each other. If the cats play well together, reward them both with treats and praise. It's important to always reward both cats so they understand they are equal and there is no preferential treatment.

SUMMARY:
Allow the cats to smell each other before meeting. Let the cats observe each other before they physically meet. Pay attention to the body language of both cats. Play with the cats together.