Just when I start feeling like a cat expert of sorts, something completely new reminds me that I still have much to learn.

With the recent rainstorms I have had to set up litterboxes in the garage for my indoor cats. Normally their facilities are outside in the catio, but I lock them out of that area during inclement weather.

This morning I went out to shoo any cats back into the house before I opened the garage door. Noticing signs of the previous night’s kitty activities in items askew, including a “meow” magnet from the back of my car on the floor, I also saw that I’d left the vehicle windows partially open. Opening the rear passenger door to check if there were any felines in hiding, I was hit by the powerful odor of fresh cat pee!

Fortunately the liquid was contained in the large throw on top of the dog bed and had not seeped into the car upholstery. A single load of laundry took care of what could have been a real problem, but I was mystified as to why this had happened.

There is a large holding cage in the garage for cats that temporarily come into my care, and it had been recently occupied. Although the cat was gone, his scent lingered still as I had not gotten around to cleaning the cage. I’m guessing that this might be why the available and clean litterboxes were shunned and the car was marked, but without a surveillance video I’ll never know for sure.

This experience reminded me that, with kitten season beginning, pregnant queens are actively looking for safe nesting places to drop their kittens. What could be better than in a warm and dry car? We rescued such a family a couple of seasons ago so this is not conjecture.

In winter we advise knocking on the hood of the car before starting it on cold mornings. In spring and summer I now suggest that you do not leave windows open enough for a cat to squirm in. Mine were only open about 5” so obviously that is too wide.

And speaking of kittens, we now have two young litters in foster just in case you are in the market to adopt soon!