Cat People, pls help

sundin13

Hi,

We just picked up a cat from a rescue shelter this weekend. She's about four years old, and we were told she was litter trained. Trouble is, she's shown no interest in going near the litter tray whatsover.

Half past one this morning she peed on my bed...on my leg...ugh
Lunchtime today she pooed on the duvet on my bed...double ugh
Mid afternoon, she pooed in the dishbowl in the kitchen...omg ugh

She's now confined to the kitchen until we see some evidence that she's using the tray and won't be pooing on all of my bedlinen....can anyone suggest how we can ensure she's using the tray.....she'll have to go back to the rescue otherwise.

Thanks, in advance.

S13

and p.s. If you're a cat hater, please don't bother to respond with any nasty suggestions.....I have my father in law for that. Ta

Gabriel-Ernest

She's scared, bless her - it's all so new. One of ours did the same. Confine her to one space, give her lots of affection without crowding her, and she'll settle down.

whatatwit

Are you using the same type of litter as they were at the shelter.
You may be as well to confine the cat to the kitchen, where the tray is until she has settled in.

sundin13

Yes, we are using the same litter, I made sure of that. And I've taken the top off the litter tray so its exposed, like the shelter ones. (its one of those with a hood and a flap).

frannybaby

Definitely confine the cat to a room for a day or two until she starts looking to explore. They hate changes in their surroundings and can feel out of sorts.

Its always a good idea to introduce the cat to the litter by picking them up and placing them in it. It helps them to know its theirs.

Not all cats like the litter trays with the hoods either. Try taking the lid off and standing the cat in it.

squeaky

Yes, it's a scared thing.

Just give her space and time.

Confine her to a room that has hiding places in it (which often excludes the kitchen) and just wander in at intervals and basically ignore her. If she comes up to say hi, great - you can say hi back but limit it and try to leave off before she herself gets overwhelmed.

She'll be timid and shy and scared - and a new place AND YOU are scary, no matter how much you know that you are OK... SHE doesn't.

One tip, if she makes eye contact with you - do a slow blink. Take about three seconds to do the whole thing. This is cat language for "I don't want any trouble and I'm not a threat, honest".

gravitytolls

It is unusual for a cat to go somewhere othr than the designated area. They usually like a nice clean litter tray.

Has she been sleeping on your bed as well? It would be highly unusual for a cat to use it's sleeping area as a loo.

She coudl need worming. She could also have a urinary infection. Some cats are rather prone to this, and I believe that some types of dry food can heighten such problems. I imagine the sanctuary woudl've fed dry food. Not to mention the added stress levels of moving home. They probably wouldn't have noticed anything much amiss with toileting, as she wouldn't have been sharing their beds.

Try keeping her in the kitchen with the ilitter tray and see what happens. If it continues, I think a trip to the vet will be needed. Cats with anxiety caused by stress or physical problems do tend to like soft furnishings or carpets for toileting.

Be warned, diagnosing is relatively straightforward, but treatment can be long term, as cystitis type infections in cats have a nasty tendency to return if they'e prone to them.

Good luck, I do hope you get her settled down so you can start enjoying one another.

twink

most of my cats have come from the cats protection and i find they need time to settle especially sooty as they were kept in wooden crates with a wire mesh front in a dark building so he took a few months to become used to us, though he wasnt messy, but it was worth it as he became such a loving cat, he had been about 3 or 4 when we got him

wendym

I'm sitting here doing the long slow blink, and remembering!

The reason the cats apparently make for the one person in the room who doesn't like them is that that person isn't trying to make eye contact. Definitely try kind gentle 'ignoring' and things will settle down.

Do you think it's too late to ask Santa for a cat?

catznine

Just seen this and think squeaky has said it all! Our last cat spent her first week with us behind the settee! It will get better as soon as she settles in and get used to her new home!

dannahaz

Definitely confine her to one room to start with, so she can feel sure of her surroundings.

Each time she has a meal, lift her up and put her in the litter tray (this is how you teach kittens),

When she has settled, start to allow her in more rooms - but leave the litter tray in the original room. With our cats, we gradually allowed them more freedom while we were around, but at night and if we went out, they went back into their own room. When we were sure they were going back to the room to use the litter tray, we allowed them out of their room at night as well.

When she has the run of the house, you can start to move the litter tray. Do it bit by bit. For the first change, just move it along towards the door in the original room. Then just outside the door. etc etc etc,

Remember, the poor thing is probably scared, nervous, and hasn't got a clue whats going on.