Kitten pooing in the bath

mico62

We got a 4-5 month old kitten from the CP 2 wks ago. Because we've got an older cat and a cat flap we've been putting him in the bathroom at night or if we're out so he doesn't get out and lost.

He'll wee in the litter tray but will only poo in the bath and boy does it whiff! any suggestions on how to entice him to use his tray - he has once but we wonder if the bath reminds him of his pen at CP which was all white.

Another thing - he loves to be played especially at mealtimes but hates being picked up and petted. DH thinks he was in CP too long and will never be a lapcat like our other cat. He will lie on a cushion next to one of us but won't sit on anyone's knee. Do you think he'll always be standoffish?

Thanks in advance, just been called into work because of the snow, as I live within walking distance, so will check any replies when I can escape.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Put the litter tray in the bath (with the plug in the bath). That should reinforce it (but don't forget, baths are easier to clean than carpets).

Some cats just choose to do that. Especially when bathrooms at night tend to be cold, boring and amplify any distressing sounds at a time when he could well be wishing he could be wandering round the house at night and not locked up like he was back at the cattery - after all, cats don't tend to sleep next to their litter trays, anymore than we do.


But it's only 2 weeks. Keep handling him and he should get more used to it. But some cats - even those that are incredibly affectionate - don't feel secure 'on' people. I have one like it who hardly ever gets on you unless he's cold or you're asleep in bed, and one two weeks younger, who would spend every moment of everyday wrapped around my collar bone if she had the choice.


I would be inclined to lock the catflap at night and let them get on with getting to know one another - and you.

pukkamum

Cats need to feel safe and secure whilst pooing is the kitten worried about the older cat?
Is the older cat around when the kitten is trying to 'go?
Perhaps the kitten feels safer and secure in the bathroom.
Not sure how to remedy this unless you can somehow put the littter tray in a room the older cat won't always be in?
Having said that our 15 yr old cat wil always 'go' in the bath if trapped in.

TallGirl

Some very good advice here as for sleepIng in the bathroom my two Mainecoons have the run of the house plus outdoors but is very often found in the bathroom 1 in the sink one on the bath math on the floor.

loracan1

I once knew someone who had a cat that would perch over the loo to perform - I always thought that'd be cool.

As for handling, some cats are just like that, but I had one who was almost feral when we got him and shrunk away from you when you stroked him, over time he became one of the most affectionate creatures I've ever known. He was always wanting to sit on laps etc. Yet he always stooped his back down if you leant over to stroke him as he was walking by. (always happy to be stroked if sat or lay down)

ariba10

Put the plug in the bath and part fill with water?

VeggieCatLady

I would agree with the above poster. Put water in the bath and your kitten won't want to let their paws wet! If this works and they start using tho tray, brilliant, though be warned they may just find somewhere different to poo. If this happens, consider crating the kitten for a couple of days with a bed, food and water and a litter tray in it. They won't like it but it will work because they won't want to poo on their bedding or in their food. I was fostering a kitten that wouldn't even step foot in a litter tray, but after crating her for less than two days she was litter trained :-) Good luck! X

mico62

ariba10 wrote: »

Put the plug in the bath and part fill with water?

Brilliant idea! We thought we were doing the right thing putting his bed and litter tray in the bathroom as its quite big we were able to put his bed by the radiator and the tray in the corner diagonally opposite.

During the day he has the run of the house when someone's in (DS finished uni last week) and he will go upstairs to pee in the tray. We were worried about the other cat bullying him or eating all his food but now we've all broke up for xmas we've got nearly 3 wks to see how they get along and we'll look at moving his bed out of the bathroom.

katiefinger

Is there any way he can have the run of the house at night now, maybe by shutting off access to the room with the cat-flap? It's a long time for a young cat to be on his own in one room.

When we rescued our poor little cat (now frolicking in Rainbow Bridge) we couldn't do anything with her; she didn't even like being stroked. I think we'd had her about eighteen months before she sat on our laps and a lot more time had to pass before she was happy to be picked up. She became incredibly affectionate which was lovely because we really thought she's never become a lap-cat.

Of the two we have now, we consider ourselves to be very lucky if Boy Cat wants a cuddle (maybe twice a week!) and our Girl Cat now sits on our laps, but she didn't for the first two or three months.

I think you'll find that as more time passes he'll start to enjoy being picked up and petted. He's bound to still be very wary after only two weeks, especially if he's still not sure of your other cat.

I hope he brings you years of pleasure!

little_evo

I think you just need to give your kitten more time as it is still adjusting to its new home. And as for having a cuddling cat, well that too can come with time. Our girl cat Mog who is turning three, is the ultimate lap cat, forever coming up to anyone for a pet or stroke, however she does not like being picked up and wants to get on our lap on her terms. lol

And our older boy Moe who is 6 yrs old will not sit in our lap at all, but likes to sit beside us on what we call his perch, as he likes to sit on the arm of the sofa and moans at us until we pet him. To give you an example, tonight my 9 yr old son was sitting next to him and was simply staring at him and chirping which we all know means 'pet me and pet me now.' lol So while watching tv he reaches out and gives him a few strokes before stopping and as this was not want Moe wanted to happen, he reached out with his paw and slapped the back of my son's head and chirped at him again and my son reached out to pet him some more. Now if only I could train my son this way and to do as he is told! lol