Any cat behaviour experts? We're desperate!

milliemonster

We took in a stray kitten a couple of months ago who was around 9 weeks old at the time, she's coming up to 5 months old now but we are having huge problems with her.

Basically she wasn't litter trained initially, having had cats before, I was confident in getting her litter trained but it's become a bad problem.

We have tried alsorts, we have used different types of litter, we change it religiously every day and clean it out whenever she uses it. She is happy to use her littler tray but she will also poo in the house wherever she feels like it, aswell as using her litter tray. For instance overnight last night she has used her litter tray but also on my sofa, on the rug on the floor, also on the hard conservatory floor, she will go upstairs and do it on my bed and carpet, in the dining room on the wooden floor there and even on my bag which was on the floor yesterday.

I can't cope with this anymore, in every other way she behaves normally but this is just bizzarre, I can't understand why she will use her litter tray happily but then also go wherever the urge takes her.

Everything I have googled just seems to talk about how to get a cat trained based on if they are averse to using a litter tray, but ours will happily use the litter tray, she knows where it is (it's in a quiet place away from her food and the rest of the household noise) but she will also just go wherever she wants.

Help!

JournalGirl

You have my sympathy - we have a much older cat who has now 'forgotten' she needs to hold her bum over the litter tray, so lets go as soon as she feels the litter between her toes- wet floor every day!

SHe has also started pooing under the bed (NOT NICE TO WAKE UP TO THAT AROMA)

SHe may be stressed - try getting a couple of feliway plug-ins

ALso make sure you really clean the areas where she has been, and use one of the special products from the pet shop which really neutralises the faeces smell (Otherwise if she can detect the smell she will relate it to a poo place and do it again)

Make sure she's getting plenty of love - it can be attention seeking

Consider a second tray upstairs in the bedroom as a short term measure, gradually moving it away towards the downstairs tray.

ALso - I would recommend a vet checkup - this behavior can also be a cat's way of telling you there is something wrong. Maybe she is unwell and has to go immediately wherever she is?

And most of all good luck!!!!

starryshell

Is she the only cat in the house?

How many litter trays do you have?

The rule of thumb is one litter tray for each cat in a household, plus one extra. Sometimes cats don't like to poo where they pee. If you've got more than just this cat in the house, it could be a bullying issue, and the extra box will help.

Some cats also don't like a dirty box, and will not poo in it when it is dirty. (one of mine does this, if it is due for its twice daily scoop and she needs a poo...she'll do it next to the box on the vinyl floor).

If this doesn't work, then get kitty to the vet to make sure the problem isn't physical.

Good luck!

Southend1

Agree with other posters but just want to add... Have you tried regularly placing her in the litter tray and scrabbling her paws in the litter? It might encourage her to go in the tray. Try doing that first thing in the morning, last thing at night and after she eats.

Good luck!

milliemonster

Thank you for the quick replies, she is the only cat we have, we do clean the areas where she has been religiously with a special pet cleaning foam that removes the odour, she will even go next to her litter tray as well as using it and it's obvious at times she hasn't just missed it by accident.

In every other way she is a normal happy playful cat, she gets lots of love and affection from us and our two children.

I have just had a bit of a eureka moment and am wondering if she doesn't actually like where her litter tray currently is, it is in a quiet part of the house, away from general noise and also her food, but I am wondering if she just for whatever reason doesn't like using it where it is and that is why she is using it at times as she knows that's the right thing to do but a lot of the time would really rather not!

I have just moved it into the conservatory at the back of the house instead, to see what she thinks of it there, we have just confined her in there after she's had her breakfast and she has just used it successfully so we'll see how it goes, but if we still continue to have a problem then we'll get her to the vets

gettingready

Put few extra trays around the house?

joansgirl

JournalGirl wrote: »

You have my sympathy - we have a much older cat
who has now 'forgotten' she needs to hold her bum over the litter tray, so
lets
go as soon as she feels the litter between her toes- wet floor every day!

My cat used to do this and I solved the problem by getting a larger tray to put under the one with the litter in. Most of the time he wee'd between the 2 trays and I would have to empty the top one a couple of times a day and then wash it out but it saved my carpet from a fate worse than death. I also put a couple of puppy pads underneath the trays to catch any stray splashes.

He also used to poo on the floor, nowhere near the tray. In the living room, on the stairs, on the sofa etc and it was all down to the stress from when his brother died. I think he was picking up on my stress as well because he continued to poo indiscriminately for the next 3 1/2 years, following the deaths of our dog, and then my husband. Then I got a new puppy which completely freaked him out. He didn't stop until the beginning of this year. Then in May when the second dog died he started again, but only for a short while. He was an older cat though, sadly no longer with us.

ac085

Get as many trays as you can stand. Definitely at least 2, one on each floor of the house.
Some cats don't like to toilet in a busy traffic area, some don't mind so think about the placement. Don't put them near radiators for the sake of your nose, warming dirty cat litter is not a pleasant aroma!
As well as trying different litter types try different depths, I know one of my cats prefers a deeper fill.
Also make sure the boxes are big enough.
You might find it inconvenient but try putting trays where she has previously toileted.

As others have said it might be worth checking with your vet for any issues.
When stressed my cats tend to ignore their boxes. It's their way of telling me something is wrong. Usually I've forgotten to change the feliway plug in. If you don't already have feliway or haven't used it before, look it up and consider trying it. The plug in helps my little stresshead.

The only other thing I would suggest is positive reinforcement. This really helps with my cat when she has cystitis. Give her lots of praise and treats when she uses or even stands in her litter box.


Lastly try not to use bleach in your house. You are better off cleaning soiled items with an enzyme based cleaner.

Good luck, I understand how frustrating it can be.

meritaten

I would suggest getting another tray too for upstairs. My Barnes is definitely a two tray cat but his preferred place for a poo is in the bath! if bath not available he will use one of his two trays.
(the bath is now booby-trapped and I have successfully stopped him using it for nearly three weeks now - but I am not complacent!)

Better_Days

Have you tried a litter tray with a lid? If the kitty is a little nervous then she may feel more secure using a covered tray.

In the past I have never had problems house training my kitties but one of my latest two has an endearing habit of peeing in the dogs beds. However, it happens less frequently now we have a covered litter tray. He still does it occasionally but it seems to be when something has stressed him such as unfamiliar visitors.

moggymutt

It's a really really awkward problem when they show that they can use the tray some of the time. Try as many litter trays as you can. Also try a variety of cat litters.

I've just had success with a wild 6/7 month cat with a badly broken pelvis. In the last few weeks she has gained enough mobility to use a litter tray but wouldn't until I started putting very dry compost in the tray. Now I've been able to slowly change back to normal litter.

Good luck.