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-   -   Cat not using litter -- please help (http://www.pets.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=87528)

mwhyte February 4th, 2017 10:49 AM

Cat not using litter -- please help
 
Hi everyone -- new here, so I hope I'm doing this right!

Anyway, I know this is a very common problem, but I feel like I've read hundreds of threads and I dont' quite see my issue so I'm hoping someone here will have some experience with this.

We have a five month old neutered male kitten. We have had him for about a month. When he came home from the breeder (he's a Devon Rex), he was great at using his litter. But over time, he's started finding new places to go.

Recently, he decided he liked peeing under the basements steps (it's unfinished, just a bare concrete floor). So I blocked off the area of moved his litter box down near to it. He started using the box again.

One night, he climbed into the kids' lego bin, dug around, and defecated inside it. This was in the den on the second floor, so we got a second litter box for the second floor. He started using it, too.

Now, he seems to use one or the other box when he feels like it, but he still seems to think he can go in random places when he wants to. For example, just this morning, he climbed behidn the books on the bottom bookshelf and defecated there.

I can't understand it. He seems to like his litter just fine and uses it most of the time. But then he will just randomly go somewhere else (usually poo).

Is he sick? Lazy? Confused? Do I need a box in every room?

His two boxes are tucked away and private, though that doesn't seem to matter to him. The 2 or 3 times he has randomly defecated around the house have been right in front of us.

I have considered taking him to the vet but because it's inconsistent, we don't think it's health related (but what do we know).

He doesn't seem to have a problem with his litter because he does use it.

So, it's a mystery. We need to fix this though. He can't develop the habit of going wherever he pleases. Thanks for your help!

Barkingdog February 4th, 2017 12:20 PM

[url]http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/solving-cat-litter-box-problems[/url]


I found this link for you ,it suggest bringing the cat to the vet to rule out health issues . If your cat hasn't been to the vet in some time it wouldn't hurt to bring it in . Have checked your cat claws to see if they're too long ?

mwhyte February 4th, 2017 01:05 PM

[QUOTE=Barkingdog;1075937][url]http://pets.webmd.com/cats/guide/solving-cat-litter-box-problems[/url]


I found this link for you ,it suggest bringing the cat to the vet to rule out health issues . If your cat hasn't been to the vet in some time it wouldn't hurt to bring it in . Have checked your cat claws to see if they're too long ?[/QUOTE]

Thanks very much for this. I didn't think about checking his claws, but they are long, and sharp. Do you think that might be a problem?

Winston February 5th, 2017 02:22 PM

Cats generally dont do their business outside the box unless they are trying to tell you something. Like a UTI infection. They either associate it with pain or they dont like the set up, the smell, etc. They can be really finicky. Having a litter box on each floor will definatly help. You may want to try a closed litter box over an open one or vice versa. Also try different types of litter.

Thorough check up highly reccomened....:thumbs up

Mine used to go in the bath tub and pee. My vet said it was likely because it felt good being a cold service...cats can be really strange...:laughing:

Cindy

raemei February 5th, 2017 06:21 PM

It kind of sounds like he does it to get your attention! Like my two (female) cats never really knock stuff down, unless in pursuit of a moth or something. But when I'm home and not paying attention to them, they start climbing all over my tables and knocking over everything. Cats are strange & manipulative ;)

But do get him checked out by a vet, and maybe get a couple different types of boxes and experiment with a different litter too!

Barkingdog February 5th, 2017 10:35 PM

[QUOTE=mwhyte;1075938]Thanks very much for this. I didn't think about checking his claws, but they are long, and sharp. Do you think that might be a problem?[/QUOTE]

If his claws are too long they could hurting his paws , the claws could be digging into his paws. How does his paws looks ? I do agree a trip to the vet would be a the best thing to do to made sure your cat has no UTI infection.

Reg February 5th, 2017 11:38 PM

hi and welcome to the forum.

I understand that your issues can be very frustrating and I'm including a web site that could be very helpful for your problems now.

I have referred to it for years and you may find it worth while bookmarking for future reference. There is considerable information on litter problems - box locations and sizes.

Dr. Lisa Pierson has done a lot of research and her explanations are very thorough.

[url]http://catinfo.org/feline-urinary-tract-diseases/[/url]

Down the right hand side in green, there is a list of topics. Check under Litter Box, and when the page comes up, scroll down a wee bit and there is a list of articles to view that could be of interest to you.

Something else you may want to look at is the article on Irritable Bowel Disease. It's also worth the read.

Usually Barkingdog asks for pictures of pets, but missed this time. Perhaps you could do a picture of your little guy.

marko February 6th, 2017 11:37 AM

I haven't seen anyone mention this...but as far as I know the #1 reason cats do this is because the litter box is too dirty. It might not be 'dirty' to your eyes or nose, but it might be dirty to a cat's nose. A cat's nose has something like 20x the smell receptors when compared against the human nose.

In our house solid poop gets disposed of every single day and the litter gets fully changed with a quick wash to the litterbox every single week. Without fail.

Yes this is a hassle for many people who are busy....and going outside the litter box is NOT revenge on the part of the cat. It's just basic comfort....no cat or human for that matter wants to do their business in a dirty smelly toilet.

OF COURSE...this may not be the case for you and yes a vet check is still in order...

But I just wanted to post that 'dirty litterbox' is the most common reason for this behaviour...

Good luck!

mwhyte February 6th, 2017 12:25 PM

Thanks to everyone for the helpful suggestions. We've been scooping both of his litterboxes twice a day so I don't think that's it. He is young, and he has only been here a month, so maybe he's sorting out territorial issues.

It's quite a big house; he came from a breeder where there were a couple dozen of his relations in a small space, so maybe that makes him feel a bit insecure. Hopefully he grows out of it as he gets more accustomed to his new home.

In any case, it's a bit odd because it's been very inconsistent. He uses the box 90% of the time; it's just the rare occasion when he thinks outside the box (pun intended). Stranger still is that he does it right in front of someone (as in, he's not finding a far corner of the basement). That's what makes me think it's a territorial issue.

I've also read that cats will not toilet where they eat, sleep or play, which makes it a bit more perplexing as the few times it has happened has been in rooms where he definitely plays and sleeps a lot. So, go figure. We'll take him to the doc to rule out health concerns and take it from there.

Barkingdog February 6th, 2017 06:01 PM

[QUOTE=marko;1075959]I haven't seen anyone mention this...but as far as I know the #1 reason cats do this is because the litter box is too dirty. It might not be 'dirty' to your eyes or nose, but it might be dirty to a cat's nose. A cat's nose has something like 20x the smell receptors when compared against the human nose.

In our house solid poop gets disposed of every single day and the litter gets fully changed with a quick wash to the litterbox every single week. Without fail.

Yes this is a hassle for many people who are busy....and going outside the litter box is NOT revenge on the part of the cat. It's just basic comfort....no cat or human for that matter wants to do their business in a dirty smelly toilet.

OF COURSE...this may not be the case for you and yes a vet check is still in order...

But I just wanted to post that 'dirty litterbox' is the most common reason for this behaviour...

Good luck![/QUOTE]

My b/f was cutting up some yams and a piece of yam when flying into our cat littler box . Our cat walked over to the littler box and looked at our 'poop'
then at my b/f and me disgustedly and got into the littler box and covered up
our 'poop' ! LOL! Yeah cats hate a dirty littler box . :laughing: I link I posted about a dirty littler box being one of the reason for a cat not using a littler box.


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