Litter box problem

[Melalvai]

A kitten followed us home last year. By "followed" I mean, I climbed into a storm drain and coaxed the little thing to me with kitty treats. We couldn't find another home. By that I mean, the offers were along the lines of "If you can't find anyone else, but I have an older cat", and since we were in the same boat, we just kept her.

That puts us at 3 cats, 2 old ones and the kitten.

A few weeks ago one of the old cats, who has never liked the kitten (they are both gray short-hair), decided to express her dissatisfaction by leaving a present for me each morning directly in FRONT of the litter box.

I tried scooping it more often, and a few other things, and then got her a new litter box, which came yesterday (with little steps for her arthritis!) I moved the old litter box and showed the other cats where it is. They adjusted nicely and are happy.

I showed her the new litter box, which is where the old one was.

She used it, but she also still left her morning present in front of it. I believe the other cats have not used the new one.

How do I break this new habit of hers?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If i were you I'd ask my vet about this. It's just possible that the cat is ill in some way. I once knew a cat that started doing that and the owner kept punishing her and it turned out the kitty had a brain tumor that was growing and of course in the end the poor cat died. The owner felt awful.

[Biciclista]

If the vet says the cat is ok, and it's behavioral, you need to isolate the cat(s) for at least a week. I'm not sure who needs to have a week long time out, but they need to be separated, each with their own litter box.
after a week, put everyone back together WITH the extra cat litter box(es) and see if there is an improvement. One day isn't enough time for them to adjust.

[Melalvai]

They are all having vet visits within the next few weeks, for their yearly checkup. I will talk to the vet.

I also looked on a cat forum (perhaps more accurately a cat-owner's forum?) and found some advice about using something called Feliway. I sprayed it around the litterbox, but once again this morning she used the floor.

The advice to other people with similar problems, on that forum, was what you suggested: isolate them from each other.

Also we're supposed to have 1 box per cat + 1. With the new box I'm up to 2, so I'll go ahead and get 1 more, which will still be 1 short, but I'll see how that goes. I'll put the 3rd one upstairs, spray with Feliway, and keep Old Cranky up there. She won't mind being confined to one room because she doesn't get around much. Young & Restless can have the rest of the house, and Old Spacey doesn't seem to care who is around her. (That's not their real names.)

Three cats is really too many, and I knew that at the time, but what can you do? But if I see another stray I will steel my heart and turn my back!

[zoom-zoom]

Three cats is really too many, and I knew that at the time, but what can you do? But if I see another stray I will steel my heart and turn my back!

3 doesn't seem like too many to the one who has 4... In our defense, our 4th was entirely our DS's fault. He was 6 and riding around the driveway on his bike and this adorable little gray beast kept chasing him back-and-forth. So we took him in and named him Chase. We have no regrets.

Another thought...are your boxes covered? Some cats like covered boxes, some prefer open. Perhaps get a new box that is a different style than what you have. We have two MASSIVE boxes. They are like 18" x 24" and really deep. The funny thing we have in our house is that our cats seem to use one for #1 and the other for #2. Makes me wonder which one of them made that rule.

[tctrek]

As a past breeder of pedigree cats, I have found that 99% of the time this is behavior and one that can be tough to break. Sometimes completely moving the boxes to another spot works. Covering or uncovering also might work. You could also try a new type of litter.

[Shara]

There's probably too much change for your old cat. I'd add the extra box like you are doing but I wouldn't expect the cat to adjust to a new box on top of the old one. I'd give her her old box and let the other cats have the new ones. Or you could try mixing some of her old (picked through) litter with the new one. Definitely don't change litters at this time. Also, it may sound silly but make sure she has some calm, one-on-one time with you (or whoever she loves most) everyday. Preferably at the same time of day. I had a similar problem and my friend who studies cat behaviour suggested that. AND I'd try to make a special area for the cat where she can relax and just watch life around her. My cat liked the top of her cat tree and I put it off to the side where she can still see everyone. My cat really liked to hop down on one of the lower ledges and swat the dogs when they went by and then flee back to the top lol. I think it gave her a sense of power.

[katluvr]

As a previous owner 6 cats (sadly I am down to 5) and having dealt w/ older cats that don't want to get in the box....I second much of the advise and have a bit more....
Is the present pee or poop?
Peeing is a big issue. And I have used the Feliway---we spray it IN the box. It has helped.
I second the removing of covers. In my expeirnece the older or more quiet cat will feel "cornered" and I have even witness "corning" of the older cat by the others. They think it is fun...she did not! So no covers on any box any more.
Not sure what litter you use...found the good, old fashioned clay (not scoopable) is often their favorite...so keep one litter box w/ just that.
Move the new extraa litter box away from the others. So that one could become hers.
At one time we have 5 litter boxes for 6 cats.
We are down to 2 inside and one outside on screen porch for 5 cats.
But we scoop every AM and PM. They all want a fresh box. Believe it or not you can even "scoop" pee in clay litter--just takes a bit of practice.

My oldest female even now will get "cornered" in the box. It is like she has "victim" stamped on her forehead. And when she was younger she did this to her older sister!! So what goes around comes around.
My problem w/her is that she sometimes does not get her butt in the box and therefore pee's just outside of the box. (Did this last night, right in front of me when I got home from dinner )

Good luck. Just keep trying.

K

[bmccasland]

I have a similar problem with my newer kitty - who was an only cat until I adopted her, then became the youngest of 3 (2 sr citizens and her). My house is really small, so I don't know where I'd put another litter box.

But thank you for the reminder to spend some quality time with the younger cat - who is the one I'm having litter box problems with. I suppose in her eyes, me medicating the other two twice daily is me "spending time" with them. Need to make a point to get new batteries for the laser pointer - she likes to play with that.

[Melalvai]

Oh, I hadn't thought that litter might be a problem. In fact we did just change litter recently, not long after she had started pooping on the floor. I thought we'd try out this wheat litter they have.

She's been shut in our room for two days, and finally this morning she pooped! Even better, she pooped IN THE LITTER BOX! The cover was off the box at the time but I'm hoping she'll accept cover on, eventually. It was the new box, my thinking at the time was that she'd prefer a box that hadn't been used by the kitten, but I guess she might have preferred the old box because she's used to it. Doesn't matter now though.

Once she decided to poop in the litter box, she has no desire to leave Kitty Prison. She would call it--Kitty Haven. I decided I'll let her out if she wishes, but we will keep the kitten out of that room always, so she has a place to escape.

Thanks for the help!

[Melalvai]

I wanted to post an update on this because I thought it was interesting how it has turned out so far. Upstairs Old Kitty stays in our room and sometimes comes down to visit, but heads back up if Young & Restless teases her.

Young & Restless used to consider our room HER haven, and was frantic to get back in for a week or so. But now she's not. She's picked a new safe spot, and doesn't go in our room much even if the door is open.

In other words even without keeping the door closed all the time, the two cats keep to their own spaces. Old Kitty is a lot happier.

[Biciclista]

great news, and very interesting too.
I am actually noting those boundaries. Teaching our kitten to stay away from my side of the bed. that's where my most upset cat likes to be.

[Shara]

I wanted to post an update on this because I thought it was interesting how it has turned out so far. Upstairs Old Kitty stays in our room and sometimes comes down to visit, but heads back up if Young & Restless teases her.

Young & Restless used to consider our room HER haven, and was frantic to get back in for a week or so. But now she's not. She's picked a new safe spot, and doesn't go in our room much even if the door is open.

In other words even without keeping the door closed all the time, the two cats keep to their own spaces. Old Kitty is a lot happier.

That's great. I'm glad they sound so content