Another Kitty/Litter Box Woe Thread

**Aggie_Ama** · 11-25-2009, 09:13 PM

Tortilla cat has a nasty problem of peeing on the flloor in the room where her box is. I thought it was her old litter, so we switched it and thought it had improved. Then I noticed she was at it again, so I thought I wasn't cleaning her box frequently enough (sometimes I missed a day), so I have been very dilligent about cleaning it daily. No luck, this evening she walked in front of us and peed on the floor.

I suspect this could be why our wonderful baby was at the pound but I wouldn't do that. She has a hooded box so I thought maybe she doesn't like that? She is only 1.5 years old and is in good health. I am so stressed!

**Eden** · 11-25-2009, 10:00 PM

She might just feel to constrained. If you have a place that can accommodate it get a much bigger box. I'm fortunate enough to have a basement and keep the litter boxes there. I bought a big under the bed box that I use as the main litter box for my two. They love it.

**badger** · 11-25-2009, 10:11 PM

they do say that more cats end up in shelters due to bad toilet habits. My parents are having a hard time with their cat who has taken to pee/pooing only outside in the middle of the night and refuses to use the litter box.

What sort of litter are you using? some cats don't like the sensation of whatever's in the box under their feet. I know that most cats like plain old dirt - I've had to get rid of all my potted plants on the floor because my cat would stand on the pot but miss it completely because they're not big enough.

Try spraying feliway onto the litter. There's actually one brand that's sold with feliway infused into the litter (sorry, can't remember the name of it, but it's guaranteed to work on problem toilet habits).

And try to clean the spot where she's peeing - Nature's Miracle comes to mind - if there's a scent of her urine there, she'll keep peeing there.

**Aggie_Ama** · 11-25-2009, 10:32 PM

I am using a pine type, it is more fine litter than the pine pellets she hated. She was declawed and I have read that can be one of the many bad things is declawed cats have bad toilet habits.

I was thinking of taking the lid off the box. She is going on the carpet in the room her box is in. It is like she knows that is the room but doesn't think the box is the only spot. She does use her box but not exclusively. I wonder if moving it to a hard surface would help? I have never had an indoor only cat so I am clueless.

**PamNY** · 11-26-2009, 04:35 AM

Have you considered whether she has a UTI? Might be worth ruling out, anyway.

Pam

**pumpkinpony** · 11-26-2009, 08:07 AM

I would try adding a second litter box with a clay based litter that is not scented (unless you can find the one with Feliway) and give her the choice, she what she likes. Some cats are sensitive to the smells... My cat hates pine and wheat litter. I can't say I like having clay litter tracked all over, but it's better than finding poop in front of the litter box instead of in it!

**wackyjacky1** · 11-26-2009, 09:32 AM

Originally Posted by pumpkinpony

I would try adding a second litter box with a clay based litter that is not scented (unless you can find the one with Feliway) and give her the choice, she what she likes. Some cats are sensitive to the smells... My cat hates pine and wheat litter. I can't say I like having clay litter tracked all over, but it's better than finding poop in front of the litter box instead of in it!

+1

I tried that pine stuff once, and my cat HATED it! She started using the potted plants instead. When I switched to regular clay, the problem was solved. I then transitioned into the scoopable, clumping stuff with no problem.

**Aggie_Ama** · 11-26-2009, 10:41 AM

I never thought she might hate the pine, we like that it keeps the box smelling fresher but if Tortilla won't use the box then the house doesn't smell fresh! She is low on litter so I will see what else there is.

Pam- She went to the vet just a short while ago and he thought it was the pellets not a UTI. Would she have one if she is definitely using the box, just not all the time?

She is an amazing cat if we can just solve this stinky problem!

**smilingcat** · 11-26-2009, 11:09 AM

de-clawing is definitly very hard on a cat. But what you are asking are for solutions.

Try different brand, of litter, if pelletes are not good try more the coarse sand/grainy type of litter. Try clay type, try wheat kind. Try scented and unscented. it may be that Tortilla doesn't like to pellet feel under her pads. Maybe she would be okay with softer wheat kind Sweat scoop or even the corase powdered pine litter.

Also use Natures Miracle on places where she has peed to get rid of the smell. If you don't not only does it stink but she will use the same spot again. If you clean with regular cleaner, you may not notice but Tortilla sure will and will repeat it in the same spot. Nature's Miracle has some kind of enzyme to destroy the smell. Just follow instruction on the bottle. We keep a gallon of that stuff around. Mainly for cat vomit and some other unmentionable acts one of my cats engage in.

If worst comes to worst, you may have to turn her into a indoor-outdoor cat. I hope you don't have coyote problem where you live.

smilingcat

**PamNY** · 11-26-2009, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

Pam- She went to the vet just a short while ago and he thought it was the pellets not a UTI. Would she have one if she is definitely using the box, just not all the time?

Probably she doesn't have one if you've been to the vet. I just always chime in "rule out medical problems" because I remember times when I didn't do that with my cat.

Good luck to both of you!

Pam

**Biciclista** · 11-26-2009, 11:14 AM

you have to remember that the ends of her toes are sore little nubs and the shape of some litters are extremely uncomfortable for declawed cats. I'd go out and buy "world's best litter" or a brand like it to lure her back into the litter box.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 11-27-2009, 01:12 PM

Also go buy a BIG plastic storage box (not too tall, just big). Our cats like their big roomy litter boxes with no cover.

**Aggie_Ama** · 11-28-2009, 07:31 AM

Thanks for all the suggestions! I didn't declaw her, she ended up at the shelter that way but I do think that might be why she prefers the carpet to her box. It is so terrible to watch our poor little clawless baby try to sharpen her claws.

But now at least I have some ideas to help her and us out.

**tctrek** · 11-28-2009, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by Aggie_Ama

I am using a pine type, it is more fine litter than the pine pellets she hated. She was declawed and I have read that can be one of the many bad things is declawed cats have bad toilet habits.

I was thinking of taking the lid off the box. She is going on the carpet in the room her box is in. It is like she knows that is the room but doesn't think the box is the only spot. She does use her box but not exclusively. I wonder if moving it to a hard surface would help? I have never had an indoor only cat so I am clueless.

My cats refuse to use pine litter. Try switching to a litter with no scent -- +1 to trying clay litter. Clay is so cheap, you could probably dump it every other day and start with fresh.

**Veronica** · 11-28-2009, 07:43 AM

I think declawing should be outlawed.

Poor babies. Yes my kitties occasionally claw at my leather couch and they are slowly destroying the woven seats on our dining room chairs, which we wove ourselves. The kitties respond appropriately when yelled at for clawing at the couch. The chairs are a lost cause.

But those can be replaced. My kitties are priceless.

Good luck on finding litter that works.

Veronica

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