Help, my cat won't poop in his litter box!! (house, peeing, healthy) - - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

jessiegirl_98 · 05-31-2008, 11:03 AM

You cat likely has a lot of anxiety surrounding the move and I guarentee the visit to the animal shelter just greatly compounded your problem.....

Have you spoken with an animal behaviorist? Also, I spoke with a friend who's a vet and she said to try to also get a self-cleaning litter box as some cats won't use a litter box that has been used. Also make sure you have the exact same kind of litter/box that was used at your old house.

In the meantime, I would try to have your cat feel safe by keeping it in a smaller area with a litter box, bed, toys, etc and then expanding where he is allowed to roam.

Brian.Pearson · 05-31-2008, 08:40 PM

Might try a larger box. We have a larger than average cat, weighing over 14 pounds. I found a plastic paint-mixing box at home depot that was ideal. I change buy a new one every so often. It only costs about five dollars or so.

I 'm leaning towards the earlier comment about a possible scent problem, and that you might have to replace the carpet (if that's what you have), bleach the bare floor and then replace with new carpet or whatever. But you might also try another brand of cat litter. We use the Tidy Cat brand made by Purina.

yankeegirl313 · 05-31-2008, 08:44 PM

I had a cat once, and I just kept putting him in the litterbox, every chance I got. Eventually, I guess he got used to it. I don`t know if that worked, but he started using it.

Redrover · 06-03-2008, 09:35 AM

I can't speak specifically to the issue of pooping outside the box although you have gotten good advice about the cleaning of the slab under the carpet. However, if you decide to use a liner in your litter box you might want to consider the ones I use. They are very heavy-duty and I do a total litter change at least twice a week and always use this brand (Cat Treasures), CATTREASURES.COM I have three cats, all female, who use a single large box. Two were declawed before I knew any better but their younger "sister" still has a full set and I never have a problem with the liners getting torn.

VeronikaW · 06-03-2008, 01:23 PM

Thanks for all the advice. Since our townhome is a rental (through a complex), pulling up the carpet and cleaning isn't possible. All the other stuff we've done. =(

tiamot · 06-05-2008, 09:56 AM

As mentioned, cats are very sensitive to their bathrooms. I do not advise cleaning the box out with strong detergents, however. Many cat experts advise against this since it can leave behind smells that are distasteful and may even be harmful to your cat. Mild soap and water is all you need. I think the others were on the mark when saying that your cat is likely agitated about the move, new baby, and shelter visit. Poor kitty may feeling very insecure right now. Doing your best to make kitty comfortable and into a routine. Another thing which hasn't been mentioned, but warrants me talking about is why cat's cover their waste. In nature it is only the 'top cat' that doesn't cover its waste, sort of a way for it to say, "Hey I'm the top banana!" Your cat, given the circumstances and it's discomfort with the move, may be feeling the need to assert dominance. Even though kitty gets lots of love, a bit more and a good dose of playing won't hurt. Also be mindful of the type of litter you are using. I assume you kept the same brand. However, if you are using a scented litter it might be a good idea to switch to something not so scented. Kitty may be having issues or even allergies to the smell. If you try to switch brands, do so gradually and mix it with the old litter. Feline Pine is the brand I use and I've found that it works wonderfully. It is comprised of pellets that break down and soak up urine, and staves off kitty box smell without added fragrances.

binktink17 · 10-13-2009, 09:30 PM

my cat chucky is 4 years old and im having the same problem, my husband and i both give him alot of attention but he still poops on the floor. my sister had him previously and my nephew was kind of mean to him,so chucky was really moody while he was over there. when we got him he didnt show any hostility, he was a completely diffrent cat. could my nephew treating him badly have to do with it? if so what can i do to make this stop? i really dont want to get rid of him, my husband and i both love him very much but we are running out of ideas...... thanks

Honeycrisp · 10-13-2009, 09:37 PM

Have either of these cats been to a vet?, they may have a simple urinary tract infection or kidney infection. Before getting rid of either, try that - would also try a different litter and maybe a bigger litter box. binktink, you didnt say how long you've had the cat but he may just need to adjust to his new home, am sure he's happy w/o your nephew, maybe give him more time or think about the above suggestions (vet & new litter/litterbox).

thebobs · 10-14-2009, 07:17 AM

I agree with one of the other posters. Don't scrub the litter box. We don't use a regular cat litter box. We go to Walmart and buy one of those rubbermaid bins that are big enough and low enough for her to get into and go. After our older cat passed away from cancer, we decided to throw out the litter boxes and get new ones from Walmart. They're cheaper than normal cat litter boxes and work just as well.

I agree with the others in that your cat is just freaked out by the move and the baby.

ShelbyGirl1 · 10-14-2009, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by binktink17

my cat chucky is 4 years old and im having the same problem, my husband and i both give him alot of attention but he still poops on the floor. my sister had him previously and my nephew was kind of mean to him,so chucky was really moody while he was over there. when we got him he didnt show any hostility, he was a completely diffrent cat. could my nephew treating him badly have to do with it? if so what can i do to make this stop? i really dont want to get rid of him, my husband and i both love him very much but we are running out of ideas...... thanks, binktink17@yahoo.com

Solutions for Litterbox Problems and Territorial Spraying!

THE LITTER BOX

There is a wealth of info here.
Your litterbox and/or litter maybe the problem as well.
Where is the box...too "busy" of any area, covered,uncovered, change of litter, too small for him?
If all else fails, a re-train might be necessary. Start him off in a small confined room and making sure he uses the box. You may want to throw the feces into the box for a short time, so he gets the point. (Do this in any case...and I'm not saying leave it there for days....just a few hrs. and keep putting him in the box.) Slowly open up his living quarters making sure he continues to use the box. Hey...it could be worse...he could be urinating outside the box!