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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

2824.0. "WON'T USE LITTERBOX ANYMORE" by BIGMAC::MORIN () Tue Sep 05 1989 13:18

    I have a Himilayian cat who is a year and a half old.  She is a
    wonderful cat but refuses to use her cat litter box.  When she was
    a kitten she would use it all the time but over time she has been
    using it with less frequency.  I've tried everything I can think
    of to remedy the situation.  I've moved the box to places where
    it seemed she preferred to go, locked her in a room with the box
    and her food and water, etc.  That works for a day or so and then
    does not.
    
    I've thought that maybe she was unhappy and that was her way of
    showing it.  I just don't know what to do as it is to the point
    now that she will not use the box unless she is locked in a room
    with it (and last night she didn't).
    
    A couple of people that I know told me that it might be because
    she is not spayed.  We decided not to spay her because she is a
    beautiful, loving cat and would like to breed her in the future.
    Could the fact that she is not spayed and not being breeded be the
    cause of her problem?
    
    We also have two dogs who are friendly to the cat but she isn't
    too crazy about them.  They have a disgusting habit that could also
    be the cause for her inconsistency.  They try to get into her litter
    box and eat her deposits.  When we figured this out, we put up a
    gate in the doorway to the room where her litterbox is and she still
    doesn't use the box.
    
    Does anybody have any suggestions.  I have called the vet and made
    an appointment for her to be checked.  I'd appreciate any feedback
    that people may have.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
2824.1	Hope some of this helps	WR2FOR::CORDESBRO_JO		`Tue Sep 05 1989 14:02`	32
	The fact that she is not spayed could have a lot to due with her not using the box, especially if the problem is urination. If the problem is defecation, then there may be more to the problem than just the not being spayed. Females who are in season will sometimes find itt necessary to mark their territory in an effort to attract males, and let other cats know that they are there. Females can mark in a squatting position, just like normal urination, or in a standing position just like a spraying male. If this is the cause of her not using her litter box, your only alternative is to have her spayed. It is not a behavorial problem, it is instinctual. I don't feel that you can teach a cat to go against it's instincts, but that is my opinion. Please read through all the notes on breeding in the this file, and then consider your reasons for wanting to breed. All cats are beautiful, wonderful creatures, but not all of them should be bred. As you have found out, breeding has it's down sides too. Another thought, your cat may be objecting to having to use a litter box that isn't clean enough for her satisfaction. If you don't already, be sure to scoop out all the "lumps" at least once a day, preferably more often if you are able. Then, if the box starts to smell, dump the whole thing, wash it with disinfectant, and then put in fresh clean litter. Few cats can resist a newly cleaned box. Be sure to praise her when she uses it, and never, never throw her into the box in anger after she messes on the rug. She will associate the box with your displeasure and will not want to use it. Jo
2824.2		CIRCUS::KOLLING	Karen/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.	`Tue Sep 05 1989 19:51`	8
	A couple of other suggstions: some cats won't use perfumed litter. Some cats (my Holly is one) who seemed to have unsolvable litter box problems will use the new fine sand-like litter that come in jugs and is called Ever Clean (Easy Clean?) and is available in pet stores. Also, if the dogs were hovering around the box while she was thinking of using it, it may just take her a long while to calm down and realize that the box is now in a place the dogs can't get to.
2824.3	Urinary Tract Infection?	THRSHR::DINGEE	This isn't a rehearsal, you know.	`Tue Sep 12 1989 10:05`	22
	Also [I have read this in my cat book, and saw it happen with a friend's cat] have the vet check the cat for a urinary tract infection. Apparently, because an infection of this type makes it painful for the cat to urinate, the cat associates the pain with the box, and begins to go elsewhere. If you move the box, the cat will try using it again, but again the pain will cause it to go elsewhere. After curing a UTI, you should make the box "different" in order to get the cat to use it again. This means using another type of litter or a litter deoderizer [smells different] and maybe moving the box. After the cat has settled back into using the box again, you can put it back where it was and go back to your favorite litter. Also, if you don't get the odor out of the other spots she used she may go back there. There are commercial solutions for this at pet stores. good luck! -julie
2824.4	Senile Cat?	BTOVT::AICHER_M		`Tue Oct 10 1989 16:24`	13
	Hi, I have a similar problem with our older cat (12 yrs) and would appreciate it if someone could help. Our cat will go #1 in the litter box, but #2 in the dining room. She has gone in the litter box for years, but started this about two years ago. This is with unscented clean litter. Has anybody heard of this? Mark
2824.5		CIRCUS::KOLLING	Karen/Sweetie/Holly/Little Bit Ca.	`Tue Oct 10 1989 19:52`	4
	Sometimes cats want separate litter boxes for #1 and #2, why is beyond me. Has s/he been checked by the vet to be sure no physical problem is involved?