RE: Kitten Has Stopped Using Litter Box
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Post By Kathleen (Guest Post)
(11/05/2008)
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My kitten is about 11 weeks old and he is potty trained. But for some reason half the time he'll use the litter box and the other half going to the bathroom in front of my sister's door. He just started doing this 2 days ago. What should I do? I really need help! My sister is threating to give my kitten away! My email is babyshroom16 AT aol.com
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RE: Kitten Has Stopped Using Litter Box
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Post By kitty lover (Guest Post)
(10/11/2008)
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I have a little cat, 6 months old. He sometimes doesn't want to use his litter box, so he urinates into the flower pot. What I did, I of course cleaned the flower pot, put fresh soil in it, and covered it with a large garbage bag. On the garbage bag, I sprayed cytrus smell, which is actually my body mist. He doesn't like it. He goes into his box now.
My next move will be removing the bag, and just put some orange peel and lemon peel on the soil. I'm sure it will do the job. Hope I was able to help some of you. I actually realized what I did wrong. I usually give him water near his box. Cats won't go near their food or drink, so I confused him with that, and I also bought a mat to put in front of his box, but he doesn't like that either.
So this is where I made mistakes. Don't jump into conclusions, try to think what you did wrong, and fix it. But I agree that everyone with this problem should consult the vet, first make sure your kitty is healthy.
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RE: Kitten Has Stopped Using Litter Box
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Post By stopanimalabuse (Guest Post)
(09/14/2008)
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I'm going through the same problem and I think that there is really nothing else to do but to bring him to the vet to make sure he is healthy. If he is ill just have to keep training him. But the thing I'm worried about is that my grandmother has a cat too for like 10 years, and even after being operated it still peed in plants and stuff like that, and yes, it's trained and everything. So hopefully my cat isn't going to do the same.
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RE: Kitten Has Stopped Using Litter Box
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Post By Rashia (Guest Post)
(06/30/2008)
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I need help! My kitten was using the litter box, then I decided to vacuum around her box and put down a sheet underneath because she was getting litter all over the floor. Soon after I did that, she stopped using the box. It's in the same location and everything! Any answers?
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RE: Kitten Has Stopped Using Litter Box
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Post By Fiona (Guest Post)
(03/10/2008)
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Hi we have an approx. 7 month kitten. for the last few weeks she's been peeing all over the house- we think that she was in heat so we are now going to get her spayed ASAP but for the last couple of days she's been pooing in the bathroom sink! We thought that it was her litter so we changed it this morning (though it wasn't too bad, just a day's poop but we completely changed it) and thought that was the end of it, but I just came in and she's done it again! We have two small children so we can't have a cat pooing in the sink. I like the idea of isolating her for a couple of days with her litter but since it's the bathroom sink she's using, I can't do it there. She has a vet's appointment tomorrow so we can talk it over then but if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear!
Thanks
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RE: Kitten Has Stopped Using Litter Box
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Post By Ashley (Guest Post)
(01/18/2008)
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I had the same problem with an older cat and now with my kitten. My older cat did it because she had kidney problems...eventually her kidneys failed her. She was just trying to tell us.
My kitten is doing it because she smelled the same spot and is going there. I keep the area clean and try to spray either an enzyme spray (I got mine at Pet Smart) or vinegar. I also use carpet deoderizer a few times a week when I vaccume. It seems to help. Keep a cat litter box near the area where your cat goes so that it can at least have that option.
Hope it helps!
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RE: Kitten Has Stopped Using Litter Box
Before I saw the other feedback my thought was "vet." The poor thing could actually be sick and doesn't know how else to tell you something isn't right.
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RE: Kitten Has Stopped Using Litter Box
Please get your kitten to a vet.
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RE: Kitten Has Stopped Using Litter Box
Did you start using a different brand of kitty litter? Cats are very particular about smells, textures, and feels. If so, go back to what you were using.
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RE: Kitten Has Stopped Using Litter Box
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Post By (Guest Post)
(12/13/2007)
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I have a "new" kitten and we took her to the vet. She was going to the bathroom anywhere she wanted. Found out she had worms, after treating her a couple of days. She started pooping and peeing in the litter box. Haven't had anymore trouble. Good luck, deb
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Request: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
We have 2 kittens of uncertain age. They are at least 4 or 5 months old. They have used the litterbox since we brought them home, with one little problem. One, or both, leave their little messes on the floor around the litterbox. We keep the litterbox clean, and we put them in the litterbox when we see one of them trying to poo on the floor. They only do it around the litterbox. Nothing seems to help. I get so tired of cleaning up the messes! Any ideas?
Camilla from Atchison, KS
Answers:
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
We had a kitten once that would not use the litter box unless it was clean. After the kitten used it once, she would not go back into the litter box. She would smell around the box and then go to my flower pots to poop. So I got the cat litter that was scoopable and removed soon after she used it. No problems after that. (12/04/2006)
By dixie35481
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
It could be several things.
A health problem, which you vet can help you with.
The cat does not like the litter, try another brand. Scoopable litters stay freshest. Arm & Hammer litter freshener helps make a big difference in controlling odor.
If you have more than one cat give the kitten it's own litter box. Many cats will not share no matter what.
The cat may be very fussy and you may need to scoop every time it poops.
Be patient, it may just not understand it has to go in the litter box and only the litter box yet. Every time you do see it pooped on the floor get the kitten and in a loving way show it the mess it made on the floor and then gently set the kitten in the litter box and then take it's little paws and make scratching motions in the litter with them. It will help teach them that's the spot to go. (12/04/2006)
By michellejones3
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
For some reason, some cats/kittens like to do the solid in one place and the liquid in another. So, to solve my problem, I placed a SHALLOW litter box on top of thick layers of absorbent junk mail newsprint paper.
The litter box is exclusively used by my cat for urine, thank God, and she drops only small amounts of quick-drying, quick hardening feces on the paper in only a small spot. I lift the unscratched paper, folding the feces into the paper and then into a gallon recycled plastic bag.
I believe this is successful only because of her diet, half cereal and half meat of whatever kind, cereal in the AM, meat at night. Remember that cats don't like their food/water anywhere near their litter box.
Don't know why, but it's simple and the area stays fresh. I also placed the box/paper area
near where she sleeps, so it is very convenient, and on linoleum, should I ever need to clean it.
MANY layers of newsprint is the secret for us, in both the litter box AND under it surrounding it for about 1 1/2 feet all the way around. It was the only solution we could find. Good luck, and God bless you. : )
(12/11/2006)
By Lynda
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
It would be a good idea to check with a Vet. Sometimes if a kitten has worms, they will go out of the litter box. (01/01/2007)
By
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
Sometimes you have to try a few different kinds of litter until you find one the cat likes.
Also, when the cat goes outside the litter box, pick up the mess and put it in the litter box to show the cat where it's supposed to go. (08/22/2007)
By CandyCane
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
My Kitten all of a sudden decided that she isn't always going to use the cat litter box all the time. I sort of had the litter box in the back of my room( it was originally in the front.) So then when I moved it to the back she stopped using it.So the other day I decided to move it back up front. So just to let peoples know, you should keep the cat litter box in sight.And also you should have 1 cat litter box in the front of your house and one towards the back.But if you have multiple cats you should have multiple cat litter boxes.(i)(/i) (08/23/2007)
By Rachel
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
My cat/kitten is about 6 months old. He used to use the litter tray no problem, but for bout 4 weeks now, he has been pooping next to it. He pees in there no problem so I'm very confused. We keep him in the kitchen at night, as I don't want to take the risk of him pooping anywhere else! He's a house cat, but does like to pop out and come back in in about ten minutes!
I have tried changing the litter, but that doesn't seem to make any difference. He's a lovely cat, but I'm getting so tired of cleaning it off my floor. I have two little boys and this is causing so much grief. My partner wants to find him a new home, if we can't sort this out :( which I don't want to do)! Can anyone give me advice? (11/21/2007)
By stephanie
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Request: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
Three days ago I found an approximately 10 week old tabby mix kitten in my garage. She is doing great except for the litter box part. I have set her in the box and helped her scratch around a little to get her used to it, but we still take her outside and she will go. This morning she pooped in the floor. We don't mind taking her outside but my family and I are rarely home during the day and sometimes evening. We do have a 4 year old tabby but the two cats are doing good together, they already have separate eating spaces and they each have their own litter box. We just want the kitten to learn how to use the litter box so we don't have to come home to "accidents" all over the house. If you can help that would be greatly appreciated.
Abbey from Chattanooga, TN
Answers:
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
Try putting dirt into the box, then gradually adding kitty litter until the whole thing is litter. I agree you outta take her to the vet as well, just in case! (09/17/2006)
By Shellee
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
If your kitten's mother didn't or couldn't teach her how to use a litter box, it's possible she never will. I've been there. In my case the mother's litter box was in the basement and her kittens on the second floor. I told them they needed a second litter box, but it never happened. I took one of the kittens anyway, and if he was near the box, he'd use it, if not, he'd go where he was. The vet tried all kinds of things including testing his blood and urine for problems. But I knew it wasn't that. Good luck, I hope it works for you. (09/27/2006)
By Lynn
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litter Box
My ex-husband raises kittens extremely successfully to become socialised cats. He used to take the kittens outside, put them in a patch of dirt in the garden and "show" them what to do! He would repeat this until they understood the expectations and performed by themselves.
Last year, I adopted BeffieKat from a shelter. This poor cat did not know what trees are for and his nails were so long that I feared for my life!
I took him outside, put him into a peach tree and demonstrated how he is supposed to exercise his "arm" muscles and sharpen his nails. He was so scared that he just clung to the trunk for dear life, wrapping his arms and legs around the boughs. I just kept on reassuring him and showing him what to do. I promised him we would exercise at least once a day and after about four or five days he caught on. Now he knows what to do and runs into the trees himself.
BUT I agree that your cat should be seen by the vet! (10/02/2006)
By Willem
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Request: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
My kitten has just recently started peeing on a patch around where her litter tray is. When I first got my kitten our older cat didn't like the smell of the new kitten and refused to go in the litter tray if she smelt the other cat in there. My parents then bought a small litter tray for my kitten and placed it in my room for the time being.
The litter tray soon became too small for the kitten and my parents were finding it hard to find a big sized litter tray, after a lot of arguments about the smell of urine coming from the small litter tray (even though it was cleaned every day) my parents took out the small litter tray and let the kitten use to big litter tray that was downstairs. Both cats were getting on well at this point and I was happy to not have a strong urine smell in my room.
But then my kitten started to poo and pee in the spot where her litter tray used to be. After cleaning that up and removing the bit of scrap carpet my Father was sure she would stop. She then began to pee even more in this spot and my parents then put it down to the fact that my kitten is brain damaged and can't figure out that her litter tray isn't there anymore. After taking so much of the smell we then moved the litter tray back up to my room and hoped that that would stop my kitten from peeing and pooing on my floor.
Low and behold it still has come to a dead end and she pees around the litter tray, my parents are constantly arguing with me about the smell and how if it isn't sorted out soon then they have no other motive but to sadly get rid of our kitten. It's the urine that is the problem.
I have tried using lemon juice/peel/half a lemon on the patch where she is urinating as suggested by my Gran but that doesn't work. Vinegar seems to work only for a little while. And the carpet is rather old and I fear that the smell of my old cat's urine is on that and is influencing my kitten to pee on it even more but at the moment my parents can't afford to by another new carpet due to the fact they just spent out on carpets for all of the downstairs rooms.
I'm just at a complete loss as to what to do and I don't fancy loosing my kitten. Is there anyway to kick my kittens habit once and for all?
Jennie
Answers:
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
I have heard it said that if a cat will not use the litter box, then it is sick. Putting baking soda down and then vacuuming it up after about 20 minutes will help with the urine smell on the carpet, but there is some reason the kitten is not using the box. Cats will always smell before going, so you might want to try putting some cayenne pepper down on the spot where she whizzes. If you have a cat box established again where she used to go, and she is still not using it, try the cayenne, the baking soda and if it still does not get the message, take it to the vet. There is something wrong with it. You did not say how old the kitten is, too. A number of cats will not use a box and only want to go outside. For the smell in the air, set out a dish of cider vinegar and it will absorb the urine smell.
Just a thought on how to solve this problem. (03/07/2005)
By jaxi3
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
I had a kitten like this once. I read somewhere to put the kitten in an enclosed area (this may take several days) with the litter box. I used my bathroom because it has linoleum, the pee & poo wouldn't hurt the floor and make it smell. Keep the kitten in the room until you see that it is consistently using the litter box. Then over a period of days, move the box little by little to the place you want to keep it. This worked wonderfully for my kitty, and I haven't had a problem since. (03/07/2005)
By megdak
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
An enzyme cleaner/deodorizer (about $4 at Wal Mart) will get rid of odor. Follow directions carefully, making sure it goes deep into carpet. Then put a layer of foil across the area until your kitty is re-trained. (03/07/2005)
By Alex
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
Frugal answer - keep your room door closed so the kitten can't get near its previous spot! It is very hard to get the smell out of carpet, especially if it had a pad/underlay. You may not smell it but a cats sense of smell is very acute. They like safe familiar spots and will return to their old spot unless prevented. If she is happy to use the other tray keep your bedroom door shut for a couple of months until that habit is firmly established. Your cat isn't brain damaged - its just being a normal cat!
Regards
Jo (03/07/2005)
By Jo Bodey
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
Ideally you should have one litter box per cat. Mine were raised together and share, but many refuse. Get one big enough for the poor kitten. Also, Feline Pine cat litter is much better for cutting the smell than the clay or clumping litter. It is too expensive for me as I have several cats and use about a bag a week, but for only two cats, it lasts much longer than the other litter without getting as smelly....but still use one litter box per cat. A plastic litter box is not very expensive. Save the small one to use if you ever have to travel with your cat(s). Also, kittens are like people babies. They don't know a lot yet and may get confused and upset if you move the box around too much. Cats are creatures of habit. (03/07/2005)
By guest
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
Take your kitten to the dr. to make sure there is no medical reason for this, a urinary trac infection will do this, and kitty will associate the pain from the infection with the litter box. There are cleaners you can buy at the pet store , or even your vet's office that will take care of the smell. (03/07/2005)
By Rosa
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
I have 3 cats. One has picked her favorite box and will use no other. I have 1 box per cat. The plastic kitty boxes will hold the urine smell after a while-plastic is porous and will absorb odors. I use those large aluminum roasting pans($1.00 each at Dollar General). I use them for a couple months,throw them away and buy more. Cats,like people,are picky. (03/07/2005)
By Michele
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
Try Nature's Miracle (from the pet food store) to clean the spot in your room where the box used to be. It is excellent at removing odors ... and once the odor is removed, this area might become far less attractive to the kitten ... (03/08/2005)
By Ela
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
You trained your kitten to use that place in your room as where to go. The recommendation to use an enzyme cleaner - also available at pet stores. Nature's Miracle is a popular one - is a good one because as long as she can smell old urine, she'll think it's an appropriate place to go. If the box is too small, she may not use it.
I have a female cat who occasionally poops outside the litter boxes, generally when the box is dirty. Some cats will only use a clean box, so you might have to clean it frequently.
Also, did you change what type of litter you've been using? If so, she may simply prefer the old kind.
Changing routines stresses cats. Believe it or not, they're actually creatures of habit. I moved two weeks ago and my male cat is still hiding under the bed a lot.
I know your parents ultimately control what happens to the kitten, but as someone already said, she's not brain damaged. She's just acting like a cat. Ask them to give her a chance.
Oh, if she's never been outdoors, there's no reason she would prefer to go outside for her business. (03/08/2005)
By
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
Jeannie, your kitty could have a urinary tract infection that would cause her to pee like that. It may have nothing to do with where the box is or was. I would have her checked out by a vet before I made any decisions to place her in another home.
How old is she? She may also be coming into "heat" and they will sometimes do that. If all else fails, you can put a small piece of washable carpet in the spot, like the ones you can pick up at Wal-Mart for about $3 and just pick it up and quickly wash it when she has a "mistake".
(03/08/2005)
By Roberta
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
i found an oversize storage box in wal-mart that i use for my 35 pound cats kitty litter box because a normal box was way too small use eucalyptus oil to clean the area up than in walmart they have accident odor bag that is in the pet supply area that has activated charcoal mixture you can put in the area that will absorb the odor after a while you will have to put in the sunlight to recharge and have do again. this is a very slow process but it does work. my son adopted a cat that had been left in apartment building for months to fend for itself and it almost ruined his fancy home.but we did get the problem cured in three months.best of luck roper (03/08/2005)
By roper
RE: One Year Old Cat Not Using The Litterbox
Well my cat is one year old. I went away for about 7 days and a few days after i got back she decided to not use her litter to poop in. I've tried a larger litter box, tupperware storage box, she poops outside. i've tried powder that eats up the smell of the uric acid and doesn't have an odor, she pees in the box but poops outside. I moved the box from the bathroom where it has always been for a year into my room, the little witch likes that, poops outside the box. didn't change the brand of kitty litter, she still poops outside the box. now this morning decided to pee outside of the box. i've had it someone help!!! I'm definitely taking her to the vet on Saturday. i don't know what to do with her but i have occasionally caught her dragging her rear end along the carpet. maybe it is an infection? (07/13/2005)
By Linda (Guest Post)
RE: Kitten Not Using The Litterbox
Your Kitten or Cat may not like the type of litter you are using. Try several kinds. Most cats don;t like scented litter so even if you like the scent most likely they will not and will not go near the box. You should take the cat to the vet to get checked out first like the others said to make sure it is well.
I have found that Everyday Pet and Stain remover takes the smell out of the carpet for both urine and cat barf.
Good luck! (08/26/2005)
By Catmom
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