Litter tray problem :-(

Re: Litter tray problem :-(

Katie Mansfield — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 07:29:30 GMT

One of our's started doing that too - she had a urine infection. Don't wanna teach Granny to suck eggs; I'm assuming all is well health wise with your moggy?

K x

Re: Litter tray problem :-(

Katy — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:14:33 GMT

I wouldn't say the dining room was high traffic.... Lionel actually started soiling in there, so that's why I moved the trays there in the first place....

I don't know whether they were house cats before but I need to encourage them to toilet outside I presume? Or will they eventually decide to toilet outside on their own?

Crap! I will check the vanish spray and see if it has ammonia in it. Doh!

The house isn't the biggest and I think the dining room is probably the quietest, even though Cleo has her food in there...

If I move the trays out of there and keep the cats out, will Lionel just choose somewhere else to toilet? I'm just trying to think where else to put the trays. Hmm.

Re: Litter tray problem :-(

Steph Worsley — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 22:08:58 GMT

Ok, cats are very vunerable when they use the toilet so if the trays are in a high traffic area then they are less likely to want to use them (lets face it....would you want loads of people walking past when you are on the loo?)

It might be that you are not seeing distinct friction but indoor soiling is a sign of stress and it could be they are being bullied when you don't see it, especially if they do go to use the toilet and they are getting ambushed, or they are still stressed by your other cat.

I'm not sure what is in vanish spray (but i have a feeling it may contain some bleaching type products) you shouldn't use anything bleach like as it contains ammonia which they will then want to scent mark over, you want to get something like biological washing powder as sal suggested to clean it and you can use something like simple solution to get rid of the smell.

if you haven't already you could get some feliway and plug it into the room where the problem is happening as well.

get in touch with behaviour referrals vet practice (Sarah Heaths practice) I'm sure they will be able to give you some advice as well

Re: Litter tray problem :-(

Katy — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:57:29 GMT

Also Mia and Lionel came together and are starting to get on with Cleo after a month. Not much hissing by the grumpy madam now and they will all go in the same room together.

I am cleaning the carpet with vanish spray as it is a lovely cream carpet! Once the little horrors start to toilet outside I will be getting it cleaned! Lol!

Re: Litter tray problem :-(

Katy — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:54:18 GMT

Hmm ok here goes. Lol!

Their food and water bowls are upstairs. Cleo's is downstairs in the dining room with a water fountain.

Litter tray 1 is in the opposite corner of the room, litter tray 2 is now about 3 ft from cleo's food bowl as that is where Lionel started to soil!

I'll get another tray and some sandy cat litter asap!

Are they not supposed to be in high traffic areas then?! Frick knows where to put them as if I move the trays to clean them, you can guarantee someone will poop whilst the tray isn't there!

I will also put the poop outside where I would like them to go. Cleo already poops nearby. Will that be a problem?

Lionel and Mia love going outside, and there are a lot of cats in our street, but they don't seem to get bullied, and seem to like meeting new cats! They are very inquisitive.

I'll try all the ideas and see how we go!

Re: Litter tray problem :-(

Steph Worsley — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:08:47 GMT

it might be worth drawing a floor plan with all windows/doors etc clearly marked as it may pin point something for you (it would be something that Sarah Heath would suggest)

You may be able to ring Sarah's practice to get some advice over the phone as well

Re: Litter tray problem :-(

Sal the 1st — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:07:30 GMT

might sound a bit daft but have you got a bit of carpet you can put in the tray - (I know it will get horrible but you can get carpet samples from carpet shops either free or really cheap) and the you could try putting a little cat litter over that till they get the idea. Dont know if it is wrong or right with current thinking but after cleaning soiled area on carpet with biological washing powder , surgical spirit etc and making sure it is absolutely dry I stick a food bowl over it - it has worked well for me and my little fiends. Once they have got the hang of the tray try mixing some fresh soil from the garden in with the litter, or you could try a little gravel and then when they have used the tray empty the contents in a suitable cat toilet area in the garden.

Is there any chance at all they dont want to 'go' outside because another cat has already put its mark on the garden? or is there any chance that he isa staying away from the tray because your other cat has claimed it as hers.? Have you thought of a covered tray ?

Re: Litter tray problem :-(

Steph Worsley — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:06:04 GMT

like Nick suggests try changing the substrate, have you tried moving the tray to where he is going?

could he have experienced some form of trauma (ambush from one of the other cats/near a window/clear door where he can be stared at) where they are now?

are the trays in a heavy traffic area?

are they near food or water bowls?

have you tried a covered tray (or if they are already covered trays then taking the lid off)?

what have you used to clean the area with?

Sorry if some of these questions seem a bit simple but it's the way I work through these things with anyone

Re: Litter tray problem :-(

Delightful — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 21:04:08 GMT

Hi Katy

I agree with Nick, you need more than 2 trays also you could try changing the substrate, just because they had that in the rescue centre, cats like a fine sand type litter as close to something natural as you can get is what is recommended.

Also where are the food and water bowls placed?? Did the cats come together?? Is one of them bullying the other?? However i am sure this is all old hat to you so i would consider contacting a feline behaviour counseller for further advice.

Where abouts do you live?? I may be able to point you in the direction of one, hope at least some of this helps

Good luck

Re: Litter tray problem :-(

Katy — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:44:09 GMT

Just 2.

They had wood based litter at the rescue centre, which is what i've got......

He is going nowhere near the tray and seems to be going at the opposite side of the room to where they are!

Arghh.

Re: Litter tray problem :-(

Nick Shackleton — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:39:54 GMT

How many cat litter trays do you have? Study suggests one per cat plus one, you could try different substrate too