[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

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

1690.0. "At the end of my rope!" by HPSTEK::JORGENSEN () Tue Aug 23 1988 22:32

    
    	Our cat had a litter of kittens on June 2nd, and I'm happy to
    	say that all the kittens have found nice homes. Out of the five
    	kittens in the litter we decided to keep one, a female. This
    	kitten has exhausted my patience, and I have never had a cat
    	with this problem before. She INSISTS on urinating and defacating
    	anywhere in the house except the litter box. She shares (or
    	is supposed to) the litter box with her mother. We have already
    	replaced over $500 worth of carpeting because this little bugger
    	has refused to behave. The mother an her kitten seem to be very
    	fond of each other, they play together always, and the mother
    	still occassionally gives the kitten a bath. They share a food
    	dish with no problems... in fact I have never heard one hiss
    	out of either of them. Because the kitten cries continuously
    	if she is left alone, she and her mother have been spending
    	days in the cellar to avoid any further damage to the house.
    	Can anyone give me any advice that might help cure this problem?
    	If not the kitten may have to go! As far as we can tell, the
    	mother uses her the box without fail.
    
    /Kevin
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
1690.1CIRCUS::KOLLINGKaren, Sweetie, & Holly; in Calif.Tue Aug 23 1988 22:459
    Has the kitten been checked out by a vet to be sure she doesn't
    have some physical problem that's causing this?

    Also, some cats require a separate litter box, not shared with another
    cat. out of the way of traffic, etc.  She might also dislike the litter
    if it's perfumed, or the alfalfa type;  plain generic litter like
    Safeway seems to be acceptable to most fussy cats.  (My Holly will
    only use a litter box lined with flat sheets of newspaper.)
                     
1690.2HPSTEK::JORGENSENWed Aug 24 1988 12:478
    
    	She has been for her usual kitten checkups and no ailments
    	were detected. I have tried, inadvertantly, both clay and
    	alfalfa litter without any change in her habbits. I'll try a
    	separate box, but I don't know how I'll keep the mother out
    	of it. Thanks for the suggestions.
    
    /Kevin
1690.3Get her one of her own .FDCV16::FRANCISCOWed Aug 24 1988 13:2511
    Punjab had this problem for the first few weeks we had her home,
    and I believe it was a combination of two things 
    1) She wouldn't use the same box as W.W. did (maybe he marked it
        as his own somehow ?)
    2) She wouldn't use her temporary box unless it was lined with
    newspaper.
    
    Once she used her box all the time, we got rid of "her" box, and
    she had no problem adjusting.
    
    Joy
1690.4HPSTEK::JORGENSENWed Aug 24 1988 16:345
    
    	OK... sounds like the cat gets a box of her own... but how do
    	I keep mom from using it as well??
    
    /Kevin
1690.5This might help...HPSCAD::KNEWTONThis Space For RentWed Aug 24 1988 16:459
    Mom may not want to use the other box.  I bought a new box when
    I got my second kitty.  My first kitty, Snuggles, never uses the
    new box.  He prefers his own box.  
    
    Try this, when you first get the box, make sure you show the kitten
    the box first.  Let her go in it first and maybe that will mark
    the box as hers.
    
    Kathy
1690.6EDUC8::TRACHMANE.T.'s ZhivagoCats....DTN: 264-8298Wed Aug 24 1988 17:432
    also, maybe put them in separate rooms, maybe?  My 15 kids use one
    so I can't help ya too much, sorry.
1690.7Separate the litterboxes, if possibleFDCV13::FRANCISCOThu Aug 25 1988 12:2411
    I had the boxes in different areas.  Punjab's was in the bathroom
    and W.W.'s was in the basement.  I just made sure that as soon as
    Punjab's box was changed, she was the first one in there.  I also
    placed her in the box whenever I was home and I saw her sniffing
    around like she was looking for a place to go.  
    
    BTW, W.W. didn't show much of an interest in her box, but when he
    did, I just changed it.  Only took a couple of weeks, so I hope
    it works for you !
    
    Joy
1690.8CratingSALEM::DOUGLASFri Aug 26 1988 14:5110
    You may want to try crating the kitten for a few weeks. Get a rather
    large cage and put a kitty litter box in with it. The kitten will
    have no choice but to use it. After a while, she will learn to enjoy
    scratching in it and then... But beware, if you take her out of
    it for any time and she hasn't accepted the litter box, she'll try
    to go on the rug so don't leave her alone.
    
    Good luck and hang in there,
    she will learn. Tina
    
1690.9EDUC8::TRACHMANE.T.'s ZhivagoCats....DTN: 264-8298Fri Aug 26 1988 16:581
    I agree - crating could work - it may only take a few days.
1690.10Let me out, MOM!IAMOK::GERRYHome is where the Cat isMon Aug 29 1988 20:565
    I cage my kittens when they seem to have a lapse in memory.  It
    usually works within a day or so.
    
    cin
    
1690.11JULIET::CORDESBRO_JOFri Sep 02 1988 00:286
    I say go for the intensive litter box training suggested in previous
    notes.  I also found with my kittens that sometimes when they were
    off playing, the litter box was just too far away.  Confinement
    with the box should remind her of what it is for.
    
    Jo
1690.12AIMHI::OFFENTue Sep 13 1988 17:185
    Where do you get these large cages for kittens??
    
    Sandi
    
    
1690.13Cage them kittiesMARKER::REEDTue Sep 13 1988 17:327
    Try any pet shop or maybe something like Woolworth's 5 & dime. 
    I've used a dog kennel, currently being used by new puppie.  The
    dimensions are 3' tall by 4' long by 2 1/2' wide.
    
    Good Luck!
    
    Roslyn, Esco & Brandy
1690.14Use dog cage & get vet checked againPOOL::MURPHYIs it Friday yet?Tue Sep 13 1988 18:1916
    Use of a dog crate (sold at pet supply stores and grain/feed stores)
    with the kitten's own litter box in it should train it, unless it
    has a physical problem.  The usual kitten exams/shots don't entail
    urinalysis, blood tests.  Have it checked again in case.  Usually
    kittens will take after the mother on being clean or dirty but you
    said this one's mom is clean so that isn't it's problem.
    
    I have 3 cats and 1 kitten all using two of the hooded litterboxes
    with no mishaps.  I use Fresh Step Litter and Fresh Step Liners,
    change both boxes twice a week and keep scooped out daily.
    
    These are all indoor kids so that's a lot of scooping time for me.
    ;-)
    
    Pat