| 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
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| 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.
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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
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|
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
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