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Post by Lilian on Oct 29, 2009 22:28:32 GMT
Has anybody got any ideas about my daughters kitten? She is now 6 months old, been vaccinated and spayed in great health happy , playful and a sweetie but she has 1 problem, she wees in the litter tray with no problems but will not used it for her poops, the litter tray is cleaned regularly and she uses good quality litter. I suggested she moves the tray which she did, Flaggs (the kitten) used it for a couple of days but went back to her old ways of doing it outside the tray, it is driving my daughter mad. She has another cat who has looked after the cat since she was really small (and still does, She had to take HIM to the vets as his nipples were sore due to Flaggs sucking them) They both have a litter tray each so just can't understand why she is doing it. I hope someone can help please
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Post by Chris - Cats Protection on Nov 3, 2009 21:01:21 GMT
Its never easy once a cat starts doing this. Often there is no alternative but to confine the cat in a dog cage..
I know it sounds harsh, but it does re-train them.
Some cats like a tray for wee's and another for solids, but if that were the case here she would use the other cats.
Im more inclined to think its a protest of some kind.. maybe a jealousy of the other cat, or an assertion of her authority over him..
Let us know how this is progressing Lilian..
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Post by Lilian on Nov 4, 2009 9:57:47 GMT
thanks chris, i'll keep you informed on her progress
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Post by Val on Nov 5, 2009 14:28:47 GMT
Can you give a little more info please?
Where is the kitten pooing? Is it always the same place that she goes to?
Is the area being cleaned with a detergent like domestos?
Has she got a covered tray?
Reason for the questions is that she may be attached to a certain area for some reason and feels very safe there. A poo takes a lot longer than a pee. She may need to feel secure so a covered tray may help.
Re the cleaning. Our noses think an area has been cleaned when we smell detergent. A cat thinks, oops, someone else has used this area so I will cover it (although I must admit this is usually done with a pee.)
To clean an area to a cats nose, use a paste of biological washing powder, dry the area then dampen slightly with surgical spirit. This is the method for clearing urine smells but I am sure it will work for poos also. Make sure your daughter checks a small out of sight area first in case the carpet will be damaged.
Unfortunately your daughter will have to just keep watching her and when she looks ready, pick her up and put her into her tray. Hopefully she may get the idea.
An interesting one this, although you probably don't want to hear that.
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Post by Lilian on Nov 6, 2009 18:11:51 GMT
Flaggs is 6 months old now and has been spayed and all injections. My daughter got her when her other cat was sadly killed in a hit and run accident, her other cat Samson was really pinning for her, stopped eating, just lying on her grave in the back garden and crying so my daughter and partner got Flaggs to keep him company hoping it would help him (which it did) he mothered her constantly, (even to the point where he had to go the to vets with sore nipples as he was letting her try to suckle) Flaggs was 8 weeks old so she was told but when she took her to the vets they said she was only about 5 weeks! It was a shock for my daughter and partner, she developed really well eating, drinking, playing etc, however as time passed a smell devolped in her house and when looking she found the little one had been using the plants to dirty in so she removed them and for a couple of days she used the litter tray no bother. Then 1 morning she found dirt outside the litter tray at first she put it down to an accident but as time went on it was happening more and more often. My daughter moved house as it was just outside her front door her other cat was killed and she felt ill every day seeing where it happened. Since moving to a 3 bedroomed house Flaggs has continued to dirty round the litter trays, The trays is cleaned regularly 2-3 times daily. Both cats have their own hooded tray, not in a place where it is busy. She has used it on the odd occasion and when she does she gets a treat and praised. When she does it outside it my daughter ignores it and just cleans up where she has done it. The 2 cats get on extremely well still eating and sleeping together and of course chasing each other. She has tried moving the trays, using different litter etc but nothing seems to be working. I was at hers today my daughter and i were in the kitchen and Flaggs was asleep on top of the fish tank, she must have got down without us knowing and went to the side of the litter tray and dirtied, she still tries to cover it up. I cleaned it with soap powder and water. She doesn't seem to do it in the same place all the time. My daughter is getting really frustrated with her and is at her wits end trying to think why she is doing it. They are planning to start a family next year and is so worried about Flaggs, she'll try anything to help her!
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Post by Chris - Cats Protection on Nov 6, 2009 20:04:43 GMT
One piece of advice I read recently from a Cat Behaviourist was regarding litter trays. She advised never keeping trays meant for separate cats side by side. And the same applied to food bowls, she said, the that it could cause problems, so if they are in close proximity, it may be worth moving them to different places...
In my house, I have 2 indoor cats. One has her tray downstairs, and only uses that tray, the other has hers in the upstairs bathroom, and never a problem.
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Post by Val on Nov 8, 2009 10:11:47 GMT
How about trying a tray with soil in it. If she was using the plant pots in the past, maybe she liked the smell of it or the texture.
You could even try an open tray. If she always goes to the loo beside the tray, maybe she is a bit afraid of the enclosed one.
She is being a little devil but you will survive I am sure.
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Post by Lilian on Nov 9, 2009 14:59:41 GMT
:)So far so good! I bought the cat a cage ( big enough for a king charles spaniel) She rather likes going in, so at the moment she is using the tray!!! She goes in when my daughter goes to work, i go over about an hour later to see how she is and let her out for a few hours, if she has used it i just leave her out, she did go to her original tray for a poo yesterday after being in the cage for a while while my daughter and i went shopping, So hears hoping she can stay out for good. The cage seems to be working for her, thanks chris for the idea. Well i'm going back to see her (just as well she lives opposite). When do you think she should put the cage down and trust her? Don't want to keep it up too long but don't want to put it down incase she starts being a little minx again.
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Post by Chris - Cats Protection on Nov 10, 2009 17:36:48 GMT
I think as its working well, dont rush things too much. Let her out for longer and longer periods, and it will become obvious when the cage is no longer needed.
Some cats need a space of their very own, and this cage could be just that to her.
Take it all one day at a time, and then take the cage down when you feel the time is right, keep it around for a few days just in case it needs to go up again..
And fingers crossed xx
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Post by Lilian on Nov 19, 2009 12:12:58 GMT
well Flaggs has been doing very well , never been in the cage for 4 days! however my daughter has just rang to say she had to put her in this morning as she had pooed on the floor, it's very frustrating so back again to the cage. The cage was still up with the litter tray in all clean etc . So it's back to basic training once more. Hope she learns again and stays clean, cats are clean animals so can't understand what it is with her. Still love her to bits thou as do my daughter and her partner.
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Post by Chris - Cats Protection on Nov 19, 2009 20:34:40 GMT
Its a real nightmare when they get into a bad habit...... but you have done the right thing....back to the cage..
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Post by Lilian on Nov 23, 2009 16:39:41 GMT
Well Flaggs was only in the cage for less than half a day and up till now has been really good, bless her! I was over at my daughters the other day and let both the cats outside for a while, soon after they went out i heard a huge noise and both the cats came running in frightened out their wits and heard her next door neighbour shouting horrible abuse at them, The noise was either her throwing something at them and it hit the fence ( it's came away from the wall with the force) or she has tried to hit them with something! I was bloody angry and went out to see her but she had gone in the house.) She must have thought my daughter and her partner were both out as both cars were gone. I was going to knock at her door but her husband was in and he can get a bit aggressive so i left it. I let my daughter and her partner know about it and they are both angry too. Why do people treat cats like that, all they need to do is clap their hands or spray them with a little cool water.
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Post by Chris - Cats Protection on Nov 23, 2009 20:43:26 GMT
I know, but many people treat their kids the same way... This is one reason I have my garden covered, cats have a nasty habit of upsetting people when they do unmentionables in their flower beds.... No doubt she thought everyone was out.. hence the violent outburst. You should hear me when I shout at the dog !... I embarrass myself !.... ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by cheryl on Nov 24, 2009 16:02:31 GMT
my neighbour once asked me to stop our cats pooping in his garden, he was not nasty about it though. I asked him which one it was as there are loads of cats round here. it turned out it was a Tabby cat and a ginger one Not one of mine then . Mind for some reason he's got sand put down all over his front garden so that possibly attracts the cats .
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Post by Lilian on Nov 27, 2009 13:38:32 GMT
Well Flaggs has been a really good girl using her litter tray. My daughter has moved the cage into her hallway and she's still using the tray in the cage! Flaggs seems to be much happier now she not in the cage but running round the house causing Samson trouble again. Lets just hope she has finally become house trained, and long may it last! Thank you everyone for all your help, my daughter, her partner and the 2 cats are one big happy family. It also means when my daughter gets married in April they can sart trying for a baby without having to worry about the cat dirting around the house. It has saved me having to take her in which is a bit sad but happy for them all.
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