She won't stop! Advice?
By Author-Lissa
@Firestorm0122 (763)
United States
September 22, 2012 10:36am CST
So I'm having a problem with Rin, my one year old cat. Before I tell you what though, some background information first. Rin was born in my house on April 7, 2011. When she and her siblings were five weeks of age I started to litter train them. However, their mother continuously pulled them out so that it would end up on the floor instead of the litter box. Circumstances led me to give Mama cat away (to this day I still miss her). Shortly after I found homes for the other siblings, deciding to keep the older sibling from the first litter and Rin.
There for a while, I managed to get Rin to use the litter box. She used it without fail, no matter what type of litter it was. Even when I brought in another cat off the street, a female Birman I've named Kiera she used it. I had Kiera a short time though, just a few months before I gave her to my sister. During that month, one of the other cats I've been caring for (he was abandoned last year by his owners) fell severely ill. It was during this time while I was caring for him that Rin started to pick a particular spots in my living room to go poop, and it's always near the front door. When Patch, the abandoned cat became well again to go back outside, I thought my trouble with Rin was over. It wasn't. She continued to do it. My sister brought Kiera back, but that didn't cause Rin to stop.
More information. I have three cats in this house and three dogs. Rin was raised with her brother Smoke who is one year older than she is and is neutered, and with the three dogs. Patch lives outside, unable to come in for very long because of the fights he has with Smoke, his son (complicated I know), and with Kiera. Because I have three cats inside the house, I also have three litter boxes. I've used cat attractant to lure the cats to the litter box, and I even use Odoban and EWWWW! Pet stain remover from PetSmart. I've even used white vinegar with two parts water.
The litter boxes are cleaned every two days, a step up from once a week.
I'm honestly at my wits end. I've tried scolding, showing her the litter boxes, even locking her up in a pet carrier. I've spoken to Rin's vet and even to the employees at PetSmart. They're all stumped, and I am frustrated.
I do not want to get rid of Rin, preferring to keep her and Smoke. Kiera and Patch have a possible home lined up, but I do not think that will stop her from pooping on the floor. Is there anything I can do to keep her from pooping on the floor and to use her litter box all the time?
3 people like this
6 responses
@deazil (4730)
• United States
22 Sep 12
If she goes in the same spot or spots you can put a piece of aluminum foil down, kind of crumple it a little so it doesn't lay real flat. Usually cats don't like foil for some reason, though she might move it out of the way.
Also, is the litter box near her food? Most cats won't eat where they go to the bathroom. Another thing you could do is put her food dish where she's going. If she has to eat there she won't go to the bathroom there. Of course, she may find a different spot to go. Then you would have to split her food into 2 dishes for the 2 spots. I realize you have other cats so this might be a problem. I don't think punishing her will help. It usually doesn't. There seems to be a lot going on in your house. This may be the cause of her behavior. Cats don't like change or much activity around them (unless they've been brought up around kids or a lot of activity, then they kind of get use to it). If there's been a major change in something, like new pets in the house, new people or if you went away for a few days this could cause her behavior. There's something bothering her. Cats typically go in the litterbox unless there's something wrong. She may be marking her territory because of the other pets or any change in the house. Is she spayed? If not that might help. I did have a very territorial female cat once. Hope this helps, but I will start researching and get back to you if I find more info. These are the things I know of that have worked for others. Let me know how you make out. I'm interested to know what the outcome of all this is.
Also, is the litter box near her food? Most cats won't eat where they go to the bathroom. Another thing you could do is put her food dish where she's going. If she has to eat there she won't go to the bathroom there. Of course, she may find a different spot to go. Then you would have to split her food into 2 dishes for the 2 spots. I realize you have other cats so this might be a problem. I don't think punishing her will help. It usually doesn't. There seems to be a lot going on in your house. This may be the cause of her behavior. Cats don't like change or much activity around them (unless they've been brought up around kids or a lot of activity, then they kind of get use to it). If there's been a major change in something, like new pets in the house, new people or if you went away for a few days this could cause her behavior. There's something bothering her. Cats typically go in the litterbox unless there's something wrong. She may be marking her territory because of the other pets or any change in the house. Is she spayed? If not that might help. I did have a very territorial female cat once. Hope this helps, but I will start researching and get back to you if I find more info. These are the things I know of that have worked for others. Let me know how you make out. I'm interested to know what the outcome of all this is.@Firestorm0122 (763)
• United States
24 Sep 12
I didn't think of tin foil...but she'd probably play with it. She was raised around dogs so she tends to pick up things in her mouth and carry it around. None of the litter boxes are near any of the cats' bowls.
I'm also learning punishing doesn't work, but neither has positive reinforcement. She's not spayed (yet), so that could be a major factor. The changes in the house could have contributed to it as well, but there have always been changes in this household. I just can't figure out why she is suddenly recently doing this. Though I did see her go poop in one of the litter boxes last night. No accidents last night. I was so proud of her. Perhaps she's gotten to the point where the litter boxes need cleaned daily.. I'll try that and see if there's improvement.
@deazil (4730)
• United States
24 Sep 12
That's really good. Maybe you're making progress. Cats can be hard to figure out sometimes.
I had two links I meant to give you. I see that I forgot. So sorry. They may be really helpful to you. I hope! www.catsofaustralia.com/kitty-litter-box-problems.htm and www.petplace.com/cats/the-top-8-reasons-why-your-kitty-won-t-use-the-litter-box/page1.aspx Even though there have always been changes there may be a particular change she doesn't like. I have always had plenty of litterboxes, but I had one cat who hated to go where one of the others had gone. He rebelled by refusing to cover up what he did in the box. He would go in and out so fast you wondered if he had time to do anything. The other 2 cats were females and they always ended up covering it for him. Kind of sounds like human life, doesn't it? I also have always cleaned the boxes everyday. At one time I had 6 litterboxes. Whew. That was a pain. Well, I hope those sites help and thank you for commenting. I do appreciate it.
I had two links I meant to give you. I see that I forgot. So sorry. They may be really helpful to you. I hope! www.catsofaustralia.com/kitty-litter-box-problems.htm and www.petplace.com/cats/the-top-8-reasons-why-your-kitty-won-t-use-the-litter-box/page1.aspx Even though there have always been changes there may be a particular change she doesn't like. I have always had plenty of litterboxes, but I had one cat who hated to go where one of the others had gone. He rebelled by refusing to cover up what he did in the box. He would go in and out so fast you wondered if he had time to do anything. The other 2 cats were females and they always ended up covering it for him. Kind of sounds like human life, doesn't it? I also have always cleaned the boxes everyday. At one time I had 6 litterboxes. Whew. That was a pain. Well, I hope those sites help and thank you for commenting. I do appreciate it.@Firestorm0122 (763)
• United States
2 Dec 12
Thank you for the links, deazil. They didn't help that much at first. But I did figure out the solution. I purchased another litter box, an enclosed one. She and Smoke use it, but Kiera uses another litter box. I also found out that Rin will use it faithfully if it is cleaned out often.
She still sometimes attempts to go on the floor, but when I catch her, I call her name, and she stops. I'm happy she's using the litter box again, at least more than she was before.
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
22 Sep 12
I have heard that some cats refuse to use a box which another cat uses. Have you tried using two boxes? I'm not sure how you would keep the other cat from using the second box though!
But perhaps it won't use the second box..? Good luck!
But perhaps it won't use the second box..? Good luck!@Firestorm0122 (763)
• United States
9 Oct 12
Each cat has their own litter box. So there are three litter boxes in the house.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
24 Sep 12
Have you tried covering the area where she poops with foil? Just a suggestion.
@Firestorm0122 (763)
• United States
9 Oct 12
I wish I could. Three things would happen if I used tin foil. One.. She would tear it up and carry the pieces in her mouth. She behaves like a puppy at times and carries things in her mouth. Two. She would find another spot in the living room. Three. One of my dogs might try to play with the tin foil.
@natliegleb (5173)
• India
23 Sep 12
they always keep doing it at times,i feel quite stressed and cant relieve from it,it is kind of depressing,but we need to get over it,we will get used to the pooping
@randomarts09 (1405)
• Indonesia
23 Sep 12
If she always poop in the same spot, you can try to out the litter box there or you can try to use another litter box because some cats refuse to use the same litter box that other cats use. Given that you have multiple cats in your household, it can be a possible cause. So try use another litter box just for her, and try if it helped.
@Firestorm0122 (763)
• United States
9 Oct 12
I tried that. Sadly, it didn't work. Each cat has their own litter box, and I've shown her where hers is. She still continues to have her accidents.
