My neurotic cat

Cruciform · 08-21-04, 03:49 AM

Well, my cat has refused to use the litterbox for months now. He's just getting better at hiding where he takes a dump most of the time.

He doesn't bother to hide when he pees because it dries quickly and it's hard to catch.

We've tried a few things, personal litterbox, extra privacy, different litters, and tonight I tried something special after reading about some cats aversion to litter.

I put some of the aspen shavings I use for the snakes in a sterilite and made him a large custom litterbox to try out.

He's now happily curled up in his new bed.

He'll probably take a dump *beside* it in the morning.

Cats are evil.

justinO · 08-21-04, 07:43 AM

two words mike... SNAKE FOOD.

lisa marie · 08-21-04, 08:00 AM

There is a litter made for cat's that don't like to use their box. It's called Cat Attract...I think. You can find it at Petsmart or whatever. Have you tried that one yet?

And justin....I'm going to pretend you didn't say that!

lostwithin · 08-21-04, 09:10 AM

Hey , we've had this problem with our cats before, One of the times it was due too the fact that our oldest cat was quite shy and wouldn’t use the little when others were around , and other cats always disturbed her. We solved this by adding a second litter.

We have also had it happen when a cat has health problems, they tend not too go too the littler box when something is wrong, if it has other symptoms maybe a vet check is necessary.

And lastly if the cat is male, it may very well be marking it's territory, this is by far the most annoying one of them all. Most people believe by neutering a cat they will not do this. because they cannot "spray" but this is a myth, a cat will still start too mark its territory, but since they cannot spray they leave there sent the only way they can (although most of the time they just urinate. and once they get started they don’t stop until they are satisfied. (the up side is it seems too be much more rare in cats that are neutered, seems too take more too make them get territorial) We have 2 males in he house, on escaped and ran into a tom cat out side during the night. our cat apparently won the fight but that set him off , he’s been hiding messes all over the house for a couple weeks but seems too have stopped now.

Also on the topic of marking , if you have 2 males, and one just reached "sexual maturity" in a sense (even if its fixed,. I simply mean he just started reacting too the other males sent" The "lesser" male my not go into he dominate males litter box.

Good luck. just out of curiosity let me know what the sex and age of the cat is.

Devon

capsicum · 08-21-04, 11:48 AM

We had a cat like that. Majik, spayed female, would pee on everything she could, but would use the litter box only if it was the last thing around. We eventually tried putting a towel in her box (each cat had their own box), and she finally started using it. If it was messed up or burried, it would have to be switched so that she would use it, but at least it was easier than washing quilts every day

My parents still have her. She was mine, I got her as an early Christmas gift in '97. She hates my other cat, Bo (bottle baby), so I had to let her stay with my parents. But she is doing good, and they now have 2 new cats, my grandfathers 19 year old girl and a 4 month old kitten that I bottle raised.
Don't know if the towel thing might help, but you never know

TK

Cruciform · 08-21-04, 12:03 PM

We have 3 cats:

Carlin: 2 years old, male, neutered.

Fraidy: 4 or 5 (feral caught), male, neutered (a BIG 26lb sissy)

Calamity: 8 or 9 months old, female, spayed.

Carlin is the problem cat. He's been like this since long before the other two moved in, so it hasn't been the competition. Unfortunately, if he drops a load and we don't get to it in time, the kitten will occasionally mimic him and drop on in the same spot.

He's been in for checkups, and has only had some minor acne, but no blood tests have been done. We're booking those.

I never heard of cat attract, but I'll give it a shot if it helps.

He knows what he's doing is wrong anyway, as he will run like hell as soon as he done if you walk into the room. Like he doesn't want to get peed on for marking his territory.

And yes, I even considered throwing him in the tub and peeing on him to see if that would alpha-male his *** back into submission

heebie_geebies · 08-21-04, 12:08 PM

Just this morning, the fiance's cat peed on the carpet right in the living room. No idea why she has been doing this. Her litter box is quite secluded. And quite clean at that. She is the only cat in the apartment. I suppose there could have been a cat in here befor us.

This cat is not only crazy, it is evil enough to be the spawn of satan. If you don't pet it, she will attack. If you pet her too much, she will attack. Stupid cat. After dumping in the litter box (she does do that, thank god), her eyes dialate and she starts running full sprint around the apartment. Maybe trying to run away from her smelly @$$. Who knows? But the funny thing is, her cat lisence tag # is 01-666. It's like they knew.

I can't wait for the love and devotion of a chameleon.

heebie_geebies · 08-21-04, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cruciform
And yes, I even considered throwing him in the tub and peeing on him to see if that would alpha-male his *** back into submission

It probably won't work for me being she is female. But it will help me out!!

Cruciform · 08-21-04, 12:14 PM

Would you like a cat to keep her company?

lostwithin · 08-21-04, 12:14 PM

Hey, I Have one more question for you, when you clean up his mess have you tried tossing it into a litter box. That way the sent is in there. Might help seems counter productive since your dirtying the little box more but the sent might encourage him too use it more.

Devon

heebie_geebies · 08-21-04, 12:18 PM

Nope, one cat is too many.

Cruciform · 08-21-04, 12:39 PM

Tried that but it didn't work.

He's also not very concerned about privacy too.

Because he will sneak up, do it two feet away from you, and run.

treegirl · 08-21-04, 01:11 PM

I knew someone a l o n g time ago who, when he was a kid, he and his friends thought it was hilarious to put rubbing alcohol on the cats butt. (I KNOW this is cruel and please don't try it) He said the cat would ~actually~ do BACK flips. It's definately mean, I know, but paints a funny mental picture.

Rebecca · 08-21-04, 01:15 PM

Sounds like he's mad at you. And is doing it just to make you mad.

Cruciform · 08-21-04, 01:39 PM

Well, if that's the case he's been angry for over two years.

I don't know anyone that pissed off.