Thanks Glenda for the kind words! I don't think we could stand to leave her in a room by herself all the time, but I think I'll take your advice and try putting her in the office while we're at work. Then she'll get used to the box in there. Then when I let her out, I'll leave the door open and she can go in there as she pleases while we're home. We'll see how that works. I think you had good advice. If I can just get her away from that area, she'd go in the box. She goes in the box when it's downstairs anyway, but just not all the time. Yes, our house is small, but it does have 3 tiny bedrooms, so at least we have extra rooms to isolate her in. It's just a tiny house for 6 cats! Thank goodness we have a full basement. It's not finished, but that's purrfect for litter boxes, food dishes, etc.
Yes, my husband has been (and is) very sweet. He just loves Penelope. He has to hold her, feed her the special kitten food, make sure there's always water, etc. He still thinks she's got a home to go to in November-which is my goal although it's not set in stone. We're really getting attached to the little cutie though! But, I hope we find a home for her because that will make room for other rescues. Melissa -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of glenda Goodman Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 9:42 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: OT: litter box problem Melissa, I know you are having terrible problems,but your letter made me smile. You are such a sweet , patient, humorous person. Well, it is pretty awful having this right at your front door. She seems to have programmed herself to that spot. Would you dare to try another area of the house for her, where she could be locked up for a while? I imagine you do not have a lot of spare rooms, because I think once. you said your house was small? Anyway, I'd try to find a room for her, even if it is your bedroom, keep her there for a couple weeks, at least(.I would not keep her in a small place like the bathroom...she would hate that...kittens need to run around...) It would seem she would then get conditioned to using the potty in a different place, hopefully the litter box. After a couple weeks the smell will get more out of that front door area and get her broken of the "habit" of her going there. After you see her use her litter box, praise her, kind of like you would praise a dog after he goes outside. I would not praise her as she was going ,because cats have a bit more dignity about going in front of you than dogs, but getting loved and praised and maybe even a treat once in a while, after she uses the litter box, might help her get the idea... Good luck to you, and your sweet husband! Glenda --- Melissa Lind <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Okay, we're still having a problem with baby > Penelope (4 months). When she > first came home, she did her business on the > laminate floor in front of the > front door. So, I moved one of the litter boxes > there. She went fine in the > box. Then, I tried to move the box downstairs-not > with the others, but apart > so she'd feel as though it's still for her. No luck. > Poop and pee in front > of the front door. Then I moved the box back there. > No problems. > > > > I then tried to slowly move the box closer to the > downstairs. I placed it > one foot off of the laminate floor on a rug. No > luck. Poop and pee on the > floor! > > > > Last night I tried something new. I used the plastic > rug liner stuff with > the pokey things on the bottom. Put that face up > over the flooring. I > sprayed the area with cat repellant. I woke up to > the sound of her trying to > cover her pee on the plastic. Grrr! > > > > I cleaned it up. Told her that she needs to go > downstairs. I don't think she > was listening. I left the liner there to see what > will happen today while > I'm gone, but I'm not hopeful. Any ideas? She's > using the box in the > basement, but she still thinks she can go in the old > area. I've cleaned up > the area with Catergent which is supposed to remove > the enzymes/scent. Plus, > I covered it with owie-plastic stuff which would > cover up the smell anyway. > There's really no way to block off the area that I > can think of. I can't > think of a way to construct something she can't > climb over. > > > > I don't think she's doing it out of anxiety (as > Bandit was) or because of > any difficulties peeing (besides, it's usually just > poop that shows up > there). The puddle that was there this morning was > normal colored, etc. > > > > Thanks. I know this is really OT, but I was hoping > that you guys have all > had plenty of experience with this. > > > > By the way, today is national "talk like a pirate > day" me mateys! > > > > Melissa Lind > > Contract Administrator > > DEG Enterprises, Inc. > > 200 Norfolk Av. > > Norfolk, NE 68701 > > Phone: 402-379-1820 > > Fax: 402-379-3604 > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________ ________ Moody friends. Drama queens. Your life? Nope! - their life, your story. Play Sims Stories at Yahoo! Games. http://sims.yahoo.com/
