Laurie, This is a very interesting subject when you think about it. It would probably be worth a book? I now realize why my litter boxes upstairs never have poop in them , but the one downstairs, at the base of the basement steps, does. Also, I have a couple of kitties that hate using the litter box at all and hold it forever waiting to go outside in the morning. I have one that insists on always going outside. I do not think I have ever seen him use a litter box. He is back inside within a few minutes, so I know he just likes out, to use the bathroom. All my guys are very good and never have a litter box mishap. My oldest, 12-13 years old, is the one I have never seen use a litter box. He also likes to spray outside ,but never sprays in the house. Well almost never... I think, in all his years, he has made a boo boo and sprayed in the house maybe once or twice a year...This is bad, but considering he sprays outside every day, I think he just makes a mistake and I forgive him. My son however, gets very upset with him. We have hardwood floors, thank goodness and he does not spray the furniture, so it is something I can put up with. What he might spray is a new object, like a box brought in from outside, something strange to him... We have added six new kitties in the last two years. He was the only one for several years ,so I guess we are lucky he has not gone ballistic... Glenda --- laurieskatz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Don't know how many cats you have. I need to have > one more box than cats because some of mine want to > poop in one and pee in another. I got Lucy when her > previous human took her to the vet to be KILLED for > going outside the box. She was 8 months old and had > diarrhea ~ a food change fixed the stools. > Lucy likes TWO boxes. We did retraining in one room > with 2 boxes. > She was picked on by some of the other kitties for > awhile and chased out of the box while doing her > business, so she would find a safe place to go. > Nothing of that for a long time now. She used to go > on plastic....?? > > My Cooper MUST have a clean box. He will cry and > beat at the door to get out of the bedroom in the > morning if all 3 boxes in the bath have something in > them ~because he wants to get to a clean box on > first floor (I keep them shut in bedroom with me at > night)...as soon as I scoop the master bath boxes he > calms down. > > Check out the internet for more ideas about > solutions. > > Poo and peeing outside usually are for different > reasons. Wonder if she used to go outside and didn't > even have a box where she lived before....and so she > is going the closest place to where she thinks she > is supposed to go. Can you keep a box close to that > location? (or 2?). Pooping outside the boxhas always > meant to me a problem with DIGGING. Either the > litter smells (perfumes or other kitties), needs to > be scooped, or is too deep or not deep enough or not > in a quiet enough spot to give her time to dig > properly....an affinity for lineoleum might suggest > a very low level of litter so she can push it aside > to pee on the floor of the box. My Winston likes to > dig down to the plastic. He and Cooper lived their > first 3 months with someone who provided ONE box and > a crawl space for 11 kittens and 2 mommies (say no > more). Wonder about getting those puppy training > pads and putting my the door? > > Good luck. Keep researching! > Check out Pam Johnson-Bennett on the internet and > get her book Think Like a Cat. It's my cat bible. > > Laurie > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Melissa Lind > To: [email protected] > Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 8:58 AM > Subject: RE: OT: litter box problem > > > 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 > === message truncated === ____________________________________________________________________________________ Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today! http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7
