He will urinate in the tray but will not defecate in it ..... I recently moved house & now he has to use a litter tray during the night as there is no cat flap.. the house isn't designed as such. He is approx 11 years old & the smell of his unburied faeces next to the tray when I get up or come home is driving me mad .... I don't shout at him when he does this - but I do ignore him for a while..... I feel like kicking him out overnight although he's never been out overnight before - what can I do to cure this problem?... any advice?....
2007-01-10 19:43:32 · 21 answers · asked by Lilith Raven 6 in Pets ➔ Cats
Does he go out during the day? He should stay outside during the day and come in only at night. That way he will do his business outside and will be able to last the night without going until the morning.
Secondly, when you change his litter tray, do you wash it out? Cat's are very picky about where they defecate and if it's not clean litter he won't want to go in it. By going beside it he's trying to tell you that he knows he should be going in it - but can't because it either stinks or irritates him.
You should keep the litter very clean - it should be cleaned daily.
2007-01-10 19:54:43 · answer #1 · answered by Feta Smurf 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You're doing the right thing by not punishing him. The chances are he's as distressed as you are about what's happening. There are a number of possible explanations:
1) The tray might just be too small. If he's not used to using a tray, he might dig and then squat with his bum hanging over the side.
2) If he's a very clean cat, he may not like to use a tray more than once, ie if he's already peed in it, he sees it as dirty, and won't go in it again. If this is the problem, you might solve it be getting a second tray.
3) This behaviour is a very common sign of constipation. (Are his poos very dry and hard?). This might be because he's 'holding on' because he doesn't like using a tray. However, because of his age, it might be a sign that he's beginning to have other health problems. For this reason, I would urge you to have him checked out by a vet as soon as you can. If he gets the all clear, then you can try the solutions above.
Good luck
Felida
2007-01-10 20:47:59 · answer #2 · answered by Felida 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It might just be that he's mad at you for moving and perhaps not giving him enough attention to make him feel better in the new place. I've found that cats don't like change so the lack of cat flap could be the cause of all this. You might have to figure out how to put one in or modify a window or something.
Other ideas... Clean the box more often. You might also want to get a second box. It could also be the litter. If you have a covered box, he might also not like it. He's an older cat too, so it could be a health/aging issue as well.
My cat was having trouble with his #2's - they weren't happening as often as they should. He was straining to go and sometimes he'd end up running out of the box thus leaving it outside of the box. The vet suggested giving him more fiber to ease his constipation. I started giving him pumpkin and it stopped the problem.
2007-01-10 20:00:16 · answer #3 · answered by Me 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My mom has a cat that does this. She is very, very old and has only been doing it in her old-age years. Perhaps your kitty is just aging and is having some difficulty using his box. Your cat is not doing it just to spite you. He obviously has some sort of problem. Maybe he's having trouble adjusting to your new home.
I would strongly advise against putting your cat out overnight. That is the time when cats are most likely to be harmed, and if he has never been out overnight then I'd say that isn't a good idea to begin with.
Is the box big enough for him? Perhaps you should try getting a second box for your cat.
I would guess that more than likely it is not a medical problem, just an aging problem. Just to make sure, though, you may want to consult your vet about this problem. He or she may be able to recommend some good, professional advice on the problem.
2007-01-10 19:57:35 · answer #4 · answered by Nelly Wetmore 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are several things to think about
Is the litter close to food as they really don't like that.
Is the tray big enough? May seem obvious but my cat did this several times and I eventually spotted that her bum was sticking over the edge!
Do you clean it regularly? Cats hate dirty litter!
Could you move the litter tray to where the poo has been deposited? That could help
Also might be worth leaving a little poo in the tray to remind him where its supposed to go.
Are you using a different litter? Cats' paw pads are very sensitive and so they will avoid things that hurt.
Hope this is some help.
Good luck!
2007-01-10 20:12:32 · answer #5 · answered by Rats 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If he were a Dog I would suggest to put the Feces in the Tray so that he knows where it is supposed to go, dont know if this would work for cats but worth a try.
Perhaps in your old home his routine was to Urinate in the Tray but Defecate outside so he needs to toilet train again.
Not getting angry is a smart move, reward the good behavior and try to ignore the bad. Housepets do understand the words "No" and "Good"
2007-01-10 19:58:18 · answer #6 · answered by Joe 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Hes just getting used to using a litter tray again, maybe the tray is not big enough?? he obviously has some idea where it is meant to go if he does it right next to it! i was told crate training would toilet train a pup however overnight my 6 month old pup sometimes manages to aim it out through the bars at side of the crate!!
2007-01-10 22:19:49 · answer #7 · answered by BABY BELL 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The new place and the lack of a cat flap is probably your problem. The cat was used to pooping outside and now he can't. This is NOT the cats fault. After 11 years you have changed everything. Why should the cat suffer because you moved? What you need to do is re-build the cats confidence by not ignoring him when he does this but be understanding of his situation. It's your fault and you will have to put up with it. Do you think the cat likes the smell either? NO!
2007-01-10 19:59:24 · answer #8 · answered by Moon Man 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
My mothers cat did this....but he really thought he was going in the box ! She has enclosed boxes....but her kitty didnt like stepping in litter so he would balance on the edge with his head in the box and his rear out. He was also an older cat. You could try switching to a different litter....or as some have said getting a hooded box. For my mother...removing the hood worked because her kitty had more edges to stand on.
2007-01-11 04:00:05 · answer #9 · answered by RedHairedTempest 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
switch cat litter and make sure it is very clean....if this doesnt work since he is an older cat maybe he has a bit of arthritis and has a hard time getting in and out of the litter box...if this is the case try using one made for kittens that has really low sides or puppy training pads....the cat is probably just as upset as you are and ignoring him wont help him or you.
2007-01-10 22:57:53 · answer #10 · answered by angie_65611 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋