Do adopted cats have problems learning to go to the bathroom in a litterbox?

Question

I'm thinking of adopting one.

Answer 1

No, shouldn't be a problem. Just show the cat where the tray is and whats in it and things should just happen naturally. Maybe shut the new cat in the room where the litter tray is for a while so that it can explore and it should figure it out. They are pretty smart.

Answer 2

I've adopted all my cats and have never had any elimination problems with any of them, not even when "someone" inadvertently shut the door to their litterbox room (poor cats were cross-legged outside the door when I got home, one mewed "ah, can you open this door pleeeeeez??!) and hte door was closed for over 15 hours. But there things that may affect a cat's natural instinct to go to a certain place (the box). If they're taken away from the mother cat too soon or if mama wasn't a good educator, before their brains hardwire the litterbox as the place to go (this they usually learn from mama). If they develop some weird negative association with the litterbox. If their normal cat fastidiousness is bent out of whack by a human expecting them to be other than cat-ish. If the kit isn't given enough "alone" time to explore and be on his/her own (if someone is constantly carrying him around or picking him up all the time or distracting him with play, etc. so the kitten can't focus on what his body is telling him in time to get to the box). Once a cat leaves a scent somewhere, it is very difficult to get the cat to stop using that spot because it thinks "well, I went here before so this must be the place." Etc. But a non-neurotic, well balanced cat who is allowed to be cat usually has very very good toilet habits (unless it become sick or disabled). And keep the box clean (although my cats continue to use the box even when there's only a few grains of litter left in the box (um, someone forgot to refill and/or to buy more litter); they didn't like it and kind of stood on tippy toes so theyire feet wouldn't get wet but they used the litterbox.

Answer 3

I've adopted cats over the years, and the first thing I did was to (literally) set them into their litterbox so there wouldn't be any doubt about where it was. When I accustom a new cat to my household, I put the new cat/kitten into a quiet room with food, water, and a litter box avabilable, and leave them alone for a while to allow them to calm down and realize that they aren't going to be harmed. Over the course of a week or so, I go into the room to sit with the cat and win its trust, feed it, change its box, and so on. After about a week, a new cat is usually calm enough to go into the larger household, and my existing cats (I have two) have been able to smell the "new kid on the block" under the door for a week, so they're curious. There might be a little scuffling as the pecking order gets rearranged, but I've never had any serious injuries occur.

Answer 4

If a cat has litter box avoidance issues, it is because of the cat, not where it comes from. I've known cats who grew up in loving households who suddenly had litter box problems....and then there's my male, whom we adopted at 2 years of age, and who has NEVER gone anywhere other than the box.

Get a copy of Cats for Dummies. It's a great reference book.

Answer 5

If it has been abused it might have problems adjusting to a new home. Most of the cats I have gotten have been really young when I started with them and I haven't really had any problems. The only one that I did have problems with was a male cat that wanted to spray everything.

Answer 6

some cats have behavioral problems that include "spraying" outside of the litter box, adopted or not. however, most cats will learn to use the litter box immediately. all you have to do is show it where the box is one time, and your training is finished.

Answer 7

before everything- Congratulations on your new kitty! Cats can see on the hours of darkness, however. yet once you have been to go away the fan on, it might startle him.What i'd do, is positioned a splash lamp in there, or positioned up gates on the showering room doorway with the showering room door open.

Answer 8

thank you a animal can be a lot of companionship it will give you unconditional love .when you come home it will all ways be there.not like some humans I'm sorry to say but no they have instinct to go in the litter box all most better than a lot of guys who cant seem to hit the hole good for you you wont regret it one bit ask them to give shots and schedule for check ups my cat had kidney failure that could have been put in remission if we had caught it earlier but she loved us 4 17 yrs of great happiness gooodgoing!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

Mine haven't, but they've always been kittens when I've gotten them. Older cats "shouldn't" have a problem, but might due to stress of a new home (especially if you have other animals in the house).

Good luck!

Answer 10

Normally they do not ofter cats who are not litter trained for adoption