How do I get my 6 month old kitten to stop using the house as her litter box?

Question

We got a 2 year old cat and then adopted a 6 month old kitten (A domestic Long Hiar) who are in no way related. The store where we got the kitten said she was litterbox trained and for the most part she is. However, we think she is urinating in places other than the litterbox. To make matters worse, I found cat poop on the mat outside the litterbox this morning. How can I get Aliza to use the litterbox all the time? We keep it pretty clean and change the litter at least once a month. We also have two boxes since the cats are still getting used to each other and don't always get along. Could Aliza be doing this because our older cat chases her around, and not in a playful way? Any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

Hello,
First thing: Changeing your litter once a month is not nearly enough. Just imagine your toilet only being kept clean once a month! And a cats sense of smell is much better than ours. Especially with cats that are doing it outside the litterbox, cleaning the litter everyday is a good option. You can use cheap litterfiller and put in less than normally.
Some cats do not like to do their ablutions on the same littertray as another cat, or even doing the big and the little thing on the same tray. So getting one or two more litterboxes would not be a bad idear either.
It could also be that your other cat is indeed scaring Aliza. She can be afraid to go in the litterbox, because she would be trapped there. Therefore she does it outside, where she can run away when she is attacked by your other cat. This could also be prevented by placing more litterboxes throughout the house in different places because your other cat can only guard one litterbox at the same time. These guerilla tactict from one cat to another can be very thealthily and you won't always notice it. A scared cat can also go around marking his or her house so it smells like themselves and that gives them a sort of save feeling.
Last on the list is that she could not like the litterbox filling you use. Some sorts seem to hurt the paws of some cats with the result that they willnot use the litterbox.
In your case, my best guess is that your other cat keeps Aliza from using the litterbox.
Good luck with this very difficult and complex problem.

Answer 2

Take this kitten to the vet to be checked for a infection. If all clear then check for spots that the cat maybe using for it's personal litter box. Cats usually go where there is something to be peed on . If there is something the cat is peeing on, put it in the litter box so it can smell it's own scent and put the kitten in the litter box. If it's just plain carpet or clothes move the litter box to that place. Since the cat pooped on the outside of the litter box, it could mean several things: 1. it's not clean enough.2.there is litter on the outside of the box and felt more comfortable using there.

Might want to get a hooded litter box. It's more private and might feel safer in it, because of other cat. Just keep trying.

Answer 3

Try putting the two litter boxes in different locations, not together. Use sand litter. I would lock the kitten in the bathroom with the litter box for a few weeks until she consistently uses it every time. Sometimes when there's a new cat introduced into the house, one or the other refuses to use the box. It's most likely the kitten. Make sure you have a big enough box for the two of them. I would get a storage box instead of a regular litter box. They are much bigger and give the two cats more room to choose which end they want to use. Most cats pee in one corner and consistently use that corner. if another cat is using the same box, sometimes they want to use the same corner but won't because of the other cat. So have two litter boxes in two separate places and make sure they are cleaned once a day. Good luck.

Answer 4

#1 get the kitten/cat fixed. That will stop it right away.
#2 Put it in a crate just big enough for it to move and a litter box and food and of course water. Leave it in there for a couple of days and see if that don't solve the problem. Most aniamls will not mess where they live. Or put the litter box outside the crate and whenever you take the cat/kitten out immediately take it to the litter box. It may come out a couple of times, but keep pushing it back in the litter box until it goes. Then give it free roam for a couple hours and then after it eats take it to the litter box again. But keep it crated for a couple of days and only let it out to use the bathroom and play if it does, and back in when you are not home or a sleep. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

Answer 5

If you have two cats get three litter boxes and if you have four cats get five.
Maybe give the little kitten a safe area, a room where the older cat does not like to go (Don't lock him up in the room), feed the kitten in that room, play with him in the room, and maybe put its litter box nearby. When cats are bothered or fear something they can look as if they are ok but are realy not they will show their fear in small odd ways.

Answer 6

I am with cpinatsi the litter box has to be kept cleaner scoop daily and change weekly. After an accident use a urine odor eliminator because if the cat can smell it they will go there again. Also the suggestion to have the cat's urinary heath checked is a good one. I have gone through this with two cats one it turned out had kidney problems the other was having trouble adjusting to a new house after we moved.

Answer 7

You must keep the litterbox cleaner and change the litter at least once a week, not a month. Also check the kitten for a urinary tract infection at the vet.

Answer 8

you may have a kitty with a medical problem, it could be urinary tract infection, or you may try a different kind of litter or move the pan to a different place