What to do with a rebelious kitty?

Question

My kitten is about 10 weeks and we adopted it at the age of 6 weeks. The first couple of days were hard with litter train, but then he got the hang of it! It was so nice! Then he would not use the litter box when it was too full (every three poops), understandable! So I have stated cleaning it every two! Well now he won't use it but everyonce and a while! The litter box is clean. At first I let it slide, I thought maybe he was sick seeing the poo was a little runny. But now he is finding a new corner for number one OR number two all the time! It is so embarassing, our house smells so terrible right now, I can't stand to have company over anymore! What is the message this cat is trying to tell me? I put his nose close to it, and then give a little spank, and then on the rare occasion I do catch him using the litter box I reward him with love and pet him (after he is done ofcourse)! This has been going on for a week now, what else can I do!

Answer 1

Put the litter box where he poos & pees. Rubbing nose & hitting makes things worse because they don't understand what you're trying to say.

If possible pick up poo where unwanted places & place in box. If nothing works try to change the stuff you're putting in the box. If it's from super market litter add a hand full of dry garden dirt from outside. Just mix it in with the other stuff.

Don't expect a change within hours. Give it a few days.
Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Punishing him after he has done this or sticking his nose in it, will not connect with him. For some reason he does not like the box. Is it too high for him to get in comfortably, What do you clean it with. The residual odor of the cleaner might be offensive to him. Wash the areas well with a product that made to neutralize pet odors, block off the area. Put him in the litter box after eating or drinking, and after waking up. He is only ten weeks old. Give him a chance.
If his stools are runny he should be seen by a Vet. When you get a new pet a well check is important.

Answer 3

Don't spank the kitten--otherwise, there's some good advice given above.

Another possibility--I adopted a 10 month old who had been a "wild thing" and never known a litter box. After a few days of dispair, a pet shop owner suggested taking him to a local vet for boarding for a few days. With being in a confined area for a bit, he quickly caught on to the purpose of the box and we've lived happily ever after since then.

Answer 4

Hitting or punishing the cat for going to the bathroom outside the litterbox is pointless, it's even pointless with dogs. The solution is to simply make the litterbox more desirable... 3 poops in the box is not full unless its a tiny box, in which case you should get a much bigger box, 3 inches of litter, and in a quiet low traffic area where the cat will not be disturbed at his business. You should also have 2 litter boxes, some cats like to pee in one and poop in the other, or just like a choice. Also all you need do to train a cat to use a litterbox is put thier poop in it and then show the cat the box.. thats all. In all my life with all the cats I have now and all the cats I have ever had it has never been a problem.. not even for tiny kittens barely weaned. Wherever they smell their poop is thats where they go, so make sure to really clean the spots he has soiled, and put the poop in the box after you pick it up. Try a finer grain of litter, and make sure it is clumping, cats prefer it.

PS the punishment is not a good thing, it teaches the cat nothing except to hide its business from you so you wont find it and the cat wont get punished. What you are saying to the cat essentially is that going to the bathroom is bad.. it makes no sense. Just stop doing that and make the box more appealing to the cat and he will go there automatically out of preference.

Answer 5

Hi it sounds like your doing everything right. I would maybe put a second litte box in a different room maybe in a bathroom or laundry rooom so if he's in another room he wont have to go so far. As for him being picky about going after a couple or one load i n in there he's just really picky lol. try to scoop as often as you can if there is a second box around it could be near the first box if you would rather have them close together that way he has the back up box if he uses the first one and your not home to scoop after he's went he can go in the other one. The places where he has went outside of the box need to be cleaned with a cleaning solution like urine gone or something like that to get rid of the poop smell so he wont goback there agin. Best of luck to you!

Answer 6

The litter box shouldn't be in a high traffic area (too busy!). Check to see that he doesn't have trouble getting in and out, the sides may be too high. Sometimes the litter has too much 'perfume' to mask smell and they just can't stand going into something that smells that bad.

Try getting an old cookie sheet and putting some litter in the center, see if he prefers a flat sided box. Don't load it up, just spread out some litter about 10" wide and maybe 1/2" deep.

If you've got a covered box, that may be the problem too, because covered boxes hold the urine smell in and cats don't like to walk into it because it stinks too bad.

Answer 7

Putting his nose near the poo and spanking him is not behaviour he's going to understand - don't do it!

You say your cat has a particular corner he likes to pee and poo in? Move the litter box there if that's the one he's chosen! You could always get more than one litter tray and put it in the different places he likes to use.

There are aso sprays you can get to discourage toileting in undesirable places. I would also suggest a vet check if you haven't already, so you can ask any questions - has he started his vaccinations yet? They should begin at 8 weeks, and this is also an ideal time to address any medical or behavioural concerns you have, with a vet.

Chalice

Answer 8

It's probably just the location of the litterbox. By instinct, a cat will naturally bury it's feces in a secluded area to avoid potential predators. Now, your cat doesn't have any predators (obviously), but he still follows his instincts. The litterbox is probably not in a secluded enough area for him, so he poops in corners that are hard to reach. You should try to put the litterbox in a corner in the bathroom or something like that, so maybe he'll feel safer as he poops. Also, the "punishment" that you're giving him is a good thing. Personally, I suggest using a water gun or squirt bottle. If he keeps going on the floor, then continue to show him that he's doing the wrong thing. However, when he goes in the box, try to reward him with some sort of treat (catnip or a piece of meat will do just fine).

Answer 9

I even have 3 and that i like them. They stay indoors and regardless of if the older 2 do no longer choose again up stairs (they have been taken in by making use of us whilst their proprietor died and that they do in contrast to canines), Roxie is a very different tale. She would not understand what she is, cat or canines and loves it up and downstairs. She gets away with each thing and is definitely spoiled. She would not get to do better than swat at moths on the window or stare at birds in the process the living house windows. We call that kitty television. And, all are spayed or neutered. and that they make contributions to the happiness of this previous extensive.

Answer 10

It may be the location of the box , cats like to go where no one can see them and if he can see his reflection he may think its another cat. If you have a cat flap other cats may use it and that can be upsetting for some cats too ! Another thing could be the tray isnt deep enough for him to poo and bury it and you need a bigger box.

You could look and when your cat starts scratchin as he would do in the litter tray pick him up and put him in tray. Lots of praise when he goes in there.

I have heard a gentle spray of water is good but hitting not, personally i dont like either and would just go for a strong air freshner! ! xx