Help me please. I use Fresh Step crystals as kitty litter for my cat Chui, but she keeps crapping on the edge of the litter box and i'm getting sick of cleaning the walls. The litter is superb, no smell and clumps very well. But i can never find her poop in the middle of the litter, always on the edge or sometimes she misses and does her thing on the wall. Is my cat ok? Or should i take her to a vet, or a therapist for that matter.
2007-08-01 05:54:18 · 19 answers · asked by Krys 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
I have a very big litter box, and i got only one cat
2007-08-01 06:01:34 · update #1
If your cat is perching on the edge of the litter box then that means she is trying to avoid the litter, which means she does not like it for some reason.
You could try a different kind and consistency of litter and go for one with no perfume or scent and see if that helps. Also, make sure it is cleaned regularly.
Also, use a litter box liner if you don't already. That will make clean up easier and may help keep her away from the edges - i.e. they don't like scratching their claws on the plastic bag.
How big is the box? Maybe she wants more room. And is this a kitten or a full-grown cat? Has this behavior just started? That is an important element to finding the solution.
I would not spend money on a vet trip or therapy session until you try some of these methods at home first. Then if you do have to go to the vet you can give him the rundown and how your cat reacted to different tests.
2007-08-01 06:00:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
There are a couple of things that could be going on. One thing is cats don't always like the nice litter, in fact sometimes the scent that they use in the nice litter can actually bother them. So I would recommend playing around with that. Also, if you have a hooded box you might want to take the hood off because some cats don't like the hoods on the box. Last but not least you should probably have her stool checked by a vet because maybe she has parasites. You should look at her stool and make note of such things as blood, white rice-like segments, looseness, straining, inconsistency, and if you notice any of these things consult a veterinarian. I am no expert just a cat lover.
2007-08-09 03:43:02 · answer #2 · answered by chelle_j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First I would check to make sure that your cat box is big enough. I had this problem and when I got a larger cat box he seemed to be able to use it better. Cats like LOTS of room to do their business.
I would also suggest getting a different litter. I have heard that cats don't like the fancy litters and it will actually discourage them from using it. Just get a simple clump litter with no fancy odor and clean your cat box with soap and water 2 times per week. You will have a happy cat!!
2007-08-01 06:02:07 · answer #3 · answered by T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get one of those litter boxes that has a cover over the top. Not only will it eliminate any extra smell, but it will also keep her from pooping over the side. As far as her pooping on the sides, there is really nothing you can do about that, she obviously isn't realizing she's doing it. Besides that, whenever you clean your litter box, you should be taking it outside and spraying it out as the ammonia from urine collects on the bottom and will make it stink no matter how much you clean it. Since you should be doing that anyways, you can spray off the poop off the sides.
2007-08-01 06:02:43 · answer #4 · answered by krazycatlady420 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats can be very particular - make sure her food is not too close to where she goes to the toilet to start with,and also make sure her cat litter is not too dirty! Have you tried using a different cat litter to see what your cat is like?
She may just not like the feel of the crystals under her feet, especially if it is different to the cat litter she first used when she was a baby. Hope this is of some help!
2007-08-08 12:39:06 · answer #5 · answered by bbfan 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had one cat that went into the litter box, and essentially simply aimed (she didn't squat, and was spayed). Fortunately, all my litter boxes are covered, so the urine just ran down.
She may not like the litter; remember it is her preference, not yours. I have nothing bad to say about your choice, but perhaps she is.
I have posted a link on litter box use that may guide you with some ideas. Cats are normally very fastidious. Often, a litter box problem is associated with a health issue; in your case it seems she is unhappy with some aspect of the litter.
2007-08-08 04:50:18 · answer #6 · answered by cat lover 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend a vet visit just to rule out any medical problems.
Cats can be very picky creatures. She may just not like the litter you have. Get a couple different types of litter, ie, Yesterday's News, plain clay, scoopable w/o the crystals. Set up a few litter boxes "buffet" style and see what she likes best.
Hope everything works out!
2007-08-01 06:01:08 · answer #7 · answered by I hate Doodles!!!!! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
switch to regular litter, next time you will be finding it outside the litter box, my one cat despised the crystals and would crap on the side of the litter box or outside of it and eventually she began peeing around it. So switch to something like Tidy Cat multiple cat *even though you only have one* hard clumping litter, its really good stuff and works great on the smell too.
2007-08-08 12:39:41 · answer #8 · answered by kimandandyjennings 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some cats choose the edge of the litter box, like mine does. Get one with a cover and you won't have the problem.
2007-08-09 05:52:15 · answer #9 · answered by Laurie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you just need to use a cat pan liner. Then you can just gather up the soiled litter in the liner, and dump the whole mess. Way easier than scrubbing the litter box. I just use a non-scented clumping type litter--not crystal.
2007-08-09 00:30:12 · answer #10 · answered by soupkitty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋