trained cat suddenly discovered my plant pot

[gorionine]

Ok, Have had the cutest cat for 10 days. We got him from local RSPCA branch. He is trained and until yesterday, everything was fine. I have had to 'shoo' him from my plant pot twice today and have just now realised he was not just playing in it but has pooed in it and also weed on my fabric chair (right next to plant pot)

How do I train him back into his tray?

[bonzo77]

Mine did this. You need to make the soil in the pot inaccessible. To do this cut a circle of card wider than the top of the pot. Cut it from the outside to the middle then cut a little circle out big enough for the stem to fit through. Then put it round the stem so the soil is hidden. Do it for all pot plants. Then get more litter trays, and make sure you remove all poo and wee immediately they are used. Where the cat has pissed on the sofa, remove and wash the cover if you can. If not clean with upholstery cleaner then cover the smelly patch with bicarb. Leave for several days and Hoover up. You must get rid of the wee smell for your own sanity and to deter the cat from doing it again.

[gorionine]

I have covered the pot with foil and I have a sneaky feeling it is why he weed on the chair (I can machine wash cover).
Do you think more litter trays will do the trick? Do I have to show them to him (if so, how?)

[gorionine]

Sorry, I was being really rude and forgot to thank you foryou quick answer.

[Fluffycloudland77]

More trays & keep them debris free plus a weekly wash with hot water and washing up liquid.

If I use disinfectant in it it puts him off

Don't forget it's stressful for them to move house.

[gorionine]

what I do not understand though Fluffycloud is that for 9 days he used his litter and last night/today he has gone for the plants. Would visitor (Have been looking after friend's Dcs for the last couple of days) explain it although they pretty much ignored the cat.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Mine was 3 before he started doing it.

[gorionine]

Do you know what triggered it for yours? How long did it take to retrain your cat?

[Fluffycloudland77]

We moved house, the new area is densely populated with cats & it stresses him.

We got extra trays & if they aren't clean he backs up to the curtains while looking at me. It's more of a threat nowadays that he will do it if standards slip.

[cozietoesie]

The friend's DCs could well have unsettled him even though they seem to be paying him no mind. How old are they and how long are they still to be with you? (He's only just settling into a new environment after all.)

[gorionine]

Thanks Fluffy and bonzo77 for your help. DD1 just found to trays (not actually litters but similar depth and size) we will put them around the house now in places we know he has liked to spend time so far.

bonzo do you mind me asking where your name comes from? it means hello in the dialect of my village back home in the Alps

[bonzo77]

you're welcome. Bonzo was a cartoon dog, but also the name of our pet cat when I was tiny. I had to add the 77 as just bonzo was already taken. Where are you from? Maybe the cartoon dog got its name from your dialect.

[gorionine]

I 'm from a small Swiss hamlet, I very much doubt it inspired a cartoon but it did take me back in time.