Girl cat not using her litter tray.

[2pandasandapig]

Hi all, I'm a bit of a lurker on the litter tray but find myself in need of a bit of advice. I've got 3 cats - 2 boys and a girl, they are all nutered, up to date with vaccinations etc but I'm having some problems with our girl. She's just over 2 yrs old and will not use the litter tray, up until recently she would wee in it but only poo beside it (I can cope with that although I'd rather she didn't) but now she is refusing to wee in it and going either behind the tray or next to the door. I clean up with bio washing powder and floor cleaner but I really need her to stop! We've got 4 litter trays that are kept clean, one of which is covered and I've tried all sorts of litter but nothing helps. Can any of you wise cat slaves give me some advice please?

[cozietoesie]

Has she been vetted since this started, pandas?

[cozietoesie]

PS - and how do the cats actually get on with each other?

[2pandasandapig]

Thank you for replying, yes the vet has seen her and said no infections or anything like that. They get on ok there is the odd bit of squabbling and the two boys are having some more serious arguments at the moment but I think that's because the youngest has just turned 1 and is trying to become head cat iykwim. She's got lots of hidy holes and is left alone unless she chooses to acknowledge us!

[cozietoesie]

She'll be - at least tangentially - involved in the squabbles then. My immediate guess, if she's physically OK, is that she doesn't much like her current situation/the boys and is rushing for a Splash and Dash.

[InsufficientlyCaffeinated]

Are the other cats using the same litter tray? If they're arguing for dominance they might be marking everything. I read somewhere once that cats don't cover their poo if they want other cats to smell it and know it's their territory. Can't remember where though so that may not be valid information!

Could you provide her a litter tray the other cats don't have access to? Although that could be tricky if you can't give her access to it all day unless you keep her locked in one room

[2pandasandapig]

Yes you are probably right about her not liking what the boys are up to! I will have to think and see if I can work out a way for her to have her own tray that they can't get to. I was also wondering about leaving one without litter and seeing if she might just go on it then, I know it sounds a bit barmy but I wonder if she doesn't like the feel of the litter. Bless she's a lovely little thing as well. Thank you so much for the advice sometimes you can't see the wood for the trees of you know what I mean.

[cozietoesie]

I think you said that you'd already tried all sorts of litter? My own inclination would be - as you said - to try to give her at least one tray in a private place that she knows is her own. Thinking cap on for you?

[2pandasandapig]

Cap well and truly on! I'm just trying to think of somewhere where they will all be able to still have all their comforts whilst giving her the safe space if that makes sense? Still now I've got some new ideas to try out.