Please help me cat psychologists lol

[JakeBullet]

Okay I have three cats, a 7 year old Calico...had from a kitten, know her history and definitely the most relaxed of my three. A black and white rescue who was left behind when neighbours moved and I thought that was it until a friend who volunteers for a cat rescue posted a photo of the most gorgeous black kitten ever . I had to have her....it was my "rescue a black cat (or kitten) moment.

So to her history...poor Florrie did not have a good start, she came from a house where there were over 20 cats. Florrie and her siblings had been evicted from the house with Mum and were basically left to fend for themselves. When the kittens arrived with the fosterer after being rescued it quickly became apparent that Florrie was terrified of humans. The fosterer is used to handing ferals and did loads of work with her, the result is that at 8 months Florrie is the most gorgeous cat, very affectionate but an utter bag of nerves.

My issue is that she has recently started to go outside, I have two litter trays in the house which all three cats have used with no issues. Because my in-laws came last weekend for a few hours I put the downstairs one outside. In error I then forgot to bring it in. The result was a poo on the rug the next morning...and it's Florrie.

Since last Saturday she is very very reluctant to use either litter tray. I have managed to get her in the tray for one poo...and she got in there herself. I made a huge fuss of her afterwards.

However, every other elimination has been on the rug and a bit of carpet to the side of it....I try to move her into the tray but she is having none of it.

Any ideas?

I know I made a mistake in leaving the downstairs tray outside one night but she now will not use either of them having been totall clean before. I am at a loss.

I shoudl add that I have stopped letting her out as when I spent 20 mins in the garden with her I noticed she was terrified of every little noise....and when my neighbour came out to hang up her washing Florrie utterly freaked.

Feliway any good?

Any other ideas?

I have moved he tray to the spot she uses....she simply walks round it.

[GobbySadcase]

Defo Feliway, plus you need one litter tray per cat plus one, so you need 4.

I have 6.

[JakeBullet]

Okay...so I need a new litter tray for starters...thank you . Will add that to shopping list tomorrow.

[GobbySadcase]

No worries.
I was very sceptical about both measures which we had to implement when younger Tom got FLUTD but they work.

Oh, and have the trays where they can have some privacy. They prefer you to not be able to see them do their business!

[GobbySadcase]

Oh and clean the wee spots on the carpet with biological washing detergent.

[YouveCatToBeKittenMe]

My cat goes through phases of this. It usually corresponds to the weather getting worse.
I have removed all the rugs I can. She was even peeing on the plastic carpet cover I put out to protect the carpet.
With no rugs she is now using the litter tray again
However I now have 4 litter trays down (also for 3 cats)

You could try feeding her in the place she goes. They don't like weeing where they eat so this may stop her.
Also you could try silver foil to stop her going in that area, Ive never tried this as I'm sure my pissy cat would just wee on the foil but some people recommend it!

definately get more litter trays, you could also try some Feliway spray or drops which release a chemical that's supposed to make them more relaxed.

[GobbySadcase]

For Feliway I recommend trying online suppliers like pet supermarket or hyperdrug or viovet. Much more cost effective than vet or pet shops.

[JakeBullet]

Thank you all for advice.

Got up this morning, another poo on the rug and wee in a different spot.

Will get two new litter trays today plus biological washing powder.

Feliway will have to wait until I have more money (a couple of weeks).

Going to wash the rug ---want to take it up but am concerned that she will just use the carpet if I do.

[JumpingJackSprat]

Maybe put the litter tray on the rug so if she wants to do it there she has to use the tray. Are your trays covered?My cat will only go in a covered tray not an open one. I know yours had used the current trays before but maybe something spooked her.

[JakeBullet]

Sooo.....new litter tray, new litter, biological washing powder.

New litter tray down where she has been pooing. Rug washed with biological detergent.

She has just circumnavigated the litter tray and pooed on the rug.

Back to square one.

[Terrortree]

sympathies - I have a cat who will wee on the carpet when I change a litter tray and will not poop if the same litter tray as he's weed in, or the other cat has used. Tis a nightmare. In the process of working out my cat's isms, I learnt:

The cat will pick up on trace scents so that's now her designated poo spot. Try getting some Urine-Off, or similar (RugDoctor), and give the area a bleeding good wash! Keep the area damp for a while as well.

Food in that area could work as well.

Cats are quite timely in their evacuations so try to work out what time she's going and be there to assist if you can. Lots of treats afterwards!

Have you changed litter brands lately? Is it scented or unscented? Some cats do not like scented brands.

Some cats will not wee where they poop so try using alternative litter trays. What finally cracked it for my cat was buying a metre-wide sandpit (took around 15L of litter to fill) that was really, really deep. I put shreaded newspaper on this and that finally got him to poop in the litter tray and not on my bed!

Also, can you removed the rugs for a while?

Finally, is she in any pain or have worms? Elimination problems can be behavioural or medical. Worth speaking to your vet for a check up if you can.