Rescue cat weeing and pooing everywhere

[ginandtoast]

We have just moved to a country with appaling animal abandonment issues. I missed having a cat around, and against all good judgement, fell for a lovely young cat who was due to be put down.
Sadly she is weeing and pooing everywhere in the house. She can and does occasionally use the litter tray, but also the rugs, the beanbags, any bit of floor, the bath...!
I have several litter trays and keep them scrupulously clean (although experimented with leaving a little damp litter to see if the scent would encourage her to re use it).
But it's everywhere. And every day.
We have had to buy a steam cleaner just to keep up. And although I can't buy specialist cleaning spray here to neutralize odour, I am using washing powder with water which is almost as good I think.
Has anyone any advice before I sadly have to contact the charity?

[gamerchick]

One of those plug in things that calm them down?

[cozietoesie]

Do you know any of her history? And what is her character like in other ways?

[ginandtoast]

gamerchick sadly not been able to locate one of those here and it wouldn't be allowed to ship it in. I have been using a relaxing oil though in a burner.

cozietoesy We thought she'd always be a shy cat (had been looked after physically but no socialization) but is actually very friendly and sociable. She seeks us out in the house, is loving and enjoys being petted a lot.

The pooing and weeing even happens outside the litter tray when she is confined just to one room. I had though I'd try that and then gradually allow access. But nope.

Am really feeling down. We cannot keep her like this :-(

[cozietoesie]

It's so depressing isn't it? (Seniorboy is pretty good at the moment but I've had my times with him and other cats.)

Has she been vetted recently to check that she's in fair health?

[cozietoesie]

PS -In light of what you said and are currently doing, I'm wondering whether she's actually been trained to use a tray? Do you have any time to try some work on that?

[ginandtoast]

Yes, she is in good health and she came knowing how to use the liter tray (I watched her do it as the rescue house!) which is why it is so baffling. And she does sometimes use it, just with no consistency.

We don't have very little children. No babies or toddlers and a calm household.

It is not overly safe to let them out here (firstly animal cruelty seems common and secondly, it's very very hot).

Am googling to see if there's anything I can implement as a sort of programme. I had thought confining her to the one room with litter tray would work :-(

Thank you.

[Fluffycloudland77]

I was wondering if she's ever been house trained at all. It sounds like she hasn't really.

[cozietoesie]

There's something wrong in her life that's for sure. (It's a pity you can't get any Feliway in your country.)

I think that I'd be trying a programme of re-training. It's potentially intensive for a few days anyway but might work.

[cozietoesie]

PS - are you using the same kind of litter that she had before? Some of them can be dashed pernickety about the type in their tray.

[ginandtoast]

Thank you so much.

I am googling and can't find much on re litter training. Most advice seems to be that cats don't need it!

www.bhg.com/pets/cats/how-to-train-a-cat/how-to-housetrain-a-cat/

I am using the same litter as she had before.

She is not neutered though yet. I should do so soon although she is very young. I haven't read much that suggests it's a problem with girl cats, only boys. But I will phone up the vet today and make an appointment.

Thank you :-)

[cozietoesie]

Oh Goodness, Yes - they should be neutered at about 4 months if they're healthy and of a decent size so get that done before anything else. (My apologies - I assumed that as she was from a rescue, she would be neutered already but I guess that your country is different.)

[cozietoesie]

(The laptop battery decided at that point that it had done enough for Sunday morning.)

It may be that you'll find the neutering will sort things out but I think that going to the vet, having the op - and coming home (!) will give you the right opportunity for a fresh start with some training. A sort of 'This is the way we do things here' approach.

I'd aim to stay in the same room with her for a bit (that's what I meant by 'intensive' but take a book/device with entertainment available) and if you sense from body language and timing that she's about to go in an unauthorized place, put her on a tray and scrabble her paws a couple of times to remind her of her duty.

(Lots of praise and a treat for correct use of tray of course.)

Cats generally learn very quickly - although you might have to continue to be patient when she comes back home after the op. They can sometimes be real stupid when they've just had a GA.

[ginandtoast]

No idea how old she is, but I would hazard around 4 months based in size so will get her done this week if the vet has space.
Thank you!
Gosh, I'd be lost without mums net sometimes. I need to get this sorted as I want to keep her, and I am also hoping she is okay when my dog arrives from the UK . Dog very used to being the underdog to a cat so she is fine.
Urm yes, expect more posts as I figure it al out

[cozietoesie]

Here's some guidance on the subject for your interest. It's UK and practice is different in some other countries but you might still find it useful when talking to your local vet.

Best of luck - and there are usually people around here to discuss issues with.

[CattyCatCat]

Many sympathies, OP. I know exactly how you feel. I am also having problems with two kitten not using the tray consistently. I am currently retraining them in one room and they (I suspect it is actually only one of the) is still weeing on the floor sometimes. Like you, I can't work out what the problem is as they used the tray pretty when they arrived here. Mine are getting neutered this week ad I really hope that helps. I'm also considering getting one of the plug in things.

Good luck. It is so frustrating and annoying I know. We want so much to give these lovely cats a good home and it is very disheartening and upsetting when you have to shut them away in one room.

[haggisaggis]

She may just settle down. We had a new rescue about a year ago who went through a phase of weeing and pooing everywhere - duvets, clothing left on the floor, bags, plant pots...thought we would need to send him back. However he stopped quite suddenly and is fine now . (although he also now goes outside - but will use a litter tray inside if needed)

[ginandtoast]

Thank you

Little cat currently in surgery and hopefully I can collect her in a couple of hours.

The vet said her adult teeth were coming through so estimated her to be about six months old.

I have to go back on Sunday for the vaccinations.

Phew. Feel better she is having this done and it may just solve the problem. She gets antibiotics today so if it was an infection, it may resolve that.

Thank you

[cozietoesie]

Good luck to her - and you - and let us know how things go.