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The litter tray

please help with the pissing and the shitting

11 replies

NotFlix · 14/08/2015 08:42

16 week old boy cat that we've had for about 6 weeks. He was using the litter tray fine until this week when he's started shitting in the bedrooms and pissing on the sofa - again and again and again.

I'm using bio washing stuff to clean up and a pet clean up spray with enzymes. Litter tray is completely untouched.

Please help me fix this or he's going to have to go! The house absolutely stinks and it's disgusting.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 14/08/2015 09:24

Has he been neutered yet? really you need a urine sample off him for the vet to test.

They sell little kits but I got mine to wee in the bath standing up then I used the pipette to collect it.

Something's making him very unhappy if he's stopped using his tray.

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NotFlix · 14/08/2015 09:43

Thanks Fluffy. He's being done in about 3 weeks.

How did you get him to wee in the bath?

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NotFlix · 14/08/2015 09:49

also, would a physical cause like a uti explain the pooing as well, or would the two together point to something behavioural?

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GallopingFoxley · 14/08/2015 09:55

I had this for a very short space of time with my now year old cat and like you I was not prepared to put up with it for very long because it's just so disgusting. There was also absolutely nothing wring with the cat.

What I did was confine to one room for a couple of weeks with a litter tray that was always kept fresh and cleaned immediately if it was used. So she wasn't allowed to go anywhere else in the house bar my conservatory. This sorted the problem out

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NotFlix · 14/08/2015 09:57

thanks galloping, I could confine him to our dining room (wooden floors).

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ASorcererIsAWizardSquared · 14/08/2015 09:58

there's a lot of reasons.

  1. get him to the vet to eliminate any physical issues.
  2. get some 'scent soakers' in the house, stuff he can claim as his own.
  3. you need at least 2 litter boxes (have you changed the litter type recently?)
  4. could it be seperation anxiety? how long is he being left alone?
  5. is it territorial? is he an only cat? do you have cats he can see outside who might be making him feel threatened? are you feeding him in a high foot traffic area? does he have a feeding schedule?
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NotFlix · 14/08/2015 10:10

thanks sorcerer.

I'll get him to the vet.

Can you explain what a scent soaker is?

No change to litter, but I can certainly get another tray or two.

We did leave him overnight last weekend (with our older cat and neighbour came in to feed him) - maybe this is the cause? The rest of the time there's usually someone in the house as I work from home.

We have an older cat who was here first. There are other cats in the garden but he seems to fend them off quite well! I've seen bigger older cats looking submissive around him, but maybe I'm wrong about that!

Feeding area is very quiet with regular morning feeds, but more relaxed evening schedule depending on when he starts to mither us. Would it help to be more regular do you think?

All advice appreciated btw, I'm desperate.

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Fluffycloudland77 · 14/08/2015 10:41

Leaving him overnight won't have helped, they don't take things well.

I put him in the bath when he looked like he was going to wee, then I put the plug in to collec it.

He wasn't showing any other sign of being in pain.

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sparkysparkysparky · 16/08/2015 13:18

You haven't had a response on what a scent soaker is. I defer to pp but I think it is anything that has his scent (not of pee). Favourite bedding/mat scratch post - things that smell of him. Once health problems are ruled out, Peeing and pooing is probably a territorial thing. He's trying to assert himself somewhere that he's not totally confident with. Google Jackson Galaxy, an American cat behaviourist. He has useful YouTube clips about this sort of thing. Cats Protection website also has YouTube clip about this. Can't link from phone.

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NotFlix · 16/08/2015 13:57

thanks sparky. How would I use a scent soaker?

He has his little basket/bed thing that has a cushion in it and he sleeps there most days.

Do I need to do something else?

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sparkysparkysparky · 16/08/2015 14:16

I think you'd just stick it anywhere he is anxious about to make him feel comfy - it's something that's his and smells of him. Getting the snip should make a huge difference as well.
Jackson Galaxy website may well be a good resource for you.

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