Litter Tray strike?

[Bogburglar99]

BogBastardKitten has had a hooded litter tray since arriving home in August aged 3 months. After repeat performances of him appearing with a crap-covered bottom I wondered if his now enormous size (Siberian, not quite as big as a Maine Coon but getting there) meant he was being squashed down into his own doings. Therefore removed the lid from the tray to make it open. Tray now not used since yesterday morning. BBK full of beans and not obviously unwell or distressed.

A) is this a strike due to unfamiliarity? B) if A, which of us is likely to crack first and c) when should I worry about non use of litter tray and seek vets advice? If cat otherwise well and eating, drinking etc?

[cozietoesie]

Have you checked behind all sofas etc?

[Bogburglar99]

Thank you for that thought I don't think so - certainly can't smell it! DD says he has been observed to pee in the lidless facility so hopefully he will be first to crack.

[cozietoesie]

They can hold off for longer than you would think if they're not happy with the facilities for some reason but you do become used to the rhythm of your cat's innards. What goes in must eventually come out though.

Does he appear to have peed as much as usual?

[Bogburglar99]

Hard to say - he does also have access to outside so may be going there. Eating drinking and the campaign to ambush my tights proceeding entirely as normal.

[cozietoesie]

Keep an eye on him them. How might he react to an 'intervention' eg being put on his tray shortly after eating and having his paws scrabbled a couple of times?

[cozietoesie]

• then

[Bogburglar99]

Don't know - will try

[cozietoesie]

I'm just wondering whether his tray might not smell so.......intense.....with the lid off - except he's using it to pee, you think. Or whether he's a shy type.

I suspect you're going to lose this one. Have you worked out where to put the second (hooded) tray yet?

[Bogburglar99]

I cracked. The lid went back on. Approximately twenty minutes later there was the sound of enthusiastic scratching

This is a fight I cannot win. But at least he doesn't seem to be ill. Thanks for the advice!

[Bogburglar99]

What I need I think is an extra large hooded tray for small dogs or cats approximately the size of a baby elephant. Anyone make those?

[cozietoesie]

Ah well.

I think - if you have the room - I'd still try having an uncovered tray around the place in the hope that he'll grow used to it.

Amazon have large litter trays but I suspect that the real prize source would be the United States. (Eg Amazon US has a number that look like monsters. Trouble is the importation - maybe it's doable though.) And they're none of them cheap in the first place - even the UK ones.

Measuring tape out and do a cardboard mockup for placement and sizing I reckon.

[cozietoesie]

eBay have extra large litter trays. I was looking on eBay US for examples and they're a doddle to import from - if expensive on the shipping as you would expect. You could always have a look there before you get the measuring tape out.

[Bogburglar99]

Americans also have super sized cats??

Thanks very much for the tip. Will have a look on eBay. Zooplus seem to have a few which are reviewed as being suitable for Maine Coons, as well, and he isn't quite as big as one of those!

Id actually prefer a hooded tray, just not at the expense of his rear end being unable to clear the necessary!

(When I were a lass we had proper ex farm cats what went outside and buried it afterwards ... grumble ... bloody pedigree mog doesn't know he's born ...)

[cozietoesie]

I don't know - maybe it's that Americans seem to go more with trays - they have much stricter animal control laws in many states - so have a greater range?

Worth a look anyway if you can't find anything to suit in the UK. (I'm sure you can find a way to import via most US websites by the way, it's just that eBay has it all set up so I tend to use that site more to buy in the States. Not exclusively though. )

[SuburbanRhonda]

Is there any reason he can't go outside, OP?

I've had cats for 50 years and have never had one who's used a tray beyond kittenhood. Current cats have a patch in the garden which I clear regularly. It's only since I've been on MN that I've realised not having a litter tray is seen as a bit weird.

And before anyone piles on about my cats doing their business in other peoples gardens, if anything, our patch has become a bit of a community facility

[cozietoesie]

I'm just used to cats who prefer inside facilities even if they go outside, I guess. (And that includes The Lodger who moved in with us after raising himself mainly on the streets and actually came to prefer an inside tray.)

Doesn't bother me. I'm happy enough to clean a tray and I wouldn't like to pee behind a bush in driving rain either!

[Bogburglar99]

No, he can and does go outside. Breed evolved in the Siberian forests so I reckon he can stand a little UK weather although he is hiding indoors from a millimetre of snow today

He just doesn't yet seem to have thought of outside as a toileting option!

[cozietoesie]

And I for one don't blame him. That's just me though and - as I've said - following a succession of outside going cats who used to come inside for toileting. (And then go back out to play again. )

[SuburbanRhonda]

cozie

I think it's the smell that swings it for me

But I realise I'm in the minority.

[Bogburglar99]

I'm with you there Rhonda, hence the preference for a hooded tray

Given his apparent strength of both character and sphincter though, I wouldn't fancy my chances with getting him to go outside unless he decides he wants to!

[SuburbanRhonda]

Does a hood completely mask the smell then? Might get one for DH to wear

[Bogburglar99]

Not entirely but it certainly helps - and I do find it more visually acceptable as well! (presumably not a consideration with your DH)