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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

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Original poster

Cat using the bath

17 replies

TheWinterOne · 26/09/2013 09:19

I have two litter trays - one for upstairs and one for down. The upstairs one I keep by the bathroom. Last week I'd noticed male had done his business in the bath. I didn't really say much as I noticed the tray wasn't in the usual place (I think one of the kids moved it).

But yesterday I'd noticed he'd gone in the bath again and his nice fresh tray was where it was supposed to be. I know it was male too as girl was outside.

Anyone else had this issue? I've taken to completely keeping the bathroom out of bounds. Something he's quite annoyed with as for some reason he enjoyed sitting on the sink.

OP posts:

DameDeepRedBetty · 26/09/2013 09:24

We've had a cat who routinely used the shower tray in the downstairs bathroom. The upside was at least it was easy to clean, and in the end we left her to it. She only used it for wee btw.

Current BettyCat much prefers running water to still, and will ask to be let into bathrooms then waits expectantly in the basin for you to turn a tap on for her...

Original poster

TheWinterOne · 26/09/2013 09:31

I did read somewhere that cats find a bath like a huge litter tray and it's quite common but I've no idea if there's any truth in it.

It's only happened the twice though thankfully!

OP posts:

catameringue · 26/09/2013 19:35

Mine sit in the bath or sink to request running water.

Once a cat does a poo somewhere there is a risk they will view that place as a toilet. I'd suggest putting something in the bath like bicarb of soda to ensure there is no whiff left the cat is picking up on, or use lemon juice as they gate acidity. Shutting it out of there for a while is a good idea.

basildonbond · 26/09/2013 19:43

Our old cat would always poo in the bath if we went away for the weekend (with someone coming into feed cats of course) - it was her way of showing disapproval but because she was completely non-confrontational this was as destructive as she ever got!

RussianBlu · 26/09/2013 22:21

I keep the litter tray in the bath, very easy to clean up.

Original poster

TheWinterOne · 27/09/2013 10:00

He's in a right strop with me. He's been sitting by the bathroom door with his back turned and last night he refused to come in. He was quite happy to sleep on the porch.

OP posts:

cozietoesie · 27/09/2013 10:14

Hang tough. Never give in to a strop.

cozietoesie · 27/09/2013 10:16

In fact, I'd contemplate cooking some roast chicken tonight or tomorrow. That should teach him that ornery doesn't succeed.

Original poster

TheWinterOne · 27/09/2013 10:22

Good idea Cozie. I'm normally such a push-over with both but have no idea why he's taken to the bath. He's out most of the time during the day too so mostly does his business outside rather than in the tray anyway. Strange...unless I've unintentionally upset him somehow without realising and that's his response.

OP posts:

CupOCoffee · 27/09/2013 10:22

One of mine does that. Sometimes it's when she has a wee infection (because the surface is cold and soothing) but others I think it's just habit.

cozietoesie · 27/09/2013 10:24

Well if you've done something wrong then you shouldn't ignore a strop - otherwise, Heck. You can't be under the paw all your life!

Persuasion · 27/09/2013 10:26

You could try keeping an inch of water in the bath when you're not using it (if dcs are old enough for it to be safe), worked for us when our boy started using the bath. Otherwise put the litter tray in the bath?

VenusDeWillendorf · 27/09/2013 10:31

Maybe there's another cat around, cramping his stylee outside?

If you want him to stop peeing in the bath, you could put the plug in and leave a few inches of water in it. And put a few drops of a citrus based essential oil in it. Lemon, grapefruit, bergamot.

But, I'd put his litter tray in the bath: when she was little, my kitty peed in the shower tray if she was unconvinced about her bathroom litter tray. We moved her tray to the shower and she was very happy to go there, as it's more concealed.

They are fussy, but as small predators, they crave security when in the indefensible position of going to the loo, so their fussiness makes sense. They need to feel safe, and unobserved.

VenusDeWillendorf · 27/09/2013 10:31

X post persuasion!

PipkinsPal · 27/09/2013 10:36

One of my cats loves to have a bowl of water in the bath. He has a special meow when he wants a drink. I indulge him because he has been diagnosed with crystals in his bladder the more he drinks the better. I did have poo in the shower tray once but that was because the emergency in the night only tray was not available to him.

cozietoesie · 27/09/2013 10:37

That latter doesn't count then.

MummyPig24 · 27/09/2013 13:17

Our cat did this twice in our old house. Poos too the little bugger. I never worked out why he did it but he didn't do it again. Cats are odd creatures.

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