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

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The litter tray

Is my cat an idiot, or is there something not right?

20 replies

ClaraOswald · 06/10/2013 08:47

Last night my girlcat must have slept in the litter tray. She remained sitting in it while I used the loo (it's in the downstairs toilet).

She is a housecat, and her twin brother is as well. They are fairly close and there doesn't seem to be any change in their relationship. They are 10 years old.

Is she just being stupid or territorial? She got out without protesting when encouraged.

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Lonecatwithkitten · 06/10/2013 08:48

Often cats sit in litter trays when they feel insecure (it's really common in the vets). Has anything changed at home? Offering a cardboard box close by may give her an alternative.

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ClaraOswald · 06/10/2013 08:52

No, nothing has changed.

Except my dh had a few days off work without me being off as well.

She absolutely adores him though- sits in the chair next to his in the evenings, begs him for crisps, licks leftover puddings.

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Lonecatwithkitten · 06/10/2013 09:23

And now he has gone back to work removing her source of adoring attention?
I would plonk box (cat trap) in a really inconvenient position in the middle of the floor and you will probably persuade her to move.

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ClaraOswald · 06/10/2013 09:25

:)

We leave her own personal cat traps around the floor- carrier bags. So you think she will get over herself shortly?

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cozietoesie · 06/10/2013 09:41

I'd leave it a bit longer to judge whether she's having a momentary attack of prima-donnaness or whether there's something up. I'm guessing that the litter tray was clean and unused when she sat in it? Just keep her out of of it of she shows signs of wanting to sit there, using (food) distraction if you can.

Out of interest - is it getting cold with you? I'm wondering whether the litter tray was in a cosy place and nice and warm/comforting.

Do the two of them just have the one tray? A second would be a good idea as a pre-emptive strike on your part.

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ClaraOswald · 06/10/2013 09:48

They do sometimes share the tray, so that's why I'm a bit weirded out by it.

It might be a safety thing- her brother does love to groom her and she loathes it.

She will hate me later- she does smell a bit of wee , so a bath for her.

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cozietoesie · 06/10/2013 10:05

Two cats really need two trays so I'd invest in a second if I were you. (They're pretty cheap and a second is always useful in any case in the event of changing them.)

Is a bath really necessary? (They do hate them so.) I think there are wipes you can use - and another poster might have a reference or you could search on the net.

Smelling of pee is a bit unusual and might have contributed to her sitting there I guess. (If she can't any longer smell the difference between the tray and herself.) How is her grooming routine generally?

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Lonecatwithkitten · 06/10/2013 11:19

In a very rare occasion cozie I' m going to disagree with you two cats need three trays one each and a spare is the rule of thumb.

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cozietoesie · 06/10/2013 11:30

In theory, absolutely. (Seniorboy has two all to himself and actually uses both - as the mood takes him.) I'm just thinking practicalities here. I suppose I would say 'at least' two trays.

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ClaraOswald · 06/10/2013 12:23

She's a very fastidious cat. Doesn't over groom, but likes her fur "just so".

I will see if the pee smell goes over the day. She is fairly calm when I bath her, both of them are. She will need her de-fleaing done as well this evening. I can't see any fleas on her, but it could be that combined with DH having the time off on his own.

I don't have anywhere else for a second tray, and they have been great with just the one it's huge, about the size of an armchair seat- they've never known any different.

Thank you all for your input- glad it doesn't seem like she's going senile.

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Rockinhippy · 06/10/2013 12:36

This is a long shot, as its apparently very rare not that I would have guessed that having inadvertently taken on two cats like this but are there any signs that she may have had a fit ?? Has she been a little bit jumpy & maybe clingy in the last week or so ??

I ask as I've had 2 epileptic cats over the years - it can come on suddenly - did with both of mine - though unless its frequent or other symptoms, no treatment needed & they can live healthily to a ripe old age - my old Polly started at 2, i think had a few years without fits between 5 & 9 & then it started again more frequently when she got older - she still live till gone 20 though & bar her last few weeks was a strong healthy, young looking girl.

We adopted a rescue cat - not epileptic - she started a year after we adopted her

Both of them freaked a bit with the early fits - they smelt of wee as they lose control of their bladder - but due to the fit tend to spray it, do unlikely to find a puddle - just a wet freaked cat if you catch it just afterwards

Both of mine took to sitting in the litter tray after a fit.

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cozietoesie · 06/10/2013 12:39

Have a think about it, Clara, before dismissing it out of hand. Squeezing in another one at least would be very good for them. (They may have got on all right so far but cats can sometimes get tetchy as they get older and suddenly decide to 'take against' something another one is doing. Not saying that that will happen to either of your two but a pre-emptive extra litter tray strike on your part might be no bad thing.)

Good luck with her in any case.

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cozietoesie · 06/10/2013 12:40

Interesting, Rockin.

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Rockinhippy · 06/10/2013 12:43

Forgot to add - as you probably know they are prone to thyroid trouble when older & I found this aggravated the epilepsy

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ClaraOswald · 06/10/2013 12:51

She's always been jumpy but the past two/three years has become very affectionate. I currently have her sitting on my legs and her brother is next to the laptop on my arm.

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yegodsandlittlefishes · 06/10/2013 12:52

Is the litter tray positioned over hot water pipes? We have always found cats determimwd to sit in the most inconvenient places at this time of the year, waiting for the heating to come on or dor someone to turn on a hot water tap!

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ClaraOswald · 06/10/2013 12:54

I thought she had a seizure just before we changed their flea treatment. We had been using frontline and changed to advantage. Will have a word with the vet at some point this week.

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ClaraOswald · 06/10/2013 12:54

No, it's next to the loo, beneath the sink. very private for them.

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ClaraOswald · 06/10/2013 14:52

I think I've worked out what was wrong. We got back after going to my in laws for lunch and there was a huge hairball in the kitchen.

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yegodsandlittlefishes · 07/10/2013 07:53

Oh! She must have been feeling horrible. Glad she's got it out of her system.

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