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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.

Original poster

Kitten keeps pooing behind the TV grrrr - help

30 replies

lottieandmia · 14/12/2016 17:43

She's 16 weeks old. My other cats have never even had one accident. She has her own litter tray which she uses, but sometimes she will just poo by the TV. She keeps getting it all over wires and I've had to throw some away.q

I've tried putting foil down which doesn't work. I've tried shutting her out of the living room. I really don't want her doing this forever!

Any advice would be most appreciated.

OP posts:
LynetteScavo · 14/12/2016 18:16

What is going on when she poops behind the TV? Is she at that point shy to use the litter tray?

I have 10 week old kittens doing the same, but they've had diarrhoea and our living room is some way from the litter tray.

I'm thinking of trying Feliway.

And am marking my place. Smile

Original poster
lottieandmia · 14/12/2016 18:34

Well we have a feliway plug in which I used to get her initiated with the other cats. They seem to be getting on fine EXCEPT that she wants to play all the time and the others are not interested. They are all ragdolls and I've noticed they stop playing once they've reached about 1 year old. Therefore they get annoyed with her when she wants to jump on them in the mornings!

OP posts:
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 14/12/2016 18:37

Can you try some orange peel behind there? They're not supposed to like it.

Wolfiefan · 14/12/2016 18:38

How many litter trays in total?
How have you cleaned the spot? (If she can smell wee then she will go back there.)

LastLeaf · 14/12/2016 18:40

When we had kittens they kept going for a poo behind the TV. No amount of cleaning would deter them. We replaced the carpet and it stopped happening.

Orangebird69 · 14/12/2016 18:45

How many trays do you have? Where are they located? And what type of litter do you use? Cats toileting where they shouldn't is usually a sign something is wrong rather than them just being little buggers.

Original poster
lottieandmia · 14/12/2016 20:08

Oh no :( could she be ill? She's eating fine. We have two trays because my other two cats refuse to use separate ones. I've cleaned and cleaned it, but as you say I think she can still smell it from before.

OP posts:
Original poster
lottieandmia · 14/12/2016 20:09

So what I mean is that there is a separate tray for kitten. She uses that and occasionally the big tray. The big tray has a hood on it. Could that be the problem?

OP posts:
Original poster
lottieandmia · 14/12/2016 20:10

Oh sorry - we use wood chip litter which is what they all had before they came to live with us

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 14/12/2016 20:10

Are the trays she has covered ones?.

Original poster
lottieandmia · 14/12/2016 20:37

No, hers is uncovered. I've just discovered that the feliway was switched off which I didn't realise. Could this be the problem? The other cats get cross with her in the mornings. Although, only cross in a ragdoll way. Never any hissing.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 14/12/2016 20:57

Covered is better, mine uses the bath.

Kittens are annoying, imagine having a two year old badgering you all day but it's not yours. But it's there all day.

Orangebird69 · 15/12/2016 13:17

Only from personal experience but I would try changing the litter first. I've never had a cat that liked it (I've had a LOT of cats). Also try cleaning the trays with bio washing powder..

Wolfiefan · 15/12/2016 13:22

What litter was she on before?
The advice for multiple cat households is one tray per cat and one extra.

iklboo · 15/12/2016 13:26

We put tin foil behind the tv when we moved house and one was upset - they don't like walking on it. Makes us look like conspiracy theorist but jobs but no more poo.

iklboo · 15/12/2016 13:26

*nut jobs

BdumBdummer · 15/12/2016 13:46

One tray per cat plus one is the rule.
Has she got play options when the others aren't interested. Does she like to climb? Or do they? Invest in a couple of towers and or scratch posts. Unless she is poorly, pooing is her way of marking her space and her territory. Maybe if she gets some new space higher up with toys she'll be more chilled. Make sure you make time to play loads with her too.

TimTamTerrier · 15/12/2016 13:48

Perhaps wiping the area with citrus scented Detail wipes would put her off. We used to use them when the dog was a puppy, he didn't like the scent.

TimTamTerrier · 15/12/2016 13:49

Dettol wipes not 'detail' wipes.

BdumBdummer · 15/12/2016 14:26

Careful with dettol or any other disinfectant that you thoroughly dry the area before kitty walks on it. It's poisonous for them if not properly handled.

pinkieandperkie · 15/12/2016 14:30

Yes Dettol is poisonous to cats and dogs.

TimTamTerrier · 15/12/2016 14:50

The wipes dry off nearly instantly, they're only damp rather than wet.

Original poster
lottieandmia · 15/12/2016 17:04

I know they are supposed to have one tray per cat but they all use the same one if I I put out three.

She has lots of toys and a cat tree. The only thing I can think is that she and our boy keep arguing over a sleeping spot on the cat tree so maybe that has something to do with it?

OP posts:
Original poster
lottieandmia · 15/12/2016 17:15

We don't use detol but thanks for the heads up

OP posts:
BdumBdummer · 15/12/2016 17:21

Sounds like the dirty protest is related to the prime spot on the tree. Suggest another tree or some easy to leap on shelves with a prime spot at the top. Google Jackson Galaxy or search on YouTube. Ignore his aromatherapy stuff unless that floats your boat. He makes a lot of sense otherwise.