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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 bath as a litter tray

11 replies

Judydreamsofhorses · 08/08/2017 12:49

Hello, this is my first post in this section, and I'm hoping for a bit of advice, please.

We adopted a three-year-old female cat last month. She had previously been an indoor cat with limited access to the garden (outside with her family, but never allowed to roam around the neighbourhood) and has settled in here very well. For the first few weeks she used her litter tray or our garden fine, then one day suddenly did a wee in the bath. We got a second litter tray and put it in there - in her previous home her tray and food were in a small downstairs loo - but she still persists in weeing in the bath. Yesterday she did a poo too.

I realise this is better than using other parts of the house, but any tips? We were given her litter tray and litter by her previous owners, so have continued with the same brand and she has her familiar tray. I'm reluctant to keep the door closed in case she suddenly decides to go elsewhere. She's in good health, very affectionate, playful, and seems completely at ease here, but I wonder if we should take her to the vet to get checked in case there's a UTI or something?

OP posts:

MoosicalDaisy · 09/08/2017 12:40

This is what my kitty has recently done. For her it was cystitis (possibly stress related). £114 visit to the vet and medication. I think there are treatments you can buy online. Expect it to flare up again at some point. Check out 'Feliway Cystease'.

Original poster

Judydreamsofhorses · 09/08/2017 17:55

moosical thanks for your reply. I actually don't think she has a UTI, this morning she went in there and did a poo, no wee, she just seems to like it. I put water in the bath after that, and later heard a yowl then she came bounding out. She's out in the garden just now and did a wee in "her" spot. She's not been used to a cat flap, and we don't have one here, so having her only going in the garden's not really an option once I go back to work - I teach so have been off since we got her. I've moved her kitchen litter tray to a different place, I wonder if it was too near her food, so we will see.

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thecatneuterer · 09/08/2017 18:32

I've had this with a number of different cats over the years. I have one who will do it now given half a chance. I have no idea why. I haven't found a way to stop it apart from keeping them out of the bathroom.

Original poster

Judydreamsofhorses · 09/08/2017 20:44

catneuterer that's reassuring, thank you for replying. I genuinely don't think she's ill, and that she just likes going there. She only tends to go once a day - we were told this by her previous owners - and that hasn't changed which I suspect it would if she had cystitis.

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user1468353179 · 09/08/2017 20:53

My cats go in the shower cubicle even when they have a clean tray. I just pick it up and spray the floor.

NeedIngAdvicePlease · 09/08/2017 21:02

My cat does this, I have started leaving her food bowl in the bath. Seems to not do it as long as the bowl as there.

I am hoping a few weeks if this will break the association.

Original poster

Judydreamsofhorses · 09/08/2017 23:08

Thanks for your replies - I don't think the bath has ever been so clean! I would put the litter tray in the bath but I know one of us will blunder in and switch the shower on at 6.30am, so the aim is to stop her going in there. She was having a good poke about earlier but obviously remembered about the water and thought better of hopping in. I'm really reassured that it's relatively normal though.

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MoosicalDaisy · 11/08/2017 16:02

Nothing too much to worry about then :) Maybe try and invest in a cat flap if it's suitable!

Original poster

Judydreamsofhorses · 11/08/2017 21:43

So, to update on this, madam has been in and out of the garden and happily going to the toilet out there. No litter tray use at all this week (bath, then outside) which does worry me.

moosical this is a rented property so I don't think we could get a cat flap. We do have a utility room between the kitchen and garden so I suppose we could keep the kitchen door shut and the back door open when it gets colder (she is VERY vocal so we would know if she wanted in!) but I really would like her to start using the litter tray again.

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Shriek · 22/08/2017 13:10

i had one that always preferred outside and never used the inside tray, but put him in a smaller room with it from time to time with all his creature comforts and familiar items and he did. They have preferences and its working a way around them that breaks down their resolve to resist change!

Mountainviewloo · 22/08/2017 13:15

Take her to get her checked out for sure.

However one of my cats is literally obsessed with pissing on the bath mat. There's nothing wrong with her, she just likes it. I caught her sniffing around it this morning and removed it, at which point she sulkily used the litter.

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