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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

Can't cope with cat any more - what can we do?

131 replies

nostaples · 28/12/2017 20:49

Hi, we adopted a cat a few years ago. She was a stray kitten and we took her on after nobody claimed her following posters etc. She wasn't chipped. We've had her neutered. All well and then a couple of years ago she stopped toileting outside so we have a litter tray. Not great but could put up with that. Now she has stopped using her litter tray and craps all over the bathroom floor. Have tried everything - changing tray more regularly etc but there is a limit as we both work full time long hours. If we give her up what can we do? Do we have to have her put down or will an animal shelter take her on? Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
Shmithecat · 28/12/2017 21:30

Toiletting issues are usually a sign that there's something wrong. Have you taken the cat to the vet?

Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 21:31

Yes have tried different litter, vet, food.

Yes, obviously I am clearly a very uncaring and irresponsible cat owner, the most obvious sign of which is why I'm on here looking for some sort of solution and support. This is after cleaning up 5 shits in a row on my dd's birthday which has been pretty much the case for weeks now.

OP posts:
Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 21:32

The cat DOES go outside. What's wrong with you people?

OP posts:
Goodgirl7 · 28/12/2017 21:33

“this was originally a stray that we have taken on and looked after for years even though we didn't really want a pet”

Are you effing kidding me?? You think you deserve credit for taking on an animal you never really wanted? Wow. Angry

IntoTheFloodAgain · 28/12/2017 21:34

Is that 5 shits in a day? I don’t think thats normal for any of the cats I know of (but it could be).
Are they normal poos or loose?
What did the vets say?

oldbirdy · 28/12/2017 21:34

Our cat will only wee in wooden litter and only poo in clay litter. She has two separate trays and as she often misses, it is in a wipe clean tablecloth. I put the trays on a spot of carpet where she kept peeing, rather than where I would have chosen (it's a quiet corner). She hates having a lid too. I have found if she goes outside first thing, she tends to wee outside.
Good luck, I know how desperate we have been clearing up pee constantly .

Crispbutty · 28/12/2017 21:35

Leave the cat outside when you are at work. Then you won’t come home to any mess.

Appleandcinnamon · 28/12/2017 21:35

If the cat is outside how is it Shitting in your bathroom? Does it have a sling shot?

What did the vet say?

Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 21:35

Oh dear there's clearly no winning here. The cat has been loved and looked after by the family for years. Perhaps we should have just left her in the street?

OP posts:
Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 21:37

Look if you don't want to offer advice for the benefit of the cat why the hell are you here calling me uncaring?

The cat has a catflap. She goes in and out as she chooses. She will not shit outside. She shits all over the floor instead.

Cat suggests change of litter and food. Not solved the problem.

OP posts:
MycatsaPirate · 28/12/2017 21:37

What did the vet say?

Cats normally start toileting where they shouldn't when there is a problem.

This can be a health problem or an anxiety problem. Have there been any major changes in your household? Is the cat on it's own for a very long time every day? Does the cat have places to go for peace and quiet and feeling safe?

It would be down to another cat in it's territory meaning it's scared to use the cat flap and is panicking about the intrusion into it's area. The toileting on the floor is a sign of stress.

HardAsSnails · 28/12/2017 21:38

So what are you feeding at the moment? That many poos a day suggests a crap diet with too much grain.

IntoTheFloodAgain · 28/12/2017 21:38

Have you taken the cat back to vet after their initial advice hasn’t worked?

allglitteredout · 28/12/2017 21:38

We leave our cat outside when we are at work to prevent coming home to a mess. Then she’s in for tea and we can keep an eye on her. Maybe try that, but a trip to the vets for a check up would be a good idea.

Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 21:39

Thanks, old, that's good advice.

We've tried leaving her outside during the day but as soon as she comes back in she goes back to crapping on the floor.

OP posts:
rupertpenryswife · 28/12/2017 21:39

Wow people are so harsh, the op came on for some genuine advice from fellow cat owners, MN can be so weird!!

op sounds like you have tried a variety of approaches, I think you need to speak to your vet. Hope you get a resolution.

ocelot41 · 28/12/2017 21:41

Hiya, I can hear how stressed this is making you. It must be very difficult and unpleasant to have to keep dealing with constant cat poo in top of jobs, kids and the neverending stream of work that is a house.

At the same time, this could be something simple and easy to fix. What does your vet say?? Sometimes cats start avoiding their tray if they have cystitis or another kind of pain (like arthritis) which means the tray is hard to access. My DCat will certainly hold it in if she possibly can, if one litter tray has been weed in. So now we have two. Both have a good quality wood litter in that doesn't smell. We have also removed the covers as they seemed to be putting her off.

This situation is clearly not sustainable for you. At the same time, a cat with toileting issues is unlikely to be rehomed easily. So I do hope you find a resolution soon!

BluebellTheDonkey · 28/12/2017 21:41

Is it just the bathroom floor? Would it help to put those absorbent bed sheets down on the floor? Not ideal but at least you could just pick up and bin.

CalmingBalm · 28/12/2017 21:42

Maybe try catnip if she may be anxious?

Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 21:43

Thanks rupert. Do rather think it's bizarre to assume I don't care when I am on here looking for any solution, desperate to avoid giving up on our poor cat. If I didn't care I wouldn't bother asking would I?

OP posts:
Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 21:44

Vet made all the suggestions you folks have. Can't find anything wrong. Nothing seems to work. It is a very stressful situation all round.

OP posts:
CloudPerson · 28/12/2017 21:44

What are you cleaning the floor with?
Apparently some cleaners leave a smell that encourage cats to keep toileting there.
I've read that cleaning with a paste of biological washing powder can help, but there might be something more convenient to try.

Devilishpyjamas · 28/12/2017 21:44

Do you have just the one cat? Other animals?

My cat is crapped everywhere when her sister was stressing her out (sister more dominant). We tried multiple litter trays etc. She has been fine since her sister died!

BluebellTheDonkey · 28/12/2017 21:45

If you scroll down this page there is advice about litter tray aversion. I was having a look earlier as my grl cat has started doing the occasional wee on the doormat.
www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=633

EmmaC78 · 28/12/2017 21:45

Is there a way to restrict her to certain rooms of the house while you are out? What roomdoes the door with the cat flap lead in to?