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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:
HardAsSnails · 28/12/2017 21:55

You need more than one tray, try one lidded and one open tray, perhaps.

BeauxHeaux · 28/12/2017 21:56

Im sure you've considered this, but could it be an intruder cat entering via cat flap and shitting on floor to mark territory? I only mention as this happened to an aunt of mine. Aunt has since replaced cat flap with one of those microchip flaps.

mrsrhodgilbert · 28/12/2017 21:56

I've also heard that bleach can encourage them to return to the same place. It is too cold to be leaving it out for hours at the moment so I'm also going to suggest speaking to the vet again.

RavenLG · 28/12/2017 21:56

Apart from the people being deliberately provoking people are trying to help by suggesting what they think will work! How is you getting shitty and saying things like “You perhaps missed the bit where I said we’ve tried everything” isn’t going to achieve anything but hostility. Give the cat to a rescue since it’s clear that is your only option, no one is going to make you feel less guilty for it though.

Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 22:03

Thanks Raven that was addressed to Insert who said, 'People are getting cross with you because your first post said "my cat poos everywhere. I want to get rid"'

That is actually in no way what I said in my OP.

If you're not here to help what are you doing here actually?

Thanks to those of you who are offering advice. I either have tried everything you've suggested or will do, if not. Didn't know about the bleach thing so will stop using that.

One thing that worries me is the proximity of the ground floor bath room where the cat is shitting to the kitchen. Really concerned about hygiene and health of my children which is another reason why we're so desperate. Hence the bleach but will stop that if it's going to exacerbate the rpoblem.

OP posts:
Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 22:05

Definitely no intruder cats though there are cats in the neighbourhood which I think is why cat stopped shitting outside several years ago in the first place.

OP posts:
Ski37 · 28/12/2017 22:05

OP this sounds really difficult and you have my sympathy. The only thing I have to add is that bleach contains ammonia ( as does cat urine) so it can actually trigger cats to urinate in places that smell strongly of bleach in order to mark their scent in that area. Could it be that she is trying to put her scent in the areas that you’ve bleached ? Hope things settle down soon.

SparklyMagpie · 28/12/2017 22:06

Agree with RavenLG and five the cat to a rescue instead of getting the poor thing put to sleep

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 28/12/2017 22:06

What food are you feeding her? When we first got our cat we made the mistake of feeding him Felix. Although he went in the tray the smell was appalling! We changed his food and thankfully everything went back to normal.

We keep the litter tray in the bathroom and we have it on puppy training pads (aka pussy cat incontinence pads in this house!) as he goes very close to the edge. If he misses it’s easy to take it up and put down a fresh one.

The other thing we’ve found it he prefers a large deep tray with quite a lot of Catsan in it.

Good luck

Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 22:07

It's interesting though that she is still using the litter tray for wee not poo. What do you think that means?

OP posts:
Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 22:08

Cat is eating same food she always has. We have tried changing brands but no good.

OP posts:
Thirdshepherdfromtheleft · 28/12/2017 22:08

Oh op you have my sympathy, I wouldn't dare post on here as cat loving mumsnetters are passionate to say the least. I'm in the same boat as you as I took in a stray who now toilets all over the house. It's tough isn't it? Definitely agree with getting checked at the vet, it's increasing which may indicate a problem. Could you put a litter tray and some puppy training pads down in the bathroom whilst you are out? It clearly sees the bathroom as a toilet area and once they identify a toilet area it's a hard habit to break. Good luck with whatever you decide to do Thanks

Original poster
nostaples · 28/12/2017 22:09

OK, thanks all. Will try some more of your suggestions and see what happens.

OP posts:
Devilishpyjamas · 28/12/2017 22:10

We had a previous cat that peed everywhere in the house after our next door neighbour decked their garden.

Cats do get easily spooked ime

TheSecondOfHerName · 28/12/2017 22:10

QuitMoaning

If an elderly, previously house-trained cat starts going next to the tray and the vet has ruled out a medical issue, it could be because:

  • the cat has become too creaky to manage to get in and out of that type of litter tray
  • the cat's paws have become sensitive and it can no longer cope with standing on that type of litter
ocelot41 · 28/12/2017 22:11

What's the location of her current litter tray OP? If she is nervous about other cats in the area then putting a tray where she can see or be seen by them might be putting her off. Mine won't use it in one bit of our utility room where she can see the glass back door, for instance. She started using that tray again when I moved it round a corner to a more sheltered bit out of sight of the door. I just wondered as you mentioned that she is using the bathroom floor which might be a room with fewer windows?

CuteOrangeElephant · 28/12/2017 22:17

How often do you clean your litter box?

For my cat it has to be done every single night or she starts having accidents!

AaronPurrSir · 28/12/2017 22:17

The only time my very well trained cat has gone to the toilet outside of her litter tray was when our front doorstep had been scrubbed with bleach. She pushed her bum right up to crack under the door and pissed there. She’s otherwise perfectly trained, so there is definitely something about the smell of bleach that triggers something.

RavenLG · 28/12/2017 22:17

If you’re not here to help what are you doing here actually?

I offered my input on what to do, but you failed to see that I suppose. Hopefully something works as your cat is clearly stressed and unhappy.

Insertawittynamehere · 28/12/2017 22:18

And you OP missed my perfectly reasonable questions in my first post so don't get all arsey with people wanting to help.

I'm done.

RavenLG · 28/12/2017 22:19

www.thespruce.com/cat-pooping-outside-box-554017

Hopefully some useful information here for you

Veterinari · 28/12/2017 22:20

op it sounds like your Cat is middening as she’s Using her tray to wee. Does she try and cover up the poo at all?

I suspect as she's only doing it in the bathroom it is middening (a form if territorial marking) and she’s doing it to counteract other territorial scents e.g. human toileting or bleach odours which smell to her like intruder scents.

You need to stop using bleach altogether in the bathroom. Clean using a biological laundry detergent or other enzymatic cleaner. Keep the loo well flushed, and spray the floor and surfaces with delicate spray to normalise the scent profile to ‘calm cat’

Also offer her litter trays in other areas including outside to encourage her to toilet elsewhere.

ItsYuleyme · 28/12/2017 22:21

You say that you rescued her, so probably have no idea of her age. She could be really old and senile. Cats are usually very clean so I'm thinking more along these lines. You say the vet can find no answer and you've tried everything.
Not going to be popular on here OP and I am a true animal lover but I would not put up with a dirty cat in my house.
If it was me, I would have her put to sleep.

Veterinari · 28/12/2017 22:22

Delicate spray = feliway spray

Veterinari · 28/12/2017 22:24

ItsYule you’re clearly clueless about Cat behaviour - strange that this utter lack of knowledge hasn’t stopped you from offering your opinion on ending this animal’s Life though Hmm