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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

We've rehomed a Maine Coon and he's gorgeous in so many ways except for one.

52 replies

Silverstreaks · 24/02/2018 11:32

We rehomed a young adult male (2years 2 months). He was in a house with 7 other cats and was terrorising them. He is obviously unhappy sharing his space with other cats. With us he is a calm, confident beautiful boy and takes our dog in his stride.

The only problem is him crapping on the floor. He wees fine in his litter tray but deposits enormous turds about a foot away from the tray.

I bought him a second tray thinking it would help. It hasn't. I'll post a picture so you can see the current awkward set up.

The trays are both 50cm. He is 6.3kg . Are they too small?

He's a great cat but I'd like to get this glitch sorted quickly so if anyone has experienced the same thing or has any inspired ideas I'd be grateful.

Our last cat was an inside/outside cat so trays were never an issue.

OP posts:
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Shmithecat · 24/02/2018 12:17

1 large tray should be fine (I've got 5 cats and only have 2 trays. We've never had any toilet issues). Is the litter you use the same as he is used to? A hooded tray would be best. My cats tend to walk in and then turn round facing out when they use their trays. This keeps all the deposits up at the enclosed end.

PhelanThePain · 24/02/2018 12:17

I’ve got two because I’ve two cats. In reality my girl cat never uses it, she goes outside but I don’t want to take the risk that she will one day and mr fussy pants will object by pissing on my living room carpet Grin so I keep two tray on the go.

AnnaMagnani · 24/02/2018 12:17

He prob wants wee and poo separate. Our cats seem to set up a poo zone and a wee zone in their trays and they are midgets compared to your gorgeous cat.

We have Modcat trays and would highly recommend them - an end to litter being thrown everywhere, no more accidents with a wee or a poo just falling over the edge and the trays are giant.

He may want one massive wee tray and one massive poo tray.

We got ours from Zooplus I love Zooplus so much I think I should get commission

fusushumi · 24/02/2018 12:19

You can get litter trays with a lid so they are closed in with a flap door. It would be worth trying one of these if you can get one large enough.

Shmithecat · 24/02/2018 12:20

Something like this. I have taken then flap off mine though. My cats weren't too kerm on the flap.

We've rehomed a Maine Coon and he's gorgeous in so many ways except for one.
flugelhorn3 · 24/02/2018 12:20

He's gorgeous! Just a thought - I had a long haired cat and sometimes her poo would get caught on her fluffy bum and sort of follow her out of the litter tray, then I'd find it nearby on the floor. Could that be happening? But yes those trays do look a bit small.

Ollivander84 · 24/02/2018 12:21

I just have one. I did have two but he never used the other one

salmonofwisdom · 24/02/2018 12:21

The are not the most intelligent of cats! You will have to make it very clear what you want him to do ^^

Lordsuggsfailure · 24/02/2018 12:24

Id try for a covered litter tray, Id also consider clumping litter its by far way more superior then regular litter you will pay a premium,you'll find you use very little as opposed to the litter you're using right now.

I had a main coon in a multiple cat household too. My experience with cats and litter is varied,some will wee in the litter tray and poo outside, as a rule I've found when a cat decides to poo outside the litter tray the reasons can be varied. It could be behavior/unhappy or they may have bowel issues. At a start, Id try my suggestions with the covered tray/clumped litter ,some cats like privacy while doing their business.

Zoo plus sell clumped litter at around 9 Pounds per large bag they also have great litter trays you'll note its also delivered too your door.

Lordsuggsfailure · 24/02/2018 12:27

Obviously,not all cats pooing outside the litter tray have issues I mentioned on occasion you'll find cats that simply do what they want.

I agree 100% with the assessment Main Coones are really immature they're incredibly juvenile. They are also fantastic fun. Hope it gets sorted.

Dominithecat · 24/02/2018 12:31

I have one cat, two trays. He likes one for wee, one for poo. Only used in cold weather as the rest of the time he goes outside. The trays are bog standard about £1.50 from supermarkets. No cover of any kind though he does sometimes fling litter around.

loverofcake983 · 24/02/2018 12:33

I have a Maine coon boy and I got him a hooded litter tray with flap tho like
Previous people have said I took the flap off as he was scared of it 🙄 he didn't use it that long as wanted to go out and do his poo's outside. Is he used to litter trays?

EachandEveryone · 24/02/2018 13:01

I second the Modkat as well or an enclosed tray. I’ve got both in separate rooms and they do poo more in one than the other

Original poster
Silverstreaks · 24/02/2018 13:20

Thank you Dusted we are all smitten.

Shmi the litter is the same kind he's used before.

LordSuggs yes, he's incredibly playful, he carries things around like the dog and they chase each other up and down the stairs. He cuddles up to DD in bed and she is over the moon with a cuddly cat.

My plan of action is to get an under bed box to start. See if it's a size issue before I start buying ones with flaps or top entry boxes. In the meantime I'll leave one in the bathroom and put one in the utility. I'll let you know how we get on.

OP posts:
FrostyPopThePenguinLord · 24/02/2018 13:20

We have two gigantic trays for our two gigantic house cats, our male is the same size as yours. They are cleaned morning and night. We had the size smaller and bizarrely it wa our slightly smaller female that kept missing and peeing on the floor next to it.
Pets at home biggest tray they do. Ours hate the confined ones and don't use them but they like the huge huge open ones.

AnnaMagnani · 24/02/2018 14:22

All 3 cats here understood top entry boxes straight away. Boxes with flaps however were a different story - flap has always had to be taped up as nobody understood the flap Hmm

Plus we have had issues about which litter they preferred under their precious feet.

senioritabonita · 24/02/2018 14:24

My DB has 3 Maine coons and I have 2 Siberian's. We both have 2 large covered trays - one for wee, one for poo. Emptied daily.

Toddlerteaplease · 24/02/2018 14:25

I've got a large top entry one that my girls both share. It's cheaper than a modkat. It was about £26 from zooplus. I love it.

Catinthebath · 24/02/2018 14:29

No useful advice here but having a laugh about our furry overlords causing such a kerfuffle 😻

Want2beme · 24/02/2018 14:35

What a lovely puss. It's brilliant that he gets on with your dog.

Penfold007 · 24/02/2018 14:43

Had a similar problem and suddenly realised the tray was too small. A large lidded box with the 'cat flap' removed solved the problem.

IHaveBrilloHair · 24/02/2018 15:19

I have two of the biggest lidded trays and my MC manages, they are such beautiful cats aren't they? but entirely fucking stupid

kevinkeeganlovesme · 24/02/2018 15:29

I've had four coons and all of the fuckers were bad with toileting.

Every other cat I've had have been fine!

The bastards also like to swim around in water and toilet bowls.

PhelanThePain · 24/02/2018 15:42

The bastards also like to swim around in water and toilet bowls.

😂😂😂

IHaveBrilloHair · 24/02/2018 17:16

Oh no, mine is scared of water, and noises, and outside, and me, and Dd and himself and actually most things.
Not really but he is a stupid baby, a gorgeous snuggly one, but still.

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