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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

Cat is driving me beserk

22 replies

LanguidLobster · 27/05/2018 21:18

I'm really not sure what to do about this. She started going a bit funny a fortnight ago when I was out for the day. Then a week ago she stopped using her litter tray (she'd contracted some fleas on a brief supervised excursion outside).

Trouble is our flat is on the market and I can't have her jeopardise our living space by pooing everywhere. She's already done in my armchair, my desk and a box. I'm trying to keep on top of it but given that I'll have a lot more floor space as from Tuesday when a friend is coming round to help clear I can't tackle the floor properly. If the new owner thinks we're bad tenants we'll be out.

I could set up her litter tray on the dining room table but that would be insane!

Her litter tray is on ground level and she's refusing to use it

OP posts:
Screaminginsideme · 27/05/2018 21:23

Get a couple more litter trays and try different litter.

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 27/05/2018 21:57

**berserk even.

I mean she won't use anything on ground level as she's frightened of fleas. So she will not touch her litter tray. It's driving me demented.

OP posts:
Screaminginsideme · 27/05/2018 23:14

Have you used frontline to get ride of the fleas?

It maybe worth getting the house spray and doing the floors and furniture etc with that.

Get ride of the flea concern and it might be better.
Our have a litter box in the bathroom- hard floors are harder for fleas to survive on

Wolfiefan · 27/05/2018 23:16

Don't use frontline. It's useless.
How on earth can you know she's scared of the fleas?
Indorex the house and advocate the cat.
More than one litter tray.
Vet check.

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 27/05/2018 23:22

I have dosed her with frontline and am attempting to tackle the floors but I can't properly until Tuesday when most of the stuff gets moved out of our flat and I pick up this Indorex (sp?) stuff so can thoroughly do the floors.

I really feel for her and understand that she's not being 'naughty', she just hates being on the floor so is refusing to use litter tray, but it's so frustrating. I wash the floor each day and leave out several bowls of water for them to jump into and drown

OP posts:
Original poster
LanguidLobster · 27/05/2018 23:24

Wolfie she does seem really frightened of the floor though? It's only been about the past week since she got them.

I can't do anything about frontline though as it's in her system for another few weeks

OP posts:
chicken75 · 27/05/2018 23:25

I would definitely at her checked over at the vets. I seriously doubt it's to do with fleas tbh. Is she spayed op?

gamerchick · 27/05/2018 23:25

Frontline sucks. It's frustrating that people still use it.

Take her to the vets for a check up. Get some advocate while you're there and go from there.

The5000 · 27/05/2018 23:26

She needs effective flea treatment. The effects of flea bites and flea shit are probably driving her nuts. Hence her behaviour.

Vet-prescribed treatment like Advocate would be a start, plus a de-stresser.

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 27/05/2018 23:28

Yes she's spayed - oh god you're all worrying me now.

She hasn't had fleas in a few years but she's developed a fear of the floor so I was certain it was that.

Thanks to people who gave advice anyway.

OP posts:
gamerchick · 27/05/2018 23:30

Do you have the hormone thingy plugged into a wall to calm her? Sorry mind gone blank to the name

PastBananas · 27/05/2018 23:33

gamerchick - Feliway.

GardenGeek · 27/05/2018 23:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

yamadori · 27/05/2018 23:36

OP you need to get her checked out at the vets. She might be scared of the litter tray because she's in pain when she goes to the toilet and is associating the pain with the tray.

The flea treatment you are using is no longer very effective, fleas are becoming resistant to it. You need a different one from the vets.

GardenGeek · 27/05/2018 23:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

myusernameisnotmyusername · 27/05/2018 23:37

I've been told by a friend working at a vets that feliway is good for calming cats down. My cat got fleas once when I got behind with her treatments. I used indorex which got rid of them straightaway and the cat really needs treating regularly.

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 27/05/2018 23:38

I think it's going to have to be feliway, Tuesday I can tackle this ruthlessly when I get hold of Indorex and have more floor space to attack. I really can't overload her tiny system with other flea treatments as she's had frontline.

Fleas are so horrible, I flinch when I feel one bite me so can't imagine what it's like for her.

Thank you for listening to my whining anyway :)

OP posts:
ZeroFuchsGiven · 27/05/2018 23:48

I'm confused by this, your house is infested after 2 weeks? I don't think this is a flea problem tbh, it sounds like she is in pain whilst peeing or pooing and that's why she's scared of the litter tray. I would take her to the vets.

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 27/05/2018 23:58

It's only been about a week, she's an indoors cat now but I try to take her outside for a stroll now and then. I'm confused too!

She can poo OK it's just that she's using the desk/boxes/anything elevated and won't go near the floor.

I am lacking in ingenuity today but may be able to think of some idea to have the litter tray at a higher level

OP posts:
ZeroFuchsGiven · 28/05/2018 01:54

Please take her to the vet, this is not about the height of the litter tray.

Original poster
LanguidLobster · 28/05/2018 02:04

Oh - oh dear. I'll call them tomorrow.

OP posts:
chicken75 · 29/05/2018 10:20

Hope she's ok. Let us know how you get on.

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