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The litter tray

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Original poster

Litter tray problem

11 replies

Worried74 · 21/12/2019 05:02

Hello, I have owned cats for over 18 years and I thought I was pretty clued up on behavioural issues but I need some advice please. We have 5 cats, all get on pretty well. Over the last couple of weeks someone has been pooing around the upstairs litter tray not in it. We have recently had a marauding cat that managed to tailgate in through microchipped catflap who terrorised everyone. We also have a cat that likes to sneak up on the others and I wondered if this has made one of the insecure when toileting?
We have recently changed litter from Sainsbury's ultra clumping to Catsan Natural but my hands are tied by the fact our usual litter hasn't been in stock for 6 weeks.
Marauding cat also sits in our garden day in and day out stopping our rather daft lot going out like they used to so there is some pent up energy we are trying to drain by playing.
Any advice gratefully received re litter tray issues or how to get rid of the aggressive cat, we have tried everything and it runs when it sees us but won't be put off.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 21/12/2019 07:26

I would try a different ultra clumping litter. Is that the fine sandy type? Pets at home have the same sort of litter

dementedpixie · 21/12/2019 07:27

Have you tried spraying other cat with water?

Original poster
Worried74 · 21/12/2019 09:20

The new litter is very fine so I didn't think it would be an issue. Tried everything I can think of with the cat outside. Worryingly though I went downstairs to sort out the tortoise to find that someone had taken a shit in the lining of the sofa....at my wit's end!! We have 5 trays located around the house!!

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 21/12/2019 09:22

Its will feel different underfoot though. Did you phase the new litter in by mixing with the old one? That's the way I brought in different litters.

dementedpixie · 21/12/2019 09:23

Do you not know the culprit? Might need to set up cameras to see if it's one cat or multiple ones pooing outside the litter tray

Original poster
Worried74 · 21/12/2019 12:29

It's not easy knowing which one (my fault, it's a slight addiction 😁). No way to phase in new litter as our normal brand just disappeared from the shelves, we were told it would be restocked but it's not come back in. Never had anything like this before.

OP posts:
DrunkSanta · 21/12/2019 12:32

try bigger litter trays. Sometimes as cat's age they struggle turning around in smaller trays. With 5 cats you should have at least 6 trays so it would be worth adding another one.

dementedpixie · 21/12/2019 12:58

No point in having more trays if they don't like the litter. I'd maybe try a different ultra clumping litter in 1 or 2 of the trays. Zooplus has lots online or try pets at home

Original poster
Worried74 · 21/12/2019 13:34

New litter bought. We have very large climb in litter boxes and it most definitely isn't our old girl and she is always with us when these incidents seem to happen. Yes appreciate 6 trays is optimum but having had 6 1 was never used so we took it away. DH is now in the shed looking for it and swearing!! Thank you for your help

OP posts:
RetreatingWeasels · 21/12/2019 14:47

There is something going on with litter. DH works in a supermarket and says they've hardly had any in at all, and the shops near us haven't had our usual litter for ages. Pets at Home had a couple of clumping litters still in stock and ours prefer those, although we have also had some "next to, not in" deposits in the last couple of weeks.

dementedpixie · 21/12/2019 14:59

I'm sure there was a post about costco and a lack of their clumping litter too

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