New rescue cat wont poo in litter tray

[HilaryBriss]

We've had a rescue cat for just over a week now and he had settled in just fine except that he won't poo in his litter tray. He will wee in it, no problem, but poos right next to it but not in it.

Its kept clean, we've changed the type of litter, we've bought a bigger litter tray, he has two trays (although he hasn't really explored where the 2nd one is). Any ideas?

And I know the rules, here's a pic of the little monkey

Relocate the second tray to where he is pooing? I know the advice is to keep the two trays in totally different locations but it seems he’s quite keen to poo where he wees!

Yeah I could give that a go, anything is worth a try at the moment!

Is yours a covered or open tray? Do you know if he's squatting in the tray but pooing outside it or is he squatting next to it?

I have to put puppy pads around the (huge) tray as my old cat is rubbish at aiming poos.

@HardAsSnails
He’s been there a week I’d really hope he’s not being let out, recommended to keep them in for 6wks in a new home.

JK maybe re-read my post as I think you've mis-read.

It's an open tray and no, hes not squatting in it and missing, just deliberately going right next to it.

Luckily we have a supply of puppy training pads (thanks to previous elderly cat with a bad leg who couldn't pee straight ) so at least my carpet is staying clean.

And no, he isn't going out for at least another 3 weeks when he gets his 2nd lot of vaccinations.

If he's previously used to going out, bring some soil from the garden and put it in the litter tray. I've known this to work with cats who are not used to a litter tray and need some extra encouragement to use it. You can also put some his poo in the litter tray for the same effect.

Do you know if the litter you're using is the same type the rescue was using?

Other than that, sorry about the TMI question but is the consistency of the poo healthy? Sometimes litter tray avoidance is the consequence of pain when pooing and associating the pain with the tray.

He is gorgeous!

We've got separate trays for ours. They prefer one for wees and one for poos.