Litterbox refusal

[HecatesDinosaurs]

We got two kittens in November and one of them has never done a poo in a litter box. There are 6 boxes throughout the house, filled with three different types of litter (wood pellets, paper pellets and world's best). I don't know what else to do...

(Photo from when they where brand new at 10 wks old )

Will your kitten wee in the box?

Yes, just not poo

Some boxes have lids, some don't. I'm not sure what else I can do. I don't tell her off as she's such a shy wee thing and I don't want to frighten her. I have tried to show her where it's meant to go though.

I wonder if he might be being 'caught short' - has he been checked for any intestinal infections? They can have, e.g. girdiasis without it always showing as diarrhoea (assuming the stools are normal looking). I'd get him checked out at the vet.

Another thing to check is guarding behaviour in your other kitten - make sure one of them isn't shooing the other away when he tries to approach the tray.

The only other thing I can suggest is that every time he does a poo in the wrong place, put his litter tray on that exact spot after cleaning. If he seems to prefer a particular type of litter when he wees put that one in all your trays,

Sorry, have x-posted and incorrectly sexed her.

Yes, absolutely right not to tell her off - she won't understand and it will only upset her.

No worries She always goes in the same place under my bed so not getting caught short and I did put a litter tray there. She'll go next to it. They've had a regular vet check but will ask about intestinal infections next time, thanks!

Incidentally, they are both absolutely gorgeous😍

Under the bed suggests she's hiding - how is her relationship with her sibling? In the wild they are vulnerable when they're toileting so it sounds as though there might be a lack of confidence in play. If her sibling is the dominant one it might help to give them some regular separated time.

@ClariceQuiff

Incidentally, they are both absolutely gorgeous😍

They are so cute! makes up for all the trouble they cause 🤣

They get on so well. As they get older they are starting to spend more time apart anyway and it's a big house to spread out. Two litter trays are in a box room which no one usually goes in other than to check litter boxes twice a day. I really appreciate your suggestions though

I do hope you can get to the root of it. At least it's poos she's doing outside the tray rather than wee - wee is such a nightmare to clean up.

Feliway is supposed to help cats feel more at ease so you could try a Feliway plug in in a room she spends a lot of time in. I've used it successfully when integrating a new cat to a resident one; they do seem calmer when it's plugged in.

Is she scared of using the litter tray, perhaps?

@ClariceQuiff

I do hope you can get to the root of it. At least it's poos she's doing outside the tray rather than wee - wee is such a nightmare to clean up.

Feliway is supposed to help cats feel more at ease so you could try a Feliway plug in in a room she spends a lot of time in. I've used it successfully when integrating a new cat to a resident one; they do seem calmer when it's plugged in.

I agree! She used to wee on the floor too but started using the box when we got different types of litter.

I'll try the feliway, fingers crossed she'll get over soon

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

Is she scared of using the litter tray, perhaps?

She uses it for wee, just not for solids

@HecatesDinosaurs I just wonder as doing a poo is a bit more...prolonged lol. They have to bury it so they're in there quite a while sometimes - maybe something has spooked her?

Keep her out of your room.

fairylightsandwaxmelts yeah I think so. Just wish she'd get over it soon.

What is she pooing on under the bed?

Have you tried clay or sand litter?

If possible, I would block access to the favoured poo spot and put a litter box, that you know she is willing to use, right outside that door.

@Curiousmouse

Keep her out of your room.

It's her safe space and she'd just go do it somewhere else in the house. Prefer it in my room rather than DDs tbh

@HecatesDinosaurs

fairylightsandwaxmelts yeah I think so. Just wish she'd get over it soon.

I don't think she'll stop pooing under the bed while she has access to it.

You need to block all her access to your room and make sure you clean the spot where she's going with a proper cleaner too.

@TheSpottedZebra

What is she pooing on under the bed?

The carpet

LemonMuffins she doesn't like those types at all

Oh no, you sound so kind about it and you have 6 trays! With 3 litters! Surely you've covered every possibility And she can obviously get in the box so it's not that.

Does she have another safe space, or can you tray to make one, eg igloo bed in the corner of your room. If you establish that, maybe you coild make the underneath of your bed less nice for her. Eg put a plastic sheet down there for a bit or put a gentle smell that she might not like.

Does she have a routine? Does she goto the loo at certain times, and if so can you preempt and put her in the box?

Is the consistency of her poo OK?