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The litter tray

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Original poster

Notourcat and the bathtub turd...

26 replies

Sonolanona · 30/11/2024 21:40

Sebastian (ex street cat, formerly known as notourcat) moved in with us nearly 4 years ago. Hasn't the best manners. He's loves me, and only me, but still likes to bite me regularly. He has bad breath and the other end isn't overly fresh, but he's shiny fat and happy .(He's too feral for the vets unless he's seriously unwell)

BUT he won't use a litter tray... trust me we have tried, with different litter etc
In good weather not a problem.. he goes out. But over the last two weeks... storms or icy weather.. he has taken to pooing in the bath!!!!!

Staggering out of bed when my alarm goes off in the morning, it is not fun to be greeted by the smell of cat poo and having to bleach the bath! Oh and as the bathroom door is slightly loose, he can (and does) push it open if we shut it!!!

Any suggestions?!!!!

OP posts:
Cailleach1 · 30/11/2024 22:24

Maybe put the litter tray in the bath. Of course, he may just relieve himself outside the tray still. You could line the bath with some news paper. Easy to pick up and thrown away.

I would worry about shutting the door of the bathroom as you don’t know where he would choose as an alternative toilet area. At least the bath is easier to clean than carpet.

NomDePrune · 30/11/2024 22:25

Had similar but outside; if the cat's going to go in my tiny back yard I'll accept that and designate a spot for him.
So accept the bath is his thing, better than an armchair, and maybe put a small litter tray in there overnight. He might use it...

bengalcat · 30/11/2024 22:30

Wood litter ? Otherwise at least he does it somewhere you can easily clean

Toddlerteaplease · 01/12/2024 08:04

My parents cat does this if he gets the chance. They shut him out of the bathroom. We used to have a cat who did this to tell us she was unwell. She always used the litter tray, but swapped to the bath and she was weeing blood. She had kidney failure. So see if he's trying to tel you something.

MagpiePi · 01/12/2024 08:14

I’d put newspaper down in the bath, or maybe a litter tray but put some of his poo in it so can build an association with what he’s supposed to do in it?

The cat we had when I was a child used to be sick in the bath, which was far better than my current cat who throws up all over the house. He is an ex-feral cat who won’t go outside in the snow but hates using the litter tray I always put out for him. He has gradually got used to it but will hang on as long as possible before using it.

Original poster
Sonolanona · 01/12/2024 09:42

His wee is nice and normal...yes he always goes for a wee in there at the same time, and he has no other signs of kidney failure (I've had enough elderly cats to spot that now)
I'll try putting the litter tray inside the bath and hope. Newspapers are a good idea, but we never have any!
In a way it's almost funny... he was a poor street cat (we and my neighbours are pretty sure he was dumped when his horrible owners moved..they were awful people) and he lived on his wits and handouts for years til he got sick and I captured him.
Now he has decided the indoor life is far preferable!

OP posts:
Mia184 · 01/12/2024 13:11

Instead of a newspaper, you could also try puppy training pads.

Overtheatlantic · 01/12/2024 13:16

Please may we have the cat tax? He sounds wonderful 😻

Frenchfemme · 01/12/2024 13:35

I agree - puppy pads and cat tax!

Potentialmadcatlady · 01/12/2024 13:37

I have one who does that. Indoor cat, perfectly spoilt with endless clean litter trays and expensive litter. I just lift it, flush it and then have my shower while giving thanks it’s not hidden beside my bed or behind the sofa. Cats are weird little creatures

Bjorkdidit · 01/12/2024 13:45

Try putting a puppy pad in the bath. But I think I'd be relieved he's going in the bath and not behind furniture etc.

We have a cat with a similar start in life. She came to us with her kittens who were rescued and she's ended up staying for around 3 years so far and is much much tamer than she was.

She nursed the kittens brilliantly but she detested being kept prisoner in our kitten nursery spare room and she went full on 'dirty protest' on us. We had to take the radiators off to clean behind them more than once.

Sunraysunday · 01/12/2024 13:49

I’m not sure why you would need newspaper (messy) or puppy pads (££ and bad for the environment) when you could just pick it up with loo roll, flush it and then clean the bath? You’ll have to clean the bath anyway presumably?
Glad he’s found you… little bugger!

FloofPaws · 01/12/2024 13:51

Puppy pads in bath and soil in the litter tray

2110l · 01/12/2024 14:12

What about a puppy pad in the bath. Then he can shit on it and you can just parcel it up and bin it

CeciliaMars · 01/12/2024 14:14

My cat used to do this years ago, then pull the bath mat on top of it!

purser25 · 01/12/2024 14:27

A couple of our cats have weed in the bath often squatting over the plug hole. Our present one has pooed a few times despite a litter tray. I would rather there than hidden somewhere. A funny tale his litter tray is under my Mother’s commode. One day she was using the commode and the cat came and performed on the litter tray.

MarmaladeSideDown · 01/12/2024 14:31

At least he is in the right room, even if not the right receptacle. It could be a lot worse!

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 01/12/2024 15:32

Baths are very easy to wipe clean though and he sounds like he’s had a hard life.

Original poster
Sonolanona · 01/12/2024 19:14

Cat tax coming up Grin
When I captured him, he was very thin, had awful dandruff and a massive abscess from fighting, and a stiff leg (we think he had broken it months previously but we couldn't get close enough to help him)

Now his life has improved... fat, happy, bullies the dog for the hell of it....

Notourcat and the bathtub turd...
Notourcat and the bathtub turd...
OP posts:
Mia184 · 02/12/2024 07:49

They are both absolutely gorgeous 😍.

Pudmyboy · 02/12/2024 09:51

Oh that's is a lovely picture: but who is imitating who?

Pudmyboy · 02/12/2024 09:54

Just as an aside: we had dogs all my childhood and when I first saw a male cat on it's back I thought it was a girl cat, due to the male bits of a cat bearing a resemblance to the female bits of a dog, which that picture helps illustrate

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 02/12/2024 10:44

Our cat did this - she knew fine how to use a litter tray, and would if she was desperate (we used to keep her in the kitchen with a tray overnight), but preferred to toilet outside. Even in wild weather she would usually go out, but she would use the bath instead of the tray if she could. I figured there were worse places, although it was obviously less than ideal. We had to have her pts earlier this year (nothing to do with the bath pooing!) aged ten, and I’d do anything to have her back 🤍

coffeesaveslives · 02/12/2024 12:05

Have you tried soil or sand for the litter tray? It would smell more outdoorsy and might help him make the connection.

Mia184 · 02/12/2024 13:47

Have you tried keeping a tiny bit of water in the bathtub?