Litter box problems

[Tobias Reiper]

After a lot of lecturing from a friend and a scare when I heard yapping coyotes closing in on my porch I decided to bring my almost 5 month old kitten indoors.

Tonight I went out and bought a litter box and some kitty litter. I didn't think she'd like it after having a toilet that took up acres, but she loves it. The problem is, she thinks it's her bed, meaning that if she hasn't inherited her mother's tendancy to act against natural feline instinct she won't do her business there.

I think the reason is because the kind I got is pretty much gravel and my driveway's blacktop with a lot of rocks on it. She always loved laying out in the middle of the driveway, so I think the litter box reminds her of that.

How do I convince her that her bed's her toilet? I tried putting her on an old cushion, but she'll get up and walk back to the litter box to lay down.

Seems like she shouldn't need a bed anyway because she's spent her life sleeping on a concrete porch, and I know she won't soil her bed because she'd always jump off of the porch and go to the grass to do anything.

Maybe I just need to take out the kitty litter and put some sod in it.

[Brown Cat]

Have you tried getting your cat some kind of enclosed sleeping place? It's been my experience that cats like "denning" places. Also get some catnip and put it in there, that may help.

[Tobias Reiper]

Have you tried getting your cat some kind of enclosed sleeping place? It's been my experience that cats like "denning" places. Also get some catnip and put it in there, that may help.

I'll try that, but from my experience Cosette hates enclosed spaces. When I kept her outside the neighbors' dogs kept getting her food so I rigged up something where she could get in to eat but the dogs wouldn't fit.

No matter how hungry she got she would not go in there, and that cat would do anything for food.

[Teallaura]

I'm a little late but you've probably found out by now that she will figure it out on her own. My Siren does that just after a box change occasionally - I think it's her hint to change the box more often. :blush:

If she really won't use it get another box and use a different type of litter (pine, paper - something that doesn't smell remotely like clay). Put them together and she'll use one for a toilet and the other for a bed. After a short while she'll decide to sleep elsewhere and you can gradually introduce clay litter if you like to wean her off the new stuff.

[Dee Dee Warren]

I'm a little late but you've probably found out by now that she will figure it out on her own.

Nope, she's been holding it.

[Johnny MacManky]

:rofl:

[Teallaura]

:lol:

[Tobias Reiper]

Nope, she's been holding it.

Actually I suspect she has been for the past day or two. The last time I cleaned her litter box was Saturday but there's been no new deposits and no misplaced items.

I suspect a bowel obstruction, but I still can't get her into a vet since none will see her after hours or on weekends, so is there anything I can do to verify and remedy the situation?

[gharfish]

Teallaura is the gal who will know. Very small kittens who are still nursing may respond to a gentle massage with a soft warm washcloth on the very low abdomen. But your little kiddo is 4 mos. HALP, Teallaura !!

[Teallaura]

Crate her. Use a big crate and a small litter box if you can but a small crate and newspaper will do. Give her water and food and monitor both her eating and her output.

Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to her food - if she's obstructed that may help.

Also, if you have any houseplants go look in the pots for any extra fertilizer...

Okay, if she's really not putting anything out (very unlikely - she'd be really sick if she hadn't peed in over a day) call a vet, explain the situation and ask for his recommendation.

Also, check around to see if there is an emergency animal hospital in your area - they would see her after hours.

[SpinyNorman]

Dump the cat and get a real pet.

:outtie:

[Teallaura]

Actually, that might still work, La. A four month old is still a kitten and even adult cats respond to stimuli particular to kittens - which is why that 'grab 'em by the scruff of the neck' thing works.

[Tobias Reiper]

I just caught her using it, so I think whatever the problem is has passed.

[Dee Dee Warren]

I just caught her using it, so I think whatever the problem is has passed.

Literally.

[Teallaura]

:happydance:

[Dee Dee Warren]

I've haven't seen Teal this excited since a certain conversation with Ivo.

[Dee Dee Warren]

Dump the cat and get a real pet.

:outtie:


Actually, that might still work

I'm shocked. :shocked:

[Teallaura]

I've haven't seen Teal this excited since a certain conversation with Ivo.

:brood:

[Johnny MacManky]

A smilie to celebrate... :poop: