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How to stop one cat from using the wrong litter box?



 
 
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  #1  
Old February 6th 09, 08:06 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
[email protected]
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Posts: 44
Default How to stop one cat from using the wrong litter box?

Hello,

We have 2 cats and have this issue. One cat is about 2 years old
(Aster) and we've had her since a kitten. The other (Ezzie) is 7 or
8. Ezzie would be fine to have nothing to do with Aster, but Aster
likes to play and do the normal "torturing" of the older one. She
will eat Ezzie's food, and that doesn't start a fight. But Aster
seems to like to use the Ezzie's litter box, and then that's a
problem. Ezzie will either stop going, or sometimes a chase and fight
ensues. You can just TELL that she's mad. Aster goes in her own box
like 90-95% of the time. So I don't know what causes her to do this.
I think it's either laziness or just thinking it's OK? Maybe it's a
game? But she does know the difference cause she usually uses her
own.

I make sure the boxes are both clean and unobstructed. When I catch
Aster in the act I scold her and pick her up and put her in her own
box. I think she partially doesn't "get it" and partially it's a game
to her. And who knows what goes on when we're at work all day.

Any advice besides correcting her 'in the act' and making sure the
boxes are clean to STOP one cat (Aster) from using the other's box?
Ezzie had been alone for the first 6 years of her life so we don't
want to make them share a box even though many cats do. Plus, Aster
has a sensitive stomach. We've had her tested for everything and they
say she's healthy, but knock on wood, if something does ever happen we
don't want any diseases passed back and forth, or just germs in
general.

Advice appreciated very much :-)
T, Aster, & Ezzie
  #2  
Old February 6th 09, 10:10 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
Rene S.
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Posts: 741
Default How to stop one cat from using the wrong litter box?


I make sure the boxes are both clean and unobstructed. *When I catch
Aster in the act I scold her and pick her up and put her in her own
box. *I think she partially doesn't "get it" and partially it's a game
to her. *And who knows what goes on when we're at work all day.

Any advice besides correcting her 'in the act' and making sure the
boxes are clean to STOP one cat (Aster) from using the other's box?
Ezzie had been alone for the first 6 years of her life so we don't
want to make them share a box even though many cats do. *Plus, Aster
has a sensitive stomach. *We've had her tested for everything and they
say she's healthy, but knock on wood, if something does ever happen we
don't want any diseases passed back and forth, or just germs in
general.


Basically, you can't stop her from using another litter box. (It's
better she uses another box than the floor or another undesirable
place, like your bed.) Please don't scold her when she uses the
"wrong" box. She might start being more secretive about going in other
locations. You can add a third box near the "wrong" box to see if
she'll use that. Some cats like to urinate in one box and defecate in
another box anyway, so you should ideally have three boxes for two
cats.

I am unsure why you don't want them sharing a litter box. If you scoop
twice per day and regularly scrub the boxes, there is little chance of
disease transmission.

  #3  
Old February 7th 09, 06:36 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
[email protected]
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Posts: 44
Default How to stop one cat from using the wrong litter box?

On Feb 6, 4:10*pm, "Rene S." wrote:
I make sure the boxes are both clean and unobstructed. *When I catch
Aster in the act I scold her and pick her up and put her in her own
box. *I think she partially doesn't "get it" and partially it's a game
to her. *And who knows what goes on when we're at work all day.


Any advice besides correcting her 'in the act' and making sure the
boxes are clean to STOP one cat (Aster) from using the other's box?
Ezzie had been alone for the first 6 years of her life so we don't
want to make them share a box even though many cats do. *Plus, Aster
has a sensitive stomach. *We've had her tested for everything and they
say she's healthy, but knock on wood, if something does ever happen we
don't want any diseases passed back and forth, or just germs in
general.


Basically, you can't stop her from using another litter box. (It's
better she uses another box than the floor or another undesirable
place, like your bed.) Please don't scold her when she uses the
"wrong" box. She might start being more secretive about going in other
locations. You can add a third box near the "wrong" box to see if
she'll use that. Some cats like to urinate in one box and defecate in
another box anyway, so you should ideally have three boxes for two
cats.

I am unsure why you don't want them sharing a litter box. If you scoop
twice per day and regularly scrub the boxes, there is little chance of
disease transmission.


Thanks for the reply. Most cat owners I know (not on here but just in
general) I've seen give each cat a box if possible. The reason for
not wanting them to share is that they don't get along fantastically.
The older cat tolerates the younger, but what has been HER food, HER
water, and HER litter box for 6 years is tough to try to make her
share. I thought/think for sure that it's more fair to the older cat
to not disrupt her space like that, no?

Point taken on there being no 'wrong' box. But the older cat never
goes in the other box, and the younger cat didn't used to go in the
'wrong' box, and only now does it occasionally. They have separate
food, separte water, etc. I've never thought of a cat wanting to poop
in one box and pee in another.

But, it noticeably disturbs the older cat when the young cat uses the
older cat's litter box. She's not OK with it. Plus, I figure if they
each use their own box, then each box will not get as nasty so quick
and I can scoop them daily without fear of them ever getting full.
With two cats firing away it would get filled twice as fast and be
twice as nasty. Just my opinions; I don't really disagree with what
you said either :-)

Thanks
T
  #4  
Old February 7th 09, 07:57 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
---MIKE---
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Posts: 869
Default How to stop one cat from using the wrong litter box?

You really should have a third box for two cats. I have three boxes for
two cats and I usually scoop as soon as I see a box has been used. My
younger cat (Tiger) tends to be the "bully" and Amber (14) usually lets
him get his way.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')


  #5  
Old February 8th 09, 12:36 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
Stan Brown
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Posts: 211
Default How to stop one cat from using the wrong litter box?

Sat, 7 Feb 2009 13:57:11 -0500 from ---MIKE---
:
You really should have a third box for two cats.


I can understand two, but THREE? Why? Is this some house where you
have to pack food and water to get from one end to the other?

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...
  #6  
Old February 8th 09, 06:24 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
Matthew[_3_]
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Posts: 2,287
Default How to stop one cat from using the wrong litter box?


"Stan Brown" wrote in message
t...
Sat, 7 Feb 2009 13:57:11 -0500 from ---MIKE---
:
You really should have a third box for two cats.


I can understand two, but THREE? Why? Is this some house where you
have to pack food and water to get from one end to the other?

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...



Stan some cats like to use one box for #1 and another box for #2 rule of
the game you should have at least 2 boxes per cat but 3 for two is
understandable


  #7  
Old February 8th 09, 02:48 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
Stan Brown
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Posts: 211
Default How to stop one cat from using the wrong litter box?

Sun, 8 Feb 2009 00:24:07 -0500 from Matthew
:

"Stan Brown" wrote in message
t...
Sat, 7 Feb 2009 13:57:11 -0500 from ---MIKE---
:
You really should have a third box for two cats.


I can understand two, but THREE? Why? Is this some house where you
have to pack food and water to get from one end to the other?

Stan some cats like to use one box for #1 and another box for #2 rule of
the game you should have at least 2 boxes per cat but 3 for two is
understandable


Thanks for the response. I can see the point to the rule of thumb,
but that's not the same as categorical statement. Some cats -- many
cats, though I don't know if it's a majority -- are quite happy with
one litter box. My present cat is, for example. For a couple of
decades I had various pairs of indoor cats, and they happily shared a
litter box. Obviously it's important to keep it cleaned out. :-)

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...
  #8  
Old February 8th 09, 04:29 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
Matthew[_3_]
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Posts: 2,287
Default How to stop one cat from using the wrong litter box?


"Stan Brown" wrote in message
t...
Sun, 8 Feb 2009 00:24:07 -0500 from Matthew
:

"Stan Brown" wrote in message
t...
Sat, 7 Feb 2009 13:57:11 -0500 from ---MIKE---
:
You really should have a third box for two cats.

I can understand two, but THREE? Why? Is this some house where you
have to pack food and water to get from one end to the other?

Stan some cats like to use one box for #1 and another box for #2 rule of
the game you should have at least 2 boxes per cat but 3 for two is
understandable


Thanks for the response. I can see the point to the rule of thumb,
but that's not the same as categorical statement. Some cats -- many
cats, though I don't know if it's a majority -- are quite happy with
one litter box. My present cat is, for example. For a couple of
decades I had various pairs of indoor cats, and they happily shared a
litter box. Obviously it's important to keep it cleaned out. :-)

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...


Think about my house 5 cats 2 boxes each. I have my work cut out for me
daily ;-)


  #9  
Old February 8th 09, 05:46 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
---MIKE---
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Posts: 869
Default How to stop one cat from using the wrong litter box?

Stan, You asked for help but you insist on arguing with the
recommendations from other cat owners. Get smart and provide three
litter boxes and see if that corrects the problem.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')


  #10  
Old February 9th 09, 12:24 AM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
Stan Brown
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Posts: 211
Default How to stop one cat from using the wrong litter box?

Sun, 8 Feb 2009 11:46:08 -0500 from ---MIKE---
:
Stan, You asked for help but you insist on arguing with the
recommendations from other cat owners. Get smart and provide three
litter boxes and see if that corrects the problem.


You're mistaken -- I didn't ask for help. Someone else posted a
problem, and then someone (you?) said there should be three litter
boxes for two cats. I asked why, accepted the response but pointed
out that it's a rule of thumb and as such is not universally
applicable.

--
Stan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA
http://OakRoadSystems.com
Shikata ga nai...
 




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