If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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
|
|||
|
|||
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... |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
is litter levelled in litter-robot? | [email protected] | Cat health & behaviour | 0 | May 25th 07 10:14 PM |
Is there anything that you can do to stop a late neuter tom stop spraying? | sheelagh | Cat health & behaviour | 9 | January 29th 07 11:27 PM |