Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/My cat is refusing to cover.

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 12/13/2008


Question
I have a 9 month old cat that I had spayed and declawed about a month ago. She is refusing to cover up her b.m. when she gets done. How do I get her to do it again. How do I get her to quit peeing behind my couch?

Answer
Naomi,

Her behavior more than likely stems from being declawed.

It is a very painful procedure that can have life long repercussions. They amputate the 'fingers' of the cat past the first joint so the claws cannot grow back. It is a long healing process and sometimes there are exposed nerves that do not heal. It is like having your fingers amputated recently and using the nubs to dig gravel.

I would try using shredded newspaper instead of cat litter. She is probably avoiding the litterbox to pee because she associates her pain with the litterbox. The same with pooping. She goes but avoids having to cover it up because it is painful to do so.

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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