Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/not using litter box

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 2/22/2009


Question
A stray cat of unknown age has become 'friendly'.  we first began to feed him then provided shelter in our garage throughout the winter (expecting he would go away or be eaten by coytotes. This did not happen so we have had him vaccinated, checked for feline hiv/leukemia and scheduled for neutering. He used the litterbox in the garage for urinating but not to defecate (as far as we can determine he did not defecate in the garage either.)  Recently we allowed him into the cellar at night.  Unfortunately he has defecated twice in the cellar outside the litterbox (he continues to use the litter box for urinating and does not appear to be 'spraying'.) He has never defecated in the litterbox.  We have another cat (1 1/2 years of age) who is strictly an indoor cat.  They have been becoming acquainted by 'sniffing' under the cellar door.  Also the stray would approach us when I was 'walking' our cat on a leash (when the weather was warmer.)  We feel badly because now we have moved him back into the garage as defecating in the house is not an option.  Any suggestions?  We have also checked around the neighborhood (we live in a fairly sparsely populated area) and no one has a clue where this cat came from.  Also checked with the dog officer - no reports of a missing cat.

Thanks

Answer

dog crate for cats
Pat,

I use a big dog crate for a new cat. It has room for litterbox, food and water, small cat carrier without the door for a bed and to get up on, and they still have room. That way they can get used to another cat around, and other cat can sniff and check them out safely. You can gradually let the cat out for short periods of time as they start getting used to each other. I got mine at Petco. I am attaching a picture of it.

It is good training for using a litter because a cat is basically clean and that should force him to defecate in the litterbox. Another option is to put dirt in the litterbox at first. An outside cat is used to using dirt and may not know that he should use litter to defecate in. Put some of his poop in the litterbox so he knows. Then you can gradually add litter until you are using all litter. You may also want to try a bigger litterbox. Some cats don't want to get their feet 'dirty' and won't use a small litterbox, prefering to defecate in a larger area. And you can try using sand too. Sometimes that works with cats who don't use the litterbox.

I am including some links to good articles about improper elimination. They will have good information that you should find helpful in dealing with the cat's behavior.
(copy and paste or type the whole links into your address bar)

http://cats.about.com/cs/behavioralissues/a/outsidebox_two.htm

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/pointe/9352/litterboxhelp.html

http://www.apbc.org.uk/article10.htm

I hope this helps.

Tabbi  

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

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.

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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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