Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Cat Litter Box behavior

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 5/24/2009


Question
I have a Himalayan cat that I was fostering/ now adopted from the humane society. My problem is her litter box use. She hardly ever uses it. Once in a blue moon she will actually go in the actual box, but 99.9% she will go right outside of the box. She never really goes any where else in the house, just right by the box. It's causing a strain on my relationship, as the boyfriend is seeking to get rid of her. She was just recently spayed, and I thought that that may have fixed the problem, but it didn't and I know it isn't a urinary tract infection since she was recently seen by the vet and this behavior has been going on since I've had her. I'm thinking maybe she doesn't like my male cat, but wouldn't she just be not going near the litter box at all? Can you please give me some advice in hopes of getting to keep her?

Answer
Beth,

I'm very sorry I didn't answer your question earlier but the hard drive in my computer died and I was just able to get it replaced.

There are some cats who have a quirk that they don't like the feel of litter under their feet. I would try getting some children's play sand from Home Depot, etc. and see if she will use that. Also try putting a puppy-pee pad (or human type that they put under elderly incontinent people) and see if that helps. I had a cat that would NOT use a litterbox no matter what. I used newspapers or puppy pee pads next to the litterbox and he used those. It was inconvenient, but it worked. It was some mental short-circuit in his brain about use of a litterbox.

There could be stress issues with your cat, but it sounds more like an emotional issue.

Since I cannot put all the information about possibilities in this reply, I am including some links to good articles about improper elimination. Please read them. 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

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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