About 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.
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).
Education/Credentials ***********
Awards and Honors * One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
Question QUESTION: Hi - I have had my cat for 3 1/2 years and he rarely defecates in the litter box. I have tried keeping the litter box really clean and also have tried two litter boxes, but now just keep a lot of newspapers on the floor around the box and he goes on those. It is so frustrating! I hope you can help!!
Thanks.
Carol
ANSWER: Carol,
There are some cats, and I have had one, that for some reason have a total aversion to cat litter. Maybe it's because they don't like the feel of it under their paws. And they will have that aversion if they have been declawed.
I used puppy pee-pads, or the kind they use for elderly people when they are incontinent, and that seemed to work fine. Inconvenient, but it was less of a mess.
You may want to try a large litterbox with deeper litter. Some cats feel the area is too small to do their business and are scared they are going to step in it. One of the under-the-bed type plastic storage boxes may work for him.
Another thing you can try is children's play sand from Home Depot, etc. That will work with some cats that don't like litter.
Tabbi
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: I have been trying the under-the-bed box since receiving your response and he still poops on the newspaper around the box. He is really frustrating me!!
Answer Carol,
It may be a medical issue instead of a behavioral problem. He could have intestinal parasites or problems, bowel problems, etc. If it is painful to poop when he uses the litterbox he will associate the litterbox with that pain and go elsewhere. You may want to take him to a vet for an examination.
There are a number of behavior and emotional issues that could cause him to behave that way. Since I cannot put all the information 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 kitten's behavior.
(copy and paste or type the whole links into your address bar)
