Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/27/2009

Question
Hey,
I have two cats and there about five months old and one uses the litter box perfectly but the other one has had a problem about a week ago he didn't use the litter box and just went where he wanted to but that was only like three times, so i shut the doors to those rooms and he hasn't done it again but now he doesn't cover up his poop and its getting on my moms nerves because she hates the smell and she says it's disgusting and i have a month to fix this or my mom is going to make me give him back to the humane society and I'm not going to let that happen

Answer
Emily,

There are many reasons for litter box issues. Since I can't put all the reasons and/or possibilities in this answer, I am including some good links to articles about not using the litterbox that should be helpful:
(copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar)

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

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

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

Not covering poop is a common behavior problem. In the wild, the dominant cat does not cover his poop, only the subordinate cats cover theirs. It is a show of dominance. One of your kittens may be showing his dominance over the other.

Another reason could be that one kitten may have jumped the other in play when he was using the litterbox so now he does his thing and gets out quickly, not taking the time to cover it.

It is important to use a clumping litter that helps with the odor. Tidy Cat With Crystals is good because it smells nice when they step in it.

Sometimes it helps to have a larger litterbox with deep litter in it, or use children's play sand that you can get at home depot. Cats like the feel of it and they like to dig in it. Then you can gradully add regular litter to it.

I hope this helps.

Tabbi