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Question
I adopted an adult female and her 1 year old daughter last week and am having a really hard time getting the mom to use the litter box. The daughter caught on immediately even though she has never before used a litter box. The mom seems to wait to go until I get home at the end of the day. I let her out of the laundry room and she heads right for the rug under the dining table!
So far I have tried scolding her while in the act. This resulted in her trailing diarrhea across the living room. She is on antibiotics. I have picked up the solids I could find and put them in the litter box. Tonight I blotted up urine with a paper towel and set it in front of the litter box. She just peed on the dining room rug and pooped on the mat in front of the kitchen sink.
We will be moving to a very busy street in a couple of months and they will need to be indoor only cats. If this keeps up though, I don't know how I can bring her with us.
Please help!
Thank you!
Michelle
Michelle,
If mom is a former stray she's not likely accustomed to commercially available kitty litter, try some sand or dirt in the litter box, she'll likely use it because it's more familiar to her and you can switch over to an unscented, clumping kitty litter made from wheat, corn or clay slowly, over time. Since cats can smell their previous mistakes it's a good idea to clean any previous accidents with an enzymatic cleaner. These special cleaners are sold in most pet supply stores, they're often marketed as cleaners to use during puppy potty training. Enzymatic cleaners use beneficial bacteria to digest stains and odors of urine, feces and other bodily fluids. I use a brand available at Petsmart called Petzyme, I'd suggest buying the large gallon sized jug from the dog section because the last time I checked it was cheaper on a per milliliter basis and besides litter box accidents it works wonderfully for cleaning up fur balls, vomit and a number of other household stains. If you have allowed mom free access in your house before realizing that there was an issue with the litter box I'd suggest that you pick up a black light bulb and wait til it gets dark to check the floors, furniture, etc for the presence of urine stains or hidden accidents. Urine fluoresces under black light and feces should be easy enough to spot.
As for mom's diarrhea, it's probably related to the antibiotics she's on, try giving her a tablespoon of plain, organic, unsweetened yogurt twice daily, that should help firm up her bowel movements.
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Answers by Expert:
Ali
Expertise
I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.
Experience
I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.
Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.
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