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Cats/litter box issues

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Expert: - 8/3/2010


Question
I bought a Sealpoint mitted ragdoll as a kitten, she's now 1 1/2 yrs old. She will not poop in her box no matter what. I've tried every litter out there, and caught her peeing in the box with just her back leg in it. This tells me she doesn't like the the texture of the litter, but I've tried everything. I put out puppy pads, and she will do both on them, then I put the pad in the box, but she will only pee on it. I've discussed this with my vet, but she doesn't have an answer. Help! I was thinking of trying sand, it seems a texture problem.

Answer
Laura,

The problem is we often cannot make our cats do things that we want them to do.  If this problem seems to have been going on since you got the Ragdoll as a kitten, so it will be very hard to overcome the problem, BUT, given your question, you do have an answer (although, you might not like it). If she will use the puppy pads without a box, let her. There is some strange reason she will not go completely into a box and, the odds are, it will never be known!!!!!!!

So go with the flow and do what works!

I am sorry,I cannot be much more helpful.

Best regards... Norm.

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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