Expert: Becky - 6/3/2006

Question

Thank you very much for the help. Also I was wondering, she is also peeing in the hearter vents (only in the living room) I have changed the vents,replaced the duct work and cleaned the carpets nemours times, but she is still doing it and I cant figure it out. Again thank you so much for your time and help.
Sara

Answer
Hello again!

Sara,  cats do strange things sometimes.  They are so unlike dogs as spanking or scolding just doesn't seem to do any good with them. I get questions all the time about cats that will not use their litter box, so I wrote up a "how to" paper on retraining your cat to use a litter box. I am going to attach it in hopes that it will help you out. (see below)  Sometimes it can be a real pain to go through this, but it works!!  I gave a good friend of mine a Cornish Rex cat because he kept beating up one of my other cats. My cat got upset because cats do NOT like change, and he began peeing in my friends' hallway.  My friend used the methods that I am going to post below and his cat is now doing very well, using the litter box every single time.  Sometimes, it just takes a little know-how and lots of patience and TLC.  Good luck to you!!

God Bless,
Becky


It takes time and patience but cats can be re-trained to use a litter box.   If you will follow these instructions, you should have good results.  

1.   You must remove the urine from the area that your cat has been urinating.  If it is carpet, rent a good steam cleaner, buy some good pet odor shampoo and clean the carpet really good.  You can also add white vinegar to the shampoo.  Vinegar is a natural deodorizer and it will help to remove the urine stain so that the cat cannot smell it.  Sometimes you can’t smell the urine, but the cat can, so it’s very important to use these products when cleaning your carpet or bare floor.  You can get white vinegar at any grocery store and it’s cheap.  
2.    After you clean the carpet and it dries completely, put aluminum foil over the area or areas where your cat used to “go”.    Cats hate to walk on it, and will avoid the area.  This will help train your cat not to keep going back to the same place over and over again.  Mistakes happen, and if your kitty does “go” on the carpet or somewhere outside of the box, clean well with the shampoo/vinegar mixture.
3.   This part is the hardest part.  Until your cat is completely re-trained, keep him/her in a small bedroom or bathroom when you are not home.  Put a litter box in there with food and water. This will pretty much force your cat to use the litter box when you are not at home.   When you are home, watch him/her closely.   If you can tell that there is about to be an “accident”, scoop the cat up and take him/her to the litter box.   Please do not hit or spank your cat.  That does NOT work with cats.  It will only scare the cat and you will never get them trained.  
4.   Be sure to lavishly praise your cat when he/she does use the litter box!

If you follow these instructions, you should have good results.  I have had many people tell me that it worked for them and I have a very good friend who did this with great results.  Your kitty should be doing fine in about a week.   Good luck!!