ATOT cat owners - I need your help - now with 100% more cat pics !

[Annisman*]

I know 95% or more of us have cats because we are all nerds so I know you guys can help a brother out. I bought a *way too* expensive automatic self cleaning litter box a month ago and the things works fantastic. Problem is I have two cats and one refuses to use it. The litterbox is downstairs in the basement. The one who won't use it urinates UPSTAIRS near my computer desk and takes her craps DOWNSTAIRS in a random corner on the floor. She's a bit of a scardy cat and I can only guess that the new litter box freaks her out or something. What can I do guys ? Halp !

 

[Nova Web]

Hi,
Had almost the same issue. The cats are used to poo/pee where they previously did, when are kept indoors. Outdoors they burry their poo and even if they use the same area, they don't do it in the same spot.
The solution was for me to put their poo in the tray, leave it there, clean well the areas where they used before with strong chemicals so the smell fades away.
They will instictively look for the known places but they'll poo where the scent is stronger, so gather some of their poo/pee (sand) and leave it there so they smell it.
In one week my tocat is using the places I wanted, not his old places.

 

[Nova Web]

Also use a water spray on them if you catch them pooping in the wrong places. They will look for a safe place, guided by the smell of previous poo they'll use the tray.

 

[Newbian]

First off you should have at least one litter box per cat to make it easier on them and if one cat refuses to use that litter box getting another normal one may help.

Try placing the 2nd one a bit away from the other one if it doesn't like it.

 

[John Connor]

First off you should have at least one litter box per cat to make it easier on them and if one cat refuses to use that litter box getting another normal one may help.

Try placing the 2nd one a bit away from the other one if it doesn't like it.

^This. Exactly this.

I have two litter boxes for two cats. I had three when I had three cats.

Good luck getting the smell out. I've tried everything up to and including a special spray. It's a bitch! Peroxide and water may help. Buy test a small area first. Get a rug cleaner. Best investment I ever made.

 

[Annisman*]

I don't have rugs or carpet thank goodness. I turned the power off the litter box so that it doesn't automatically clean itself for a while, however I'm still convinced that she's scared of it. I'd buy a second litter box in a second but to get one more would be another 500 dollar investment and before this the two of them shared the same box perfectly fine for almost 3 years.

 

[Anubis]

is it a litter robot?

some cats dont like the enclosed space. I have one both my cats use it but i also have a standard open litter box in another room in the basement that they both will also use. they get pissy if one uses the robot and the 2nd goes to use it before it cycles

 

[cbrunny]

get rid of cat. get dog. problem solved.

 

[Coalfax]

I have always gone by the notion that you should have N+1 litter boxes where n is number of cats. Being predatory animals who themselves were prey, they are always look for safety and escape when at their most vulnerable (eating,etc).

The easiest answer to this would be get a litterbox and place it where the cat currently us deciding to do their business. After a few days move it a few feet towards where you actually want it to go. Little by little move it to your preferred destination. Within a month (assuming you are going a few miles here) you should have the cat doing their business where you wanted in the first place, and they will have acclimated.

 

[Rifter]

One of my cats refuses to use a covered littler box, not sure if your is covered or not. So i just ended up putting the littler in a large rubber made container with high enough sides that they couldnt kick the littler out onto the floor, as i found most uncovered littler boxes had way to low sides and the litter ended up everywhere.

Also the water gun will work, catch them doing anything bad like pooping in a corner use the gun. Now whenever i even move towards the water gun my cats all of a sudden are on their best behavior i dont even need to actually spray them anymore it works just fine as a deterrent sitting on the table, i usually dont even need to actually pick it up just move towards it. Cats arnt dumb they will learn.

 

[Skel]

I don't have rugs or carpet thank goodness. I turned the power off the litter box so that it doesn't automatically clean itself for a while, however I'm still convinced that she's scared of it. I'd buy a second litter box in a second but to get one more would be another 500 dollar investment and before this the two of them shared the same box perfectly fine for almost 3 years.

If you think the cat is scared of a self cleaning litterbox, why wouldn't you try a non self cleaning one? I'd put a non-self cleaning one in the spot that it's going outside of the litter box. If the cat uses that then half your battle is solved. You can then play with it a bit, switch the two around to see if the cat continues to use it, or using the non-self cleaning one. That would rule out the litter boxes themselves. You could also have a case of the cat not liking the litter, or it's always possible it's marking territory. If the second non-self cleaning one isn't being used, then I'd look around to see if there are other cats in the neighborhood that are coming up to the windows. Then try new litter..

 

[shortylickens]

PICS DAMN YOU!

 

[JulesMaximus]

Get another litter box. Cats are territorial and one cat may not use a the same box that another cat uses. When we had 3 cats we had 3 litter boxes. The two females would not use the same box and the male cat would use all 3.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

We have three cats w/ 2 enclosed litter boxes and have no issues, but we're pretty fortunate.

There's clearly something the cat doesn't like about your box - you should probably put the old one back and stick it next to the automatic one, quickly, before the cat gets itself un-trained re: litterbox use.

Also possible the cat is just tired of stairs.

 

[Imp]

Get another litter box. Cats are territorial and one cat may not use a the same box that another cat uses. When we had 3 cats we had 3 litter boxes. The two females would not use the same box and the male cat would use all 3.

lol... What an asshole cat.

 

[John Connor]

one more would be another 500 dollar investment

Just a regular $10 box man! If they are scared of it why buy another?

 

[Annisman*]

Just a regular $10 box man! If they are scared of it why buy another?

My cats are straight up retarded. They don't bury their poo ever. it smells horrible. the automatic box was meant to make that a non issue by cleaning it immediately after each use. One cat uses it perfectly fine, I am holding onto hope that the other will figure it out soon.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

My cats are straight up retarded. They don't bury their poo ever. it smells horrible. the automatic box was meant to make that a non issue by cleaning it immediately after each use. One cat uses it perfectly fine, I am holding onto hope that the other will figure it out soon.

If they don't bury it, it's either a dominance-over-the-other-cats thing, or it's because they hate you.

Or there's something they don't like about the box. Maybe a disinfectant or odor-control chemical you're using? Cats are very sensitive to smells.

In fact, if I'm cleaning the kitchen and use soft-scrub, we have one cat who will go nuts and start attacking and chewing on my bleachy-smelling hands.

 

[cbrunny]

If they don't bury it, it's either a dominance-over-the-other-cats thing, or it's because they hate you.

All cats hate all people. Never the two should mix.

 

[Annisman*]

If they don't bury it, it's either a dominance-over-the-other-cats thing, or it's because they hate you.

Or there's something they don't like about the box. Maybe a disinfectant or odor-control chemical you're using? Cats are very sensitive to smells.

In fact, if I'm cleaning the kitchen and use soft-scrub, we have one cat who will go nuts and start attacking and chewing on my bleachy-smelling hands.

I adopted them from a shelter 3 years ago when they were both about 7 years old, they clearly were mistreated and had a ton of issues that had to be addressed medically speaking. I know a lot of their weird behavior was learned in the first 7 years of whatever dump they were living in, they are really really weird cats i dont think most people would have kept them.

 

[Number1]

I used to have a cat like this.

 

[Annisman*]

PICS DAMN YOU!

That's Daisy (the floor pooper)

Rita getting breakfast with me at the drive thru

 

[John Connor]

Awwww.

 

[Sonikku]

Thread is now a cat picture thread.

Sonikku's cat pictures.

Bobby

Lizzie

 

[John Connor]

Black kitty is Salem who passed away several years ago. Grey one is Sophie. Salem looks like he's pissed at the presents he got. LOL