My kitten has just recently started peeing on a patch around where her litter tray is. When I first got my kitten our older cat didn't like the smell of the new kitten and refused to go in the litter tray if she smelt the other cat in there. My parents then bought a small litter tray for my kitten and placed it in my room for the time being.
The litter tray soon became too small for the kitten and my parents were finding it hard to find a big sized litter tray, after a lot of arguments about the smell of urine coming from the small litter tray (even though it was cleaned every day) my parents took out the small litter tray and let the kitten use to big litter tray that was downstairs. Both cats were getting on well at this point and I was happy to not have a strong urine smell in my room.
But then my kitten started to poo and pee in the spot where her litter tray used to be. After cleaning that up and removing the bit of scrap carpet my Father was sure she would stop. She then began to pee even more in this spot and my parents then put it down to the fact that my kitten is brain damaged and can't figure out that her litter tray isn't there anymore. After taking so much of the smell we then moved the litter tray back up to my room and hoped that that would stop my kitten from peeing and pooing on my floor.
Low and behold it still has come to a dead end and she pees around the litter tray, my parents are constantly arguing with me about the smell and how if it isn't sorted out soon then they have no other motive but to sadly get rid of our kitten. It's the urine that is the problem.
I have tried using lemon juice/peel/half a lemon on the patch where she is urinating as suggested by my Gran but that doesn't work. Vinegar seems to work only for a little while. And the carpet is rather old and I fear that the smell of my old cat's urine is on that and is influencing my kitten to pee on it even more but at the moment my parents can't afford to by another new carpet due to the fact they just spent out on carpets for all of the downstairs rooms.
I'm just at a complete loss as to what to do and I don't fancy loosing my kitten. Is there anyway to kick my kittens habit once and for all?
Jennie
I have heard it said that if a cat will not use the litter box, then it is sick. Putting baking soda down and then vacuuming it up after about 20 minutes will help with the urine smell on the carpet, but there is some reason the kitten is not using the box. Cats will always smell before going, so you might want to try putting some cayenne pepper down on the spot where she whizzes. If you have a cat box established again where she used to go, and she is still not using it, try the cayenne, the baking soda and if it still does not get the message, take it to the vet. There is something wrong with it. You did not say how old the kitten is, too. A number of cats will not use a box and only want to go outside. For the smell in the air, set out a dish of cider vinegar and it will absorb the urine smell.
Just a thought on how to solve this problem. (03/07/2005)
By jaxi3
I had a kitten like this once. I read somewhere to put the kitten in an enclosed area (this may take several days) with the litter box. I used my bathroom because it has linoleum, the pee & poo wouldn't hurt the floor and make it smell. Keep the kitten in the room until you see that it is consistently using the litter box. Then over a period of days, move the box little by little to the place you want to keep it. This worked wonderfully for my kitty, and I haven't had a problem since. (03/07/2005)
By megdak
An enzyme cleaner/deodorizer (about $4 at Wal Mart) will get rid of odor. Follow directions carefully, making sure it goes deep into carpet. Then put a layer of foil across the area until your kitty is re-trained. (03/07/2005)
By Alex
Frugal answer - keep your room door closed so the kitten can't get near its previous spot! It is very hard to get the smell out of carpet, especially if it had a pad/underlay. You may not smell it but a cats sense of smell is very acute. They like safe familiar spots and will return to their old spot unless prevented. If she is happy to use the other tray keep your bedroom door shut for a couple of months until that habit is firmly established. Your cat isn't brain damaged - its just being a normal cat!
Regards
Jo (03/07/2005)
By Jo Bodey
Ideally you should have one litter box per cat. Mine were raised together and share, but many refuse. Get one big enough for the poor kitten. Also, Feline Pine cat litter is much better for cutting the smell than the clay or clumping litter. It is too expensive for me as I have several cats and use about a bag a week, but for only two cats, it lasts much longer than the other litter without getting as smelly....but still use one litter box per cat.
By guest
Take your kitten to the dr. to make sure there is no medical reason for this, a urinary trac infection will do this, and kitty will associate the pain from the infection with the litter box. There are cleaners you can buy at the pet store , or even your vet's office that will take care of the smell. (03/07/2005)
By Rosa
I have 3 cats. One has picked her favorite box and will use no other. I have 1 box per cat. The plastic kitty boxes will hold the urine smell after a while-plastic is porous and will absorb odors. I use those large aluminum roasting pans($1.00 each at Dollar General). I use them for a couple months,throw them away and buy more. Cats,like people,are picky. (03/07/2005)
By Michele
Try Nature's Miracle (from the pet food store) to clean the spot in your room where the box used to be. It is excellent at removing odors ... and once the odor is removed, this area might become far less attractive to the kitten ... (03/08/2005)
By Ela
You trained your kitten to use that place in your room as where to go. The recommendation to use an enzyme cleaner - also available at pet stores. Nature's Miracle is a popular one - is a good one because as long as she can smell old urine, she'll think it's an appropriate place to go. If the box is too small, she may not use it.
I have a female cat who occasionally poops outside the litter boxes, generally when the box is dirty. Some cats will only use a clean box, so you might have to clean it frequently.
Also, did you change what type of litter you've been using? If so, she may simply prefer the old kind.
Changing routines stresses cats. Believe it or not, they're actually creatures of habit. I moved two weeks ago and my male cat is still hiding under the bed a lot.
I know your parents ultimately control what happens to the kitten, but as someone already said, she's not brain damaged. She's just acting like a cat. Ask them to give her a chance.
Oh, if she's never been outdoors, there's no reason she would prefer to go outside for her business. (03/08/2005)
By
Jeannie, your kitty could have a urinary tract infection that would cause her to pee like that. It may have nothing to do with where the box is or was. I would have her checked out by a vet before I made any decisions to place her in another home.
How old is she? She may also be coming into "heat" and they will sometimes do that. If all else fails, you can put a small piece of washable carpet in the spot, like the ones you can pick up at Wal-Mart for about $3 and just pick it up and quickly wash it when she has a "mistake".
(03/08/2005)
By Roberta
i found an oversize storage box in wal-mart that i use for my 35 pound cats kitty litter box because a normal box was way too small use eucalyptus oil to clean the area up than in walmart they have accident odor bag that is in the pet supply area that has activated charcoal mixture you can put in the area that will absorb the odor after a while you will have to put in the sunlight to recharge and have do again. this is a very slow process but it does work. my son adopted a cat that had been left in apartment building for months to fend for itself and it almost ruined his fancy home.but we did get the problem cured in three months.best of luck roper (03/08/2005)
By kathy morgan
Well my cat is one year old. I went away for about 7 days and a few days after i got back she decided to not use her litter to poop in. I've tried a larger litter box, tupperware storage box, she poops outside. i've tried powder that eats up the smell of the uric acid and doesn't have an odor, she pees in the box but poops outside. I moved the box from the bathroom where it has always been for a year into my room, the little witch likes that, poops outside the box. didn't change the brand of kitty litter, she still poops outside the box. now this morning decided to pee outside of the box. i've had it someone help!!! I'm definitely taking her to the vet on Saturday. i don't know what to do with her but i have occasionally caught her dragging her rear end along the carpet. maybe it is an infection? (07/13/2005)
By Linda (Guest Post)
Your Kitten or Cat may not like the type of litter you are using. Try several kinds. Most cats don;t like scented litter so even if you like the scent most likely they will not and will not go near the box. You should take the cat to the vet to get checked out first like the others said to make sure it is well.
I have found that Everyday Pet and Stain remover takes the smell out of the carpet for both urine and cat barf.
Good luck! (08/26/2005)
By Catmom
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My cat had this problem too ...he'd poop on a bathroom rug. I found that there were gnat flies or some sort of bug/insect living in the litter. Add ½ to ¼ table salt to the litter ...salt will kill the eggs or insects/flies. Plus, try to clean the litter box as soon or often as you can. Down side of adding salt, the effectiveness of the clumping will greatly decline.
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