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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / January 2004

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soiling outside the litter box

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Brad Cook - 27 Jan 2004 01:19 GMT
I have a 2 YO fixed female calico that I got from the humane society a
couple of months ago. She has a strange habit of defecating just outside the
litter box on a mat that I put down to minimize the scattered litter. She
initially used the box for about a week and then started the new behavior. I
clean the box daily and she is in good health. Any thoughts what's going on
and how to change the behavior?

Thanks
Brad
Cathy Friedmann - 27 Jan 2004 01:20 GMT
Yes.  Give her 2, or even 3, litter boxes in a row.  One of my cats did this
when she was young; the lined-up-in-a-row litter boxes solved the problem.

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble")  Paul Simon

> I have a 2 YO fixed female calico that I got from the humane society a
> couple of months ago. She has a strange habit of defecating just outside the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Thanks
> Brad
Gail - 27 Jan 2004 01:40 GMT
Yes.
Gail
> Yes.  Give her 2, or even 3, litter boxes in a row.  One of my cats did this
> when she was young; the lined-up-in-a-row litter boxes solved the problem.
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> > Thanks
> > Brad
Karen Chuplis - 27 Jan 2004 01:57 GMT
> I have a 2 YO fixed female calico that I got from the humane society a
> couple of months ago. She has a strange habit of defecating just outside the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Thanks
> Brad

This almost always means the cat needs a separate box next to it to poop in.
Some are funny that way and like separate boxes for separate operations, so
to speak. Especially as she is in a new environment, it could really make
her feel better about everything. Also, I would scoop at least once a day as
she sounds like she doesn't like even the possiblity of stepping on "icky"
while she goes. Cats can be extremely particular in their bathroom habits.

Karen
MaryL - 27 Jan 2004 07:01 GMT
> I have a 2 YO fixed female calico that I got from the humane society a
> couple of months ago. She has a strange habit of defecating just outside the
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Thanks
> Brad

I would like to reiterate what the others have said -- get another litter
box, and place it next to the original one.  I sometimes say that my cats
"specialize" because they will use one box for feces and the other for
urine.  Oddly, they will sometimes trade boxes; the box that is used for
feces one week may be the box they use for urine a few weeks later.  Mine
don't use either box *exclusively* for one purpose, but there is a clear
pattern.  Incidentally, I have one box in one room and the other box in
another room; but the recommended solution for a problem such as yours is
usually to place the boxes side-by-side (or at least close together).
Later, you may be able to place the boxes farther apart, if you prefer it
that way.

MaryL
 
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