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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / September 2006Pawing at litter...
I have two wonderful rescue cats whom I have lovingly dubbed "Crazy" and "Lazy." Crazy was a stray that I took in after a co-worker found him and offered him up. I've had him for almost a year now. He's been to the vet, had his shots and, aside from being overweight (which is being addressed with diet and play), is perfectly healthy. But he's appropriately named, because he's driving me nuts. I suppose it's because he was a stray and had to take measures to ensure that his scent was covered in the "wild" suburban landscape, but Crazy paws at the area around the litterbox. All around the litterbox, which I keep in a spare shower stall (because there's absolutely nowhere else to keep it). I'm talking standing up on his hind legs and scraping (with his non-declawed front paws) at the tile until the noise makes my teeth itch. Did I mention that this generally happens at around 4 am? It's something akin to: Crazy (around litterbox): "*SCRAPESCRAPESCRAPESCRAPE*" Me: *waking up, angry, shouting groggily* "Quit that!" Crazy (chastized): "Mew?" *silence for half an hour, then repeat anew* At this point, I would kill a man for a decent night's sleep. I understand the logic behind it (burying his scent, survival mechanism, etc.) but that doesn't mean that I like it or that I know how to stop it. This cat does the same thing around his food dish (attempting to "hide" his leftovers from predators or competitors), which doesn't bother me so much because it's not as loud. As I said, moving the litterbox isn't an option (when I lived in my last apartment, the litter was in the laundry room and the pretty little freak scratched the heck out of the washer/dryer with this pawing) and he's perfectly healthy. My other cat doesn't do this, but she wasn't a stray (she was rescued from a bad situation). It doesn't help matters that Crazy does all of that pawing yet doesn't even bury his poop! Any suggestions at all would be welcome by both me and my employer, who doesn't believe "the cat kept me up all night" as an excuse for falling asleep on the job. Just my opinion, but perhaps Crazy is doing this to awaken you. And, it is working! > I have two wonderful rescue cats whom I have lovingly dubbed "Crazy" > and "Lazy." Crazy was a stray that I took in after a co-worker found [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > doesn't believe "the cat kept me up all night" as an excuse for falling > asleep on the job. > Just my opinion, but perhaps Crazy is doing this to awaken you. And, > it is working! So... Any suggestions for stopping the behavior, short of pretending to be asleep (which gets old after 45 minutes of claws scraping on tile)? I can't wear earplugs, because I wouldn't hear the alarm in the morning! > > Just my opinion, but perhaps Crazy is doing this to awaken you. And, > > it is working! [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > tile)? I can't wear earplugs, because I wouldn't hear the alarm in the > morning! I would try a couple of things, such as putting a rug under the litter box with an adhesive that you can remove later (ask someone at Home Depot for a recommendation). Then he can scratch the rug but you won't hear it. Or could try putting two way tape all around the litter box. He won't scratch that for long! Of course litter will stick to it and it will be a mess, but it may break him of this habit. Another option might be to get a little sound machine and set it to play white noise to drown out the scratching noises. The only downside to this is you will become addicted (so get one that has an option for battery use when you travel). Good luck! > I would try a couple of things, such as putting a rug under the litter > box with an adhesive that you can remove later (ask someone at Home > Depot for a recommendation). Then he can scratch the rug but you won't > hear it. Or could try putting two way tape all around the litter box. > He won't scratch that for long! Of course litter will stick to it and > it will be a mess, but it may break him of this habit. See, maybe I wasn't entirely clear, but the issue is that he scratches the *wall* - the tiled wall of the shower stall. I may try taping a small rug to it, but I doubt that will work in the long run. I'd rather break him of the habit than muffle the sound. > Another option might be to get a little sound machine and set it to > play white noise to drown out the scratching noises. Wouldn't work - I'm a heavy sleeper, so white noise wouldn't even come close to drowning out the nails-on-a-chalkboard noise he makes! Thanks for the suggestions. I do understand that it is the walls and I think that Kitty knows exactly what she is doing and why. Yes, you would need to soften the walls so you don't hear her noise. Unfortunately she will probably find another way of awakening you though. Maybe the best idea would be to confine HER to another room while you sleep? > > I would try a couple of things, such as putting a rug under the litter > > box with an adhesive that you can remove later (ask someone at Home [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Thanks for the suggestions. >> I would try a couple of things, such as putting a rug under the litter >> box with an adhesive that you can remove later (ask someone at Home [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Thanks for the suggestions. Hi, I am having a similar problem at the moment. I don't allow my cats in my room at night, as three of them are under 1 year, decide to play or fight at 3am and I never sleep. One of my girls, however, thinks it's her room and has recently started scratching the door. Very loudly, for a long time, at all hours. So I share your frustration. One thing that works (partially) is tying some noisy, inconvenient things such as pan lids or wire coathangers onto bits of string so that they hang over the area the cat scratches, so that when the cat scratches, the objects get in their way and also make lots of noise. Hard to sleep through, but it worked for a while. Now I am trying the spray bottle. The minute she starts scratching, I open the door a crack and squirt her thoroughly. try and do it without them seeing you, as it will then seem like the direct result of them scratching. As my girl's very bright, she seems to be getting the message. Make sure you only do it while they are scratching, and stop as soon as they stop, so they get the message that it's about the scratching, not the room or the shower. Just some ideas, hope they help. I don't think I'd try spraying this cat while he's scratching, since he's in a litter box. She could very well train him to stop using the litter box if he's disciplined or scared while in it. I think I would do all possible to find another place for the box. Is there any other corner where it will fit? You can put a pretty screen in front of it so it is out of view if that's the problem. Good luck, Rhonda >Now I am trying > the spray bottle. The minute she starts scratching, I open the door a crack [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > that it's about the scratching, not the room or the shower. Just some ideas, > hope they help. >I don't think I'd try spraying this cat while he's scratching, since he's >in a litter box. She could very well train him to stop using the litter box >if he's disciplined or scared while in it. Absolutely, I agree. I was under the impression that he was outside the litter box, scratching at the shower walls. It would depend whether this was his 'litter ritual' or whether he is just scratching for attention. Do yuo know whether he does this everytime he goes to the toilet, or just at night time? If he does it every time, then Rhonda is correct, don't spray him. It's likely that he feels it's not sufficiently covered, maybe a larger litter box with more litter? Does he like to dig a big hole? Try just putting it in the middle of your loungeroom at night so he can't scratch any nearby walls. I'm not sure. meee > I think I would do all possible to find another place for the box. Is > there any other corner where it will fit? You can put a pretty screen in [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] >> soon as they stop, so they get the message that it's about the >> scratching, not the room or the shower. Just some ideas, hope they help. clearly my reading comprehension skills need work! What about double sided tape on all the shower walls? It shouldn't hurt the tile, and he will hate it. > > I would try a couple of things, such as putting a rug under the litter > > box with an adhesive that you can remove later (ask someone at Home [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > > Thanks for the suggestions. > See, maybe I wasn't entirely clear, but the issue is that he scratches > the *wall* - the tiled wall of the shower stall. I may try taping a > small rug to it, but I doubt that will work in the long run. I'd > rather break him of the habit than muffle the sound. You said it's in a "spare shower stall"? Are there any doors between this bathroom and your bed, like a bedroom door? If so, does Crazy keep you up if you close the door to muffle the noise? It would mean no cats in the bedroom at night, but that may be worth it for a decent night's sleep. For my part, I have a yowler. A loud, obnoxious, off-and-on all-night-long yowler, but my husband and I both learned to sleep through it after the first two weeks of misery ;) When we have guests, we tell them to keep their bedroom door shut, and we provide earplugs. Seriously. If he still keeps them awake, we keep the cats in our bedroom at night, so there are two doors between the yowler and the guests. That usually does the trick, though we get less sleep because the cats spend all night chasing each other across our bed. Oh, the price of being a good host! -- Jennifer -- Jennifer >> See, maybe I wasn't entirely clear, but the issue is that he scratches >> the *wall* - the tiled wall of the shower stall. I may try taping a [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > -- > Jennifer Lol I feel your pain!! I have a yowler too! Fortunately I have very understanding neighbours, but I'm sure the people two doors down, who we don't know, think I torture him or something. (Apologies if this goes through twice - I got an error the first time.) > See, maybe I wasn't entirely clear, but the issue is that he scratches > the *wall* - the tiled wall of the shower stall. I may try taping a > small rug to it, but I doubt that will work in the long run. I'd > rather break him of the habit than muffle the sound. You said it's in a "spare shower stall"? Are there any doors between this bathroom and your bed, like a bedroom door? If so, does Crazy keep you up if you close the door to muffle the noise? It would mean no cats in the bedroom at night, but that may be worth it for a decent night's sleep. For my part, I have a yowler. A loud, obnoxious, off-and-on all-night-long yowler, but my husband and I both learned to sleep through it after the first two weeks of misery ;) When we have guests, we tell them to keep their bedroom door shut, and we provide earplugs. Seriously. If he still keeps them awake, we keep the cats in our bedroom at night, so there are two doors between the yowler and the guests. That usually does the trick, though we get less sleep because the cats spend all night chasing each other across our bed. Oh, the price of being a good host! -- Jennifer > the cats spend all night chasing each other across our bed. Ha! This is an every night thing for me now that I have a new kitten and a 3 year old cat. Add a dog into the mix and I'm a zombie!! > meeee wrote: > > One thing that works (partially) is tying some noisy, inconvenient things such as pan > lids or wire coathangers onto bits of string so that they hang over the area the cat > scratches, so that when the cat scratches, the objects get in their way and also > make lots of noise. At the very least, that would be amusing. I might give it a shot on a weekend when I don't have to be up early the next morning. > Rhonda wrote: > > I think I would do all possible to find another place for the box. Is there any other > corner where it will fit? Unfortunately, no. I live with a roommate in a two-bedroom apartment, so all of the "common" areas (laundry room, kitchen, hallway, etc.) are off-limits for the litterbox. I really, really, REALLY don't want to put it in the bedroom with me because the bedroom is carpeted and my other cat, Lazy, is not always so cautious about where she squats and occasionally pees half down the outside of the box. It also can't go anywhere else in the (small) bathroom. > meeee wrote: > I was under the impression that he was outside the litter box, scratching at the shower > walls. That's right, that's what he's doing. > It would depend whether this was his 'litter ritual' or whether he is just scratching for > attention. Do yuo know whether he does this everytime he goes to the toilet, or just > at night time? Not every time, but not just at night. It happens maybe one out of every five litter box trips. > Rhonda wrote: > > What about double sided tape on all the shower walls? It shouldn't hurt the tile, and > he will hate it. I never thought of that. I will absolutely give that one a shot. > Elizabeth wrote: > > Have you tried larger, high-sided litter box (so that Crazy scrapes at the high sides of > the box itself?) Yep. He's using a high-sided box right now, but I also used to have a covered one. Same damn thing, the crazy beast. ;) > Are there any doors between this bathroom and your bed, like a bedroom door? If > so, does Crazy keep you up if you close the door to muffle the noise? Yes, there are doors and no, the scratching doesn't keep me up if I close the door - the yowling from the other cat (Lazy) does. And if I let Lazy in the bedroom, then I'm shutting her off from the litterbox... There are some good suggestions in here - I especially like the double-sided tape. Well, if you put it in your room, try putting one of those plastic table cloth covers under it. As he's doing it at odd times, and not every time as a kind of 'litter ritual' if he does it in your room while the litterbox is there, you can take some time to train him out of it. I know it will mean less sleep for you, but if you try and distract him immediately as soon as he starts scratching, ie pick him up for cuddles, throw one of his toys over near him, that might help him break the habit. To me, it sounds like a habit he used to have, realizes isn't necessary now (otherwise he'd do it religiously) but still does out of half remembered habit, or in specific (and unknown to hoomins) situations. Distracting him would work best if donw immediately, and if he's completely removed from the scene. As for your out-of-bos pee-er, I have a girl who does this, and 4 things are crucial to her NOT doing it. 1. Not having to share a litterbox with another cat (if you can get them one each; it may solve a lot of your probs. If possible get 3 and see if it changes; cats are very finicky and might prefer not having to share at all) 2. Litterbox cleanliness. Again more boxes will help. 3.Keeping the box away from walls. This will help combat 'bum over edge' syndrome. 4. Larger box. again, prevents bum over edge. It sounds like you have a small house, which makes increasing the litterboxes hard. Give it a go for a few weeks, as something as simple as this might be the answer. I have 6 cats and had to work at getting a system everyone's happy with. They seem to prefer poo-ing mostly in one box, and wee-ing in the other. They also have probs if it's against a wall. Some dislike pee-ing when the others are around, but family members will often share a box, even if others are free. Go figure. just some suggestions, and good luck finding a solution. >> meeee wrote: >> [quoted text clipped - 66 lines] > There are some good suggestions in here - I especially like the > double-sided tape. > I have two wonderful rescue cats whom I have lovingly dubbed "Crazy" > and "Lazy." Crazy was a stray that I took in after a co-worker found [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > doesn't believe "the cat kept me up all night" as an excuse for falling > asleep on the job. n What about a wooden panel which you can take off the wall if the shower shall be used and put it on again in the evening. (Two fastenings to hang the panel on) Would be less noisy. ..... >Crazy paws at the area around the litterbox. All around the litterbox, > which I keep in a spare shower stall (because there's absolutely > nowhere else to keep it). I'm talking standing up on his hind legs and > scraping (with his non-declawed front paws) at the tile until the noise > makes my teeth itch. Did I mention that this generally happens at > around 4 am? just an off-the cuff suggestion: Have you tried larger, high-sided litter box (so that Crazy scrapes at the high sides of the box itself?) or even a large covered box? My RugRat (also rescued from the wild) does that scraping bit too (just not profoundly as Crazy seems to do)). RugRat does a LOT of scraping at the sides of whatever litter box he uses, but the scraping seems to me to be more about the residual smells of the cats who have used the box before him (including the one box at my Mom's which had not been used in probably 10 years, but still seemed to bear some of FuzzBuster's residual marking). RugRat's scrapings of the sides are done both before and after use, but most of it is before use. The large high-sided litter boxes from Rubbermaid seem to work the best in my household; they are best for my (possible) CRF kitty who pees alot, and they are best for RugRat, cause he gets all those high sides to scrape down! I found them at Petsmart. >I have two wonderful rescue cats whom I have lovingly dubbed "Crazy" >and "Lazy." Crazy was a stray that I took in after a co-worker found [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >*silence for half an hour, then repeat anew* I had this happen with one of my cats. I ended up getting a HUGE storage container that is 16"x26"x15". The cat has to jump into it, but does okay. I think because it's big enough for him to do his business, and turn around to scratch, he doesn't scratch much at all any more. It seems easier to clean, too because it's so big. Of course I keep only about four inches of litter in the bottom, and when I clean it once a day, not much builds up. Anyway, he doesn't drive me crazy any more. Brenda |
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