litter box ambushing

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Jeneen Sommers - 20 Apr 2005 17:48 GMT

I'm new to the group, and have a question about litter box
ambushing. I have 2 8 year old cats. When I moved into
my current residence about a year ago, one of the cats started
ambushing the other whenever she uses the kitty box. Poor thing
has to wait for me to get home so I can keep the other cat away
while she goes to the bathroom. Any idea what's causing this,
and what I can do to make it stop?

Thanks -

Jeneen

Reply to this Message

M@ja :o\) - 20 Apr 2005 18:14 GMT

> I'm new to the group, and have a question about litter box
> ambushing. I have 2 8 year old cats. When I moved into
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> while she goes to the bathroom. Any idea what's causing this,
> and what I can do to make it stop?

you can buy one more litter box for this other cat. i guess the one is doing
that because she is insecure in a new place and she wants to make it only
her teritory. it surely has something to do with new appartment, changing
place. the best is to buy one more litter box.

Reply to this Message

dgk - 20 Apr 2005 18:18 GMT

>I'm new to the group, and have a question about litter box
>ambushing. I have 2 8 year old cats. When I moved into
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
>Jeneen

Add a second litter box?

Reply to this Message

Ron Herfurth - 20 Apr 2005 18:20 GMT

> I'm new to the group, and have a question about litter box
> ambushing. I have 2 8 year old cats. When I moved into
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Jeneen

You could try getting a second litter pan and putting it in a different
room.

ron; 19 cats with 11 litter pans in 6 different rooms (and several of those
are indoor-outdoor cats)

Reply to this Message

Mary - 20 Apr 2005 18:27 GMT

> I'm new to the group, and have a question about litter box
> ambushing. I have 2 8 year old cats. When I moved into
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Jeneen

Hi Jeneen! Where is the litter box situated? Would it be possible
to have two boxes and separate the cats when you are not home?
We have two cats and have always had two litter boxes--I just
assumed when I brought the second one home that it would make
it easier if they did not have to share. Could be the one cat does
not like the other's scent in "her" box.

Reply to this Message

Jeneen Sommers - 20 Apr 2005 18:56 GMT

> Hi Jeneen! Where is the litter box situated? Would it be possible
> to have two boxes and separate the cats when you are not home?
> We have two cats and have always had two litter boxes--I just
> assumed when I brought the second one home that it would make
> it easier if they did not have to share. Could be the one cat does
> not like the other's scent in "her" box.

A second box seems to be the consensus. I don't really have
a good spot for one, but I'll give it a try. It seems to me that
Poppy (the bad kitty) would ambush Purrl Grrrl (the good kitty)
in the second box, too. But I don't understand the cat psychology
behind the problem so maybe it won't work out that way.

I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks for the suggestions,
everyone!

Jeneen

Reply to this Message

Karen - 20 Apr 2005 20:05 GMT

What I have is in the bedroom, in a corner I put an office mat, like what
you get for under your chair (they are fairly large) and then there is a
little privacy screen. You can order those from places like Drs. Foster and
Smith. or sometimes they have pretty decorative ones at hobby stores. Most
people do not even know it is there.

> > Hi Jeneen! Where is the litter box situated? Would it be possible
> > to have two boxes and separate the cats when you are not home?
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
>
> Jeneen

Reply to this Message

Meghan Noecker - 22 Apr 2005 12:09 GMT

>> Hi Jeneen! Where is the litter box situated? Would it be possible
>> to have two boxes and separate the cats when you are not home?
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>in the second box, too. But I don't understand the cat psychology
>behind the problem so maybe it won't work out that way.

Adding boxes did not help with my own situation. It doesn't matter
which box Kira is in, Chase simply likes to chase her, and the kitty
litter is his favorite ambush spot. He comes running when he hears her
scratching in the litter box.

One thing that helps is simply being aware. When I hear her
scratching, I look, and I watch for Chase.

Last year, it got bad, and Kira stopped using the box. I realized why,
and I made a point of escorting her to the box and standing guard. She
was upset the first time, but understood the second time. I just made
sure I took her to the box 2-3 times a day and she was able to do her
business knowing I would protect her. And Chase had to back off.

We've never been able to completely end that problem, but we keep it
down most of the time and interefere when we need to.

Signature

--
Meghan & the Zoo Crew
Equine and Pet Photography
http://www.zoocrewphoto.com

Reply to this Message

kaeli - 20 Apr 2005 19:12 GMT

> I'm new to the group, and have a question about litter box
> ambushing. I have 2 8 year old cats. When I moved into
> my current residence about a year ago, one of the cats started
> ambushing the other whenever she uses the kitty box.

Does she pick on her in other situations?

> Poor thing
> has to wait for me to get home so I can keep the other cat away
> while she goes to the bathroom. Any idea what's causing this,

Best guess: the move caused it. Some cats don't like change, to the point
where they change personality a bit. Sounds like the one found her
territoriality instinct.

> and what I can do to make it stop?

A few ideas.
* Get a second box and put it in another room.
* Change the box location to a more open spot so no ambush can occur.
* Ditch the hood if you have one.

Also, a checkup for the ambushee might be in order. Sometimes cats know
things we don't. She might smell sick to the other one (especially her urine
if the only time she is picked on is at the box). A remote possibility, but
it doesn't hurt to rule these things out.

Signature

--
~kaeli~
If God dropped acid, would he see people?
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace

Reply to this Message

Jeneen Sommers - 20 Apr 2005 21:45 GMT

>> I'm new to the group, and have a question about litter box
>> ambushing. I have 2 8 year old cats. When I moved into
>> my current residence about a year ago, one of the cats started
>> ambushing the other whenever she uses the kitty box.
>
> Does she pick on her in other situations?

Yes, Poppy can be a little rambunctious and picks on her whenever he has
alot of energy. They're indoor cats, and Poppy would rather be
outside climbing trees and chasing flies. But he would have been
eaten by a coyote a long time ago if I let him outside (or stuck at
the very top of a redwood tree).

Thanks again for all the advice! I'll stop by after work and get
another box and maybe a screen and see if that helps.

Jeneen

Reply to this Message

Karen - 20 Apr 2005 20:05 GMT

Add another box in another room. Might help.

> I'm new to the group, and have a question about litter box
> ambushing. I have 2 8 year old cats. When I moved into
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Jeneen

Reply to this Message

sriddles@aol.com - 20 Apr 2005 20:30 GMT

> I'm new to the group, and have a question about litter box
> ambushing. I have 2 8 year old cats. When I moved into
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Jeneen

Jeneen, do what ever you have to do, but it is *crucial* that you put a
stop to the litterbox-ambushing. Even if you have to lock one cat up in
a room all day while you're gone.
What will happen (and this is the voice of experience)...the ambushee
will start peeing and pooping anywhere it feels safe. Here, it was
under the dining room table. The cat will go in secluded corners,
behind furniture, wherever, and once it becomes a habit you'll have a
devil of a time getting it stopped.
I hope Megan is reading this. She is very good with issues like that.

Sherry

Reply to this Message

Alison - 20 Apr 2005 20:36 GMT

> I'm new to the group, and have a question about litter box
> ambushing. I have 2 8 year old cats. When I moved into
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Jeneen

You need more litter trays . If you have indoor cats they need one
each plus one in different locations.
Alison

Reply to this Message

Jeneen Sommers - 10 May 2005 17:58 GMT

Thanks to everyone for the sage advice. I did get a second litter
box. Even though it has only been used a couple of times, it seems
to have eased the tension. The problem isn't completely sovled
because Poppy still bothers Purrl sometimes when she uses the
box, but he isn't doing it nearly as often as he was doing before.
Hopefully, things will continue to improve.

Thanks again -

Jeneen

> I'm new to the group, and have a question about litter box
> ambushing. I have 2 8 year old cats. When I moved into
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Jeneen

Reply to this Message