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Cat Forum / General Topics / May 2006Not covering her poop
I adopted a cat about a month ago, she is about three years old. She is an indoor cat, so obviously used to using boxes. But when she poops she does not cover her poop, and sometimes I have to get up in the middle of the night and cover poop in the box. Is this a territorial thing (I have another cat)? the only thing I can think of to do is to try to train her. So when she finishes her little duty, I take one of her arms, and push the litter over the crap with it. She seems incredibly upset that I would do that... afterwards she immediately went to one of her hiding places. But she gets over things quickly, and she is fine now. Has anyone else had this problem, and have a better way to resolve it? thanks in advance Mary > I adopted a cat about a month ago, she is about three years old. She is an > indoor cat, so obviously used to using boxes. But when she poops she does [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > thanks in advance She won't 'get' the poop covering by that example, sounds like it will just spook her and make it more uncomfortable to go to the litter box. Sorry this is not helpful, I don't really know of a way to 'teach' them to cover it properly. Seems like they either 'get' it as kittens, or they don't, or something in between. One of my cats just has no talent for poop covering, he tries and he tries for some 5 minutes at the time, and makes a big pile of sand, just not in the spot where the poop is, but few inches away from it. Lot of times I just cover it for him after he's done. I never thought of it as a big enough deal to teach him something different. My other cat will cover the biggest poop with just one paw flick, cover it well, and be done with it in a few seconds. > I adopted a cat about a month ago, she is about three years old. She is an > indoor cat, so obviously used to using boxes. But when she poops she does [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Has anyone else had this problem, and have a better way to resolve it? One of the 'girls' leaves her mess uncovered and sprays it when she's pissed off at us. Could be she never learned or could be she's playing politics with the other cat... you might consider a ventilated litterbox; behaviourwise, I'd suggest picking her up and making her watch while you cover it up... might take a week or so. pat > thanks in advance > > Mary I dont get it, why is this a problem for you? As long as she defecates in the litter box, who cares if she covers her poop or not? > I dont get it, why is this a problem for you? As > long as she defecates in the litter box, who cares > if she covers her poop or not? you gotta be kidding... I mean there's the entire esthetic; grey granular kitty litter and amorphous brown kitty excrement, fall & winter colours that just don't mix well. pat there's the smell issue too of course > > I dont get it, why is this a problem for you? As > > long as she defecates in the litter box, who cares [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > granular kitty litter and amorphous brown kitty excrement, fall & winter > colours that just don't mix well. I hope the kitty is a calico! ;) >> > I dont get it, why is this a problem for you? As >> > long as she defecates in the litter box, who cares [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > I hope the kitty is a calico! ;) She is, in fact. She is an interesting color. She has the white on her feet, chin and belly, and then the rest of her has tabby markings that alternate in red and silver. Besides that, she is the most soft and gentle cat I have ever met. Mair > >> > I dont get it, why is this a problem for you? As > >> > long as she defecates in the litter box, who cares [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Mair sounds very cute :) Way to go, Pat! my thinking exactly! M >> I dont get it, why is this a problem for you? As >> long as she defecates in the litter box, who cares [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > pat > there's the smell issue too of course >> I dont get it, why is this a problem for you? As >> long as she defecates in the litter box, who cares [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >granular kitty litter and amorphous brown kitty excrement, fall & winter >colours that just don't mix well. You think your litter box is attractive so long as the poop is covered? >pat >there's the smell issue too of course >>>I dont get it, why is this a problem for you? As >>>long as she defecates in the litter box, who cares [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > You think your litter box is attractive so long as the poop is > covered? *much* more attractive when the poop is covered. >>pat >>there's the smell issue too of course >I dont get it, why is this a problem for you? As > long as she defecates in the litter box, who cares > if she covers her poop or not? The problem is the odor! If she poops in the middle of the night, it will keep me "half awake" unless I get up and cover it. I am just trying to figure out my options, and it is real important that I don't want to spook her. I taught the other cat I have how to cover his poop just like this when he was a kitten... about 6 months old. and it worked on him, so it surprised me that it spooked her. >>I dont get it, why is this a problem for you? As >> long as she defecates in the litter box, who cares >> if she covers her poop or not? > >The problem is the odor! If she poops in the middle of the night, it will >keep me "half awake" unless I get up and cover it. I'm sometimes kept awake by seemingly herculean efforts by my cat to sort out the litter. Just poop, scratch, and leave the box, dammit! > I am just trying to >figure out my options, and it is real important that I don't want to spook >her. I taught the other cat I have how to cover his poop just like this >when he was a kitten... about 6 months old. and it worked on him, so it >surprised me that it spooked her. My new but old cat scratches the litter so much that it gets all over the floor. Personally, I would prefer to cover it myself. > I adopted a cat about a month ago, she is about three years old. She is an > indoor cat, so obviously used to using boxes. But when she poops she does [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Mary I have watched Twyla to see what her little pooping ritual is. She makes her little sculpture, and then she gets out of the box and scratches around on the carpet! It is hilarious to watch. It would seem that getting a bigger box might be the answer, but I have a big plastic tub that I use downstairs, and she doesn't cover the poop in that box either. That is why I wondered if it was a territorial thing. Mair > My new but old cat scratches the litter so much that it gets all over the > floor. Personally, I would prefer to cover it myself. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >> >> Mary > I have watched Twyla to see what her little pooping ritual is. She makes > her little sculpture, and then she gets out of the box and scratches around [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Mair I think you have a better chance of teaching you first cat to cover the new cats poop..... Although the reviews haven't been all that good, have you considered on of the automatic cleaning litter boxes? It just might work since the poop is on the surface. >> I have watched Twyla to see what her little pooping ritual is. She makes >> her little sculpture, and then she gets out of the box and scratches [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > on > the surface. Wouldn't it 'gum up the works' (yech!) because it is not covered with litter? I think I have a friend who has one of those boxes (at least she did!) and I remember that it was expensive! M > Wouldn't it 'gum up the works' (yech!) because it is not covered with > litter? > I think I have a friend who has one of those boxes (at least she did!) and I > remember that it was expensive! > > M My thought is that it actually might work better since it's lying on the surface of the litter. From what I've read in this NG, a lot of people have complaints about them...in your case who knows. If you couldn't try it first, it would be an expensive way to find out it doesn't work. >My new but old cat scratches the litter so much that it gets all over the >floor. Personally, I would prefer to cover it myself. If you're going to go to the trouble of covering it, why not simply scoop it and dispose of it? >> I adopted a cat about a month ago, she is about three years old. She is >an [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >> >> Mary Our 14-year-old cat doesn't cover his poo. And believe me, it STINKS. I just think he is lazy and doesn't care if it bothers us or not. But, what is funny, is our 4-year old cat will make the rounds to the 4 litter boxes and go in and cover up everything, like it's his job! We started to call him 'Zamboni'. > I adopted a cat about a month ago, she is about three years old. She is an > indoor cat, so obviously used to using boxes. But when she poops she does [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Mary That is so funny! The Fuzzy Zamboni! Wish I had one--but it looks like I have my hands full with just these two. Neither of them is all that bad... in fact they each are wonderful cats, except that Arlo developed a biting problem. I worked and worked with him on it, and was just deciding that I was perhaps going to have to make him an "outdoor only" cat in lieu of having him put to sleep, which I can't even deal with the thought of. Then, this little gem of a cat came along needing adoption... and that's how I ended up getting a second cat. The territoriality is the only bad behavior, and so far there has been no "acting out" except for "cat fights." Now Twyla (the new cat) she is quite spooked and I am keeping her in my bedroom. And Arlo, I am working towards making him an outdoor cat. I know I am breaking all the rules by bringing him inside for a nap on my lap with his favorite blanket.... but I love him too! More than you needed to know, but what the heck... mair > Our 14-year-old cat doesn't cover his poo. And believe me, it STINKS. I > just [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] >> >> Mary LOLOL I do the same thing! I am so sick & tierd of my 8 year old cat not covering, I try & make her do it by taking her paw & push the dirt over it. I have 3 cats & for years the two covered their "doodles" & the one refuses. Now, they all refuse 98% of the time & its really ticking me off. I wish you luck with your cat, but mine are ages 8-10 & they are plain LAZY. Shari >I adopted a cat about a month ago, she is about three years old. She is an >indoor cat, so obviously used to using boxes. But when she poops she does [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > >Mary My oldest male doesn't want to cover his either. Our youngest one, on the other hand, digs until noonsday so he takes care of the problem. Something for a note. I've noticed certain foods cause stinkier feces than others so I quit feeding them the cheaper brands of cat food. Besides, in the long run, the better brands give them more nutrition which means less elimination and less feeding saves money. I also do not feed them any soft foods anymore either. They really caused a stinky problem. And a good litter has a lot to do with the keeping down of odor. As far as the electronic machine. I had to sell mine due to financial reasons, and I really miss it. I'm going to buy a robo one in the future. I understand they eliminate the smell and hard work associated with continual clean up. >LOLOL I do the same thing! >I am so sick & tierd of my 8 year old cat not covering, I try & make her do [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >> >>Mary |
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