Outdoor cat, now 100% indoors, we have a wee issue... Options

[miss.cinders]

hey :) I'm new to the forums. I'm Miss Cinders, and I have one major drive me insane issue with M the cat.

We've always lived rural, so she has always been an outside cat. Inside through winter, because she preferred to sleep outside with the dogs during the warmer months.

I moved into town a few months ago, and around a month after M came to the new house as well [I separated from my partner, he had her until I was settled].

She has since been a 100% inside cat.

The wee issue I have is with the kitty litter.

She will do a poop in there no worries. Every. single. time.

But to do a wee, she puts her front paws into the litter, and then pee's on the floor next to the box!

I have tried putting her litter box in a cardboard box with higher sides than the litter box, she still does it.

Wiping up her mess with a cloth and burying it in the litter, she still does it.

Constantly moving her into the box when I see she's doing the ineedtowee dance. She still gets out and does it.

How can I get her to pee in the litter box?

[stephm1188]

What a nightmare! Have you thought about a bigger box? Maybe make the act itself harder? Might be that she feels a bit cramped after her jaunt about the great outdoors?
You can also get piddle pheromones to try, but I'd say try the bigger box first, you should be super pleased she's at least making the effort! Well done on that, lots of cats take muuuuuuuch longer and make life difficult.

In the meantime clean up super well around the box, white vinegar, maybe newspaper around it so it can just be turfed.

Good luck!!

[ChocolateDots]

Some cats need 2 litter trays, they just prefer it that way so I'd try adding another box and see if it helps. Also maybe she doesn't like squatting in the litter you've chosen?

A bigger tray may be needed, large storage boxes make great litter trays and are much cheaper than real trays much of the time.

[miss.cinders]

Thankyou for the replies and advice!

What a nightmare! Have you thought about a bigger box? Maybe make the act itself harder? Might be that she feels a bit cramped after her jaunt about the great outdoors?
You can also get piddle pheromones to try, but I'd say try the bigger box first, you should be super pleased she's at least making the effort! Well done on that, lots of cats take muuuuuuuch longer and make life difficult.

In the meantime clean up super well around the box, white vinegar, maybe newspaper around it so it can just be turfed.

Good luck!!

I did think maybe a bigger box. But I have a gut feeling telling me the cheeky bugga will still do her little trick.

The laundry floor is the cleanest floor in the house lol I do it every day because of her habit. And once a week it's scrubbed, not just mopped.

I do have paper under the box [and around it], and a plastic garbage bag laid out on top of the paper to try to annoy her enough to go in the box. But nup, she still squats on it.

She is really good, I have to admit, to taking to it so well. She's never been one to pee everywhere in the house when she was in. Only place was the shower over the drain! lol She's a character!

Some cats need 2 litter trays, they just prefer it that way so I'd try adding another box and see if it helps. Also maybe she doesn't like squatting in the litter you've chosen?

A bigger tray may be needed, large storage boxes make great litter trays and are much cheaper than real trays much of the time.

Hmm I might give the two trays a go. Could work. Definitely worth a try.

I've tried about four types of litter so far. So I don't think the litter is the issue. Although she could just be a picky little shit lol She does have quite a unique personality.

I did think about using a storage box, but I worried about the urine smell if/when the cardboard got wet.


The taller sided box I put her tray in, I made a "door" on one side to make it easier for her to get in/out... and to deal with the squished in feeling she may have had. But she'd stand with her front paws through the "door" into the litter and pee. So today I pulled up the piece I had bent down after I cut it, to see if she would jump in with all the sides being so high.... she was like a bloody gymnast stretched over the side so she could still pee! lol I even got video evidence so I can ask the vet when I'm down that way next.... gotta give her points for determination lol

... and right now she's having her nightly psycho cat on crack hypo attack lol I swear toddlers were easier to care for!

[Furrballz]

I would also try with placing some puppy training pads under and around the area she pees... will cut back on your need to mop so much, too!

[ChocolateDots]

I was referring to a plastic storage tub, not a cardboard box

[Heather Sharada]

Yes I would try the plastic storage boxes - they can be twice as big as a large litter tray...and also two trays. I have two cats - they wee in one and poop in the other....this can be normal for some cats.

She sounds like she is very good considering the change to her life style.

[Mymphf]

Welcome Cinders, you've had me giggling at your awful situation...lol. Don't get me wrong, not laughing at the problem but more so your way of telling us about it!

How about trying an enclosed tray? She'd have to be in it to do her business. Place it so there's only a small gap between the entry and a wall, or cabinet or something to make it hard for M to hang half in and out.

If you're keen on that idea, I've seen some really cool looking, specailised litter box furniture. V stylish!

Good luck!

[squirtle]

Hi, had a similar problem but my cat used the bead bag! Problem solved after advice from this forum suggested an additional kitty litter tray.

Puss likes one to wee in and one to poop in.

[kittycatcutie]

All cats have this problem at first. When she doesn't do her business in the litter (when you see her do it) make sure you tap her on the nose and say No. (never say their name when they're in trouble) Then put her in the litter and when she hops out, put her back in it (do this three times) and then give her a treat.