Okay more cat questions

Okay how do you train a cat to use a litter box? We haven't had a issue yet and just let stubby out for the entire day but I am wondering when the issue will arise (unless I haven't discovered it yet.)

I got a large box, got the bags, dumped some litter in it and got her to notice it by putting a toy mouse in it and made her pounce on it in the box. She sneezes at the litter and then walks away. So I think its established she has no clue about litter boxes. I want to see about phasing her out of being an outdoor cat if she chooses to be inside most of the day so the litter box needs to be addressed.

Re: Okay more cat questions

With Daisy it was really easy but she was a kitten and a quick learner. We brought her home and placed her into the litter box. SHe jumped out and we put her back in it. She jumped out and then we showed her where her food was...which is right next to the box but up higher. We left her to wonder and do her thing and she has never had an accident. We did, for about 2 days, periodicaly place her in the litter box just in case, but there was poop and pee to show she was using it. We never used toys or anything like that. We just moved her litter box into the basement and she was nervous at first but we took it downstairs and cleaned it in front of her while she played in the hood of it and never had an accident. Cats are resilient. My brother has a sometimes outdoor sometimes indoor cat and Dizzle never has a problem adjusting to a litter box. Just show it to them and wlak away.

Re: Okay more cat questions

If she is used to going outside to do her business, it will be a bit harder than if you got her as a kitten.

Best thing to do is keep putting her in the literbox and even taking her paws and rubbing them in the liter- so she knows that she can dig in there- cats instinct is to bury their poop and pee!

She will jump right out- but she will get that that is the liter box.

Do that a few times.

Keep a close eye on her - if she goes to the door to go out- put her in the box again.

See if that works...

Good luck!

Re: Okay more cat questions

I am not sure about grown cats, but most cats have the inborn instincts to use a litter box, it's pretty amazing.

Re: Okay more cat questions

Wow.. i never thought about that.

I have always taken in strays or ferals from shelters. I just dump them in the litter box. At most I'll put the litter box in the bathroom with the cat and some food/water and toys for a few hours (at most a day) and they always just 'figured' it out.

Since they hate to sleep in their pee, etc they seemed to have always LOOKED for a place to go.

Maybe use a domed cover to provide a feeling of hiding?

GL.

Re: Okay more cat questions

Re: Okay more cat questions

with mine, I would just put them in the box, take their two front paws and dig the litter with them. Once I let go, they would start digging themselves and eventually squat and pee.

Re: Okay more cat questions

K placed her in the box three times last night, i was scratching around in the box and she seemed to just be "whatever" so this morning she woke us up at 4:30AM to go out and we let her out since we knew she had to go to the bathroom (wasn't going to try to dump her in the litter box at that point) woke up this morning to find a poo in front of the box. I placed it in the box and hopefully tonight when she comes in and I show her she will understand.

We are also going to try to keep her inside all weekend and not let her out so much to see if she can behave all day indoors.

Re: Okay more cat questions

I would try to isolate her in one room overnight, possibly with tile (like the bathroom) if possible, until she uses the litterbox. There is also special litter they sell at places like Petco that is suppose to attract them to the box...I think it is called Cat Attract or something.

By instinct, they want to dig and hide their waste.

From experience, also be careful not to leave things around that may confuse her into thinking it is a litterbox. One of our rescues got confused once and peed in a paper recycling bin we had in a corner of the house. There was shredded paper in it and she peed right on it. Stuff like laundrty baskets with clothes my confuse her.

Re: Okay more cat questions

Re: Okay more cat questions

i didn't notice any clumpy areas but I will double check again tonight. I don't have a free clear space right now since we still have TONS of unpacked boxes. I am going to try for this weekend to clear out a room and have her be in there.