Litter Box Issues!!!

[jkmn]

Hey all!

So, I am nearly at the end of the rope with my sweet rescue, Penelope! She is pooping outside of her litter box and I don't know what to do!

I've had Penelope for only about 10 months. She is approximately 4-5 years old! I don't know much about her past prior to living with me, but I do know she was abandoned by her previous owners when they moved and possibly mistreated. She's spayed and declawed and is a polydactyl! She is pretty shy, although I feel like I am just now starting to see her personality as we've only known each other 10 months. She's very sweet and loves attention and giving "head butts" and is very playful. She's comfortable around me and my boyfriend and that's it. When guests come over she immediately hides until they leave. She had a clean bill of health from the vet when I got her and is updated on all shots.

Anyways, the only problem she seems to have is using her litter boxes! I'm at my wits end and I don't know what to do so I'm hoping for some advice from people who have been in this position before or have more knowledge than me!

Penelope urinates in the litter boxes just fine, but when she has a bowel movement, half is in the box and the other half is on the cement next to the box. For a while I thought it was connected to having guests over or going on vacation, as a way to act out, but, now she seems to be doing it more often. Now it's almost every time she has a bowel movement.

I've tried a few things: she has two uncovered large litter boxes that are in my basement. She didn't like covered boxes too much when I got her so we switched. I have a litter mat by the boxes as well. I use "Cat Attract" litter and have "Feliway" plug-ins throughout the house. When there are messes, I clean up with "Fizzion" as I've been told it helps eliminately odors fairly well. The boxes are cleaned daily, even when we are gone.

What am I missing? Any suggestions? I know she is a sweet cat and I do love her so much, I'm just frustrated with cleaning up messes!

Thanks friends!

J

[sasvermont]

I had one cat that would hang his rear end out of the box to have a BM rather than his rear end in and his head out. I eventually used a box I got from the grocery store, lined it with a green garbage bag to keep it from getting soggy...and cut an entrance spot for him to hop into the box .... it seemed to work. The sides were so high that he wasn't able to hang out or hang over the edges. I think he was not comfortable squatting down, so he stood up to poop and just let it fly over the rim of the litter pan! It was a pain in the neck to use the big box, but it worked. Maybe you could put the litter pan inside another box?

By the way, that same cat of mine with the litter box issue also had NO problem pooping in the bathtub. It didn't matter where he was, he liked to poop right over the drain, in the tub. I stayed with my parents for a couple of weeks, with him along, and he pooped in their tub as often as he could. My Mom was NOT impressed. Eventually, I ended up doing one or two things: putting Comet in the tub and sometimes would leave water in the tub, just enough to keep him from hopping in and pooping!

He lived to be 18. Such a sweet kitty. He used to love to watch Sesame Street on Saturdays.

I hope your situation improves!

[Pinot's Mom]

I feel your pain. There are certain things we learn to deal with and what my husband and I call 'bad aim' is one. Pinot has a little trouble with missing the box, too. We do find if we're away, or if there's disruption, it's a bit worse, but we can pretty much count on it at least a time or two every few days.

I wish I had sage words; I do not. We love them, we coat everything in plastic and clean up. Good luck!

[Karen]

Plastic cafeteria tray - set the litter box in that, so at least the poor lands on something you can clean easily!

[moosmom]

I've been using 110QT/104LTR bins for my cats. They're high (no tracking or anything outside the bins) and long and hold a lot of litter. I switched after I saw them in a rescue place I volunteer at. Works like a charm!!! Maya Linn pees on the side (inside) the bin. The highness of it prevents it from going outside the bin. I have 3 bins for 7 cats. Shoulda done it years ago!!!!

Good luck! My Spikerdude is a shower pooper. I'd rather have it in my shower where I keep a spray bottle of bleach than on the carpeting or my bed, etc. I can always tell when he goes and remove it immediately. I have a feeling that's why he was dumped. I love the boy and wouldn't THINK of getting rid of him!! The shower is EASY to maintain with lots of hot water and bleach.