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Cat has started using the house as her litter box
ssmith56 posted:
We have 3 cats and just got another dog. Our smallest kitty (our baby) has been acting weird since we brought the new dog home. She rarely gets out of the cat tower and has now started using the house as her personal litter box. All of our cats have gone outside for a long time. We don't know what to do. Is this something we can break her of? Do I need to get another litter box just for her? Please, HELP, my husband is fit to be tied!!!! Thanks for any assistance with this...Sherry
5 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Cat has started using the house as her litter boxWe have 3 cats and just got another dog. Our smallest kitty (our baby) has been acting weird since we brought the new dog home. She rarely gets out of the cat tower and has now started using the house as her personal litter box. All of our cats have gone outside for a long time. We don't know what to do. Is this something we can break her of? Do I need to get another litter box just for her? Please, HELP, my husband is fit to be tied!!!! Thanks for any assistance with this...Sherry
Violets_are_Blue responded:
It would be best first to rule out a urinary tract infection. Take her to the vet to be checked out for one. These infections can be caused by stress and her hiding could be that's it's painful. If it is, a simple 7-10 days worth of antibiotics should clear it up. Make sure to clean everything she urinated on very well with an enzymatic cleaner to get rid of all the urine smell, not just what you can smell.
If not, then it's probably she does not like the new dog. The introduction may not have gone well and she's trying to tell the dog this is her house, not the dog's. It may be wise to try a reintroduction. Confine her to a room the dog can't even get to with her own litterbox and slowly start with something that smells like the dog, then hearing the dog, then some personal interaction through a closed door. A baby gate with the dog on one side acting calmly could be the next step. If she can eat something within sight of the dog and not run, then you're doing good.
It may be helpful to find a behavior expert to help you out as well since they would be there and could assess the situation with you and could give more ideas or solutions tailored to your situation.
If not, then it's probably she does not like the new dog. The introduction may not have gone well and she's trying to tell the dog this is her house, not the dog's. It may be wise to try a reintroduction. Confine her to a room the dog can't even get to with her own litterbox and slowly start with something that smells like the dog, then hearing the dog, then some personal interaction through a closed door. A baby gate with the dog on one side acting calmly could be the next step. If she can eat something within sight of the dog and not run, then you're doing good.
It may be helpful to find a behavior expert to help you out as well since they would be there and could assess the situation with you and could give more ideas or solutions tailored to your situation.
Report This| Share this:Cat has started using the house as her litter boxIt would be best first to rule out a urinary tract infection. Take her to the vet to be checked out for one. These infections can be caused by stress and her hiding could be that's it's painful. If it is, a simple 7-10 days worth of antibiotics should clear it up. Make sure to clean everything she urinated on very well with an enzymatic cleaner to get rid of all the urine smell, not just what you can smell.<br />If not, then it's probably she does not like the new dog. The introduction may not have gone well and she's trying to tell the dog this is her house, not the dog's. It may be wise to try a reintroduction. Confine her to a room the dog can't even get to with her own litterbox and slowly start with something that smells like the dog, then hearing the dog, then some personal interaction through a closed door. A baby gate with the dog on one side acting calmly could be the next step. If she can eat something within sight of the dog and not run, then you're doing good.<br /><br />It may be helpful to find a behavior expert to help you out as well since they would be there and could assess the situation with you and could give more ideas or solutions tailored to your situation.
neartown_vet responded:
Please get her to a vet asap to test for urinary infection. It can be very painful.
Report This| Share this:Cat has started using the house as her litter boxPlease get her to a vet asap to test for urinary infection. It can be very painful.
ssmith56 replied to Violets_are_Blue's response:
Thank you for the advice. We have lately noticed that she will maybe go out on the patio with us but she acts like she is terrified of something. We have two new cats in the neighborhood and think maybe this is it. She is feeling great and is now using the little box I got her. I guess we will go out with her until she feels safe again.
Report This| Share this:Cat has started using the house as her litter boxThank you for the advice. We have lately noticed that she will maybe go out on the patio with us but she acts like she is terrified of something. We have two new cats in the neighborhood and think maybe this is it. She is feeling great and is now using the little box I got her. I guess we will go out with her until she feels safe again.
As other members have mentioned, you really should take her to your veterinarian to make sure she doesn't have a urinary tract infection, which is the most common medical cause for urinating outside her litterbox. While there are many causes, some are stress related and could coincide with the adoption of your new dog.
If she turns out to be medically normal, it's likely this is a behavioral problem. Your veterinarian can refer you to a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist if one is available in your area. In the meantime, try a feline pheromone diffuser to see if this helps (your veterinarian should know where to get one.)
Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP
The Cat Doctor
Board Certified in Feline Practice
If she turns out to be medically normal, it's likely this is a behavioral problem. Your veterinarian can refer you to a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist if one is available in your area. In the meantime, try a feline pheromone diffuser to see if this helps (your veterinarian should know where to get one.)
Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP
The Cat Doctor
Board Certified in Feline Practice
Report This| Share this:Cat has started using the house as her litter boxAs other members have mentioned, you really should take her to your veterinarian to make sure she doesn't have a urinary tract infection, which is the most common medical cause for urinating outside her litterbox. While there are many causes, some are stress related and could coincide with the adoption of your new dog.<br /> <br /> If she turns out to be medically normal, it's likely this is a behavioral problem. Your veterinarian can refer you to a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist if one is available in your area. In the meantime, try a feline pheromone diffuser to see if this helps (your veterinarian should know where to get one.)<br /> <br /> Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP<br /> The Cat Doctor<br /> Board Certified in Feline Practice<br />
ssmith56 replied to Drew Weigner, DVM, ABVP's response:
Dr Weigner,
We have figured out that it is something that has scared her outside. There are two new cats in the neighborhood but we haven't seen her tangle with them....not saying this didn't happen. We can get her out on the back patio but she is so jumpy that the ac turning on makes her jump. And she won't get off the patio or let us leave her out there without us. It is so strange due to her brothers (adoptive) play rough with her and she holds her own so we are very confused. I normally do a pouch of lavender for the dogs when they get upset (normally during thunder) and this calms them but am not sure about cats. And if she will get over this due to she loved to go outside. Thank you for all your help. Sherry
We have figured out that it is something that has scared her outside. There are two new cats in the neighborhood but we haven't seen her tangle with them....not saying this didn't happen. We can get her out on the back patio but she is so jumpy that the ac turning on makes her jump. And she won't get off the patio or let us leave her out there without us. It is so strange due to her brothers (adoptive) play rough with her and she holds her own so we are very confused. I normally do a pouch of lavender for the dogs when they get upset (normally during thunder) and this calms them but am not sure about cats. And if she will get over this due to she loved to go outside. Thank you for all your help. Sherry
Report This| Share this:Cat has started using the house as her litter boxDr Weigner,<br />We have figured out that it is something that has scared her outside. There are two new cats in the neighborhood but we haven't seen her tangle with them....not saying this didn't happen. We can get her out on the back patio but she is so jumpy that the ac turning on makes her jump. And she won't get off the patio or let us leave her out there without us. It is so strange due to her brothers (adoptive) play rough with her and she holds her own so we are very confused. I normally do a pouch of lavender for the dogs when they get upset (normally during thunder) and this calms them but am not sure about cats. And if she will get over this due to she loved to go outside. Thank you for all your help. Sherry
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