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#1
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Cat has taken to using couch as litter box
I've got a formerly feral cat, who's been inside for about 18 mos, who,
w/increasing frequency has taken to going on the sofa. In the past, if I'd found out that she'd gone outside the box I'd chaulked it up to a possible "traffic" issue--perhaps another cat was in the box at the time. But tonight I caught her dumping on the couch. I know she didn't even attempt to go to the box. Similar thing happened a few days ago. She had been sitting on the couch for a while, them the next time I go in there she's moved to the floor, and the couch is soiled. She's not sick, nothing's changed or new in the house, but over the past few months these occurances have increased. Last week she peed in the laundry basket. And in case it was a traffic issue I added another litter box, but, as I said, tonight she didn't even look for the box. I can't understand why she'd go on the couch which is a place she likes to sit. And interestingly, she's been more friendly lately, sometimes, on her own, coming up on the couch to sit next to me. Also, in recent months she's become interested in playing w/the other 2 cats. Those are big improvements. Unfortunately, her other behavior is going in the other direction. Frustrated... -- -Dave |
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#5
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Your positive she isn't sick?
Well, now that you mention it, I the other day I noticed tape worms (I thought they were all flea free, but I guess not), which she'll be getting medication for today. Although I've never thought worms caused this type of behavior. I've only seen urinary tract/bladder problems cause them to go outside the box. Do tape worms cause discomfort? strong smelling orange spray on the couch, to deter her. Might deter me, too. Is that the only area that she is using outside the box? As I mentioned, she peed in the laundry basket last week. A few mos ago she had a bladder infection, but that was cleared up w/a couple of weeks' of antibiotics. Even then, she only peed outside the box, never pooped. Since she's been in the house there have been occasional incidents where she's gone outside the box, though I was never sure why. I hope she hasn't decided that the couch is going to be her private bathroom. -- -Dave |
#6
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Your positive she isn't sick?
Well, now that you mention it, I the other day I noticed tape worms (I thought they were all flea free, but I guess not), which she'll be getting medication for today. Although I've never thought worms caused this type of behavior. I've only seen urinary tract/bladder problems cause them to go outside the box. Do tape worms cause discomfort? strong smelling orange spray on the couch, to deter her. Might deter me, too. Is that the only area that she is using outside the box? As I mentioned, she peed in the laundry basket last week. A few mos ago she had a bladder infection, but that was cleared up w/a couple of weeks' of antibiotics. Even then, she only peed outside the box, never pooped. Since she's been in the house there have been occasional incidents where she's gone outside the box, though I was never sure why. I hope she hasn't decided that the couch is going to be her private bathroom. -- -Dave |
#7
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Your positive she isn't sick?
Well, now that you mention it, I the other day I noticed tape worms (I thought they were all flea free, but I guess not), which she'll be getting medication for today. Although I've never thought worms caused this type of behavior. I've only seen urinary tract/bladder problems cause them to go outside the box. Do tape worms cause discomfort? strong smelling orange spray on the couch, to deter her. Might deter me, too. Is that the only area that she is using outside the box? As I mentioned, she peed in the laundry basket last week. A few mos ago she had a bladder infection, but that was cleared up w/a couple of weeks' of antibiotics. Even then, she only peed outside the box, never pooped. Since she's been in the house there have been occasional incidents where she's gone outside the box, though I was never sure why. I hope she hasn't decided that the couch is going to be her private bathroom. -- -Dave |
#8
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I think this is definitely not a behaviour problem
I hope your right. But despite the worms, she's only going once a day. Today, I placed a box close to where she's hanging out, and I blocked the couch, and she used the box. (And after she did I brought her to it and praised her--whatever good that did.) Make sure you really clean it, and use a neutralizing agent like Nature's Miracle. I'll do that. Though, she hadn't actually soiled the covers on the cushions. There was a blanket she went on, which is why this is troubling. It's not like there was some stinky cushion luring her to that spot. The thing that worries me is that, years ago I had her in the house for a few months (I let her back out because she never got used to it), and, if I remember correctly, she'd sometimes not use the box. Never knew why. -- -Dave |
#9
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I think this is definitely not a behaviour problem
I hope your right. But despite the worms, she's only going once a day. Today, I placed a box close to where she's hanging out, and I blocked the couch, and she used the box. (And after she did I brought her to it and praised her--whatever good that did.) Make sure you really clean it, and use a neutralizing agent like Nature's Miracle. I'll do that. Though, she hadn't actually soiled the covers on the cushions. There was a blanket she went on, which is why this is troubling. It's not like there was some stinky cushion luring her to that spot. The thing that worries me is that, years ago I had her in the house for a few months (I let her back out because she never got used to it), and, if I remember correctly, she'd sometimes not use the box. Never knew why. -- -Dave |
#10
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I think this is definitely not a behaviour problem
I hope your right. But despite the worms, she's only going once a day. Today, I placed a box close to where she's hanging out, and I blocked the couch, and she used the box. (And after she did I brought her to it and praised her--whatever good that did.) Make sure you really clean it, and use a neutralizing agent like Nature's Miracle. I'll do that. Though, she hadn't actually soiled the covers on the cushions. There was a blanket she went on, which is why this is troubling. It's not like there was some stinky cushion luring her to that spot. The thing that worries me is that, years ago I had her in the house for a few months (I let her back out because she never got used to it), and, if I remember correctly, she'd sometimes not use the box. Never knew why. -- -Dave |
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