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Adopted Cat - Afraid of Bathtub/Bathroom
I have an adopted 1 1/2 year old persian neutered male.
I brought him home just this past weekend and placed his litter box in the bathroom next to the bathtub/shower stall and toilet (it's the only location in my apartment for this litterbox). He is adjusting slowly to his surroundings however, is very skittish about sounds, loud sounds or cars rolling down the street He had not used the litterbox for 4 days! Nothing wet or solid was in that litterbox. So, last night I decided to see if the cat had a problem with the location of the box. I put him into the shower stall/bathtub and he lost his little mind and went Ba-na-nas!! Apparently someone had given him baths in the bathtub where he came from and was scarred from this experience, and now he's terrified of the bathroom PERIOD. He hates the bathroom or anything to do with the sound of running water. I put the litterbox in an out of the way area of my apartment away from the bathroom, and overnight he left a deposit in the bank. So, that's how I figured out it isn't that he won't use the box, but simply the location of the box. I'm desperate for any advice anyone can give me about slowly desensitizing him to the bathroom, and bathtub so I can get the litterbox back in the bathroom where it should be. I don't plan on (bathing) grooming him myself, he's got a groomer appointment this weekend. |
#2
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Adopted Cat - Afraid of Bathtub/Bathroom
"VelvetVellocet" wrote : I'm desperate for any advice anyone can give me about slowly desensitizing him to the bathroom, and bathtub so I can get the litterbox back in the bathroom where it should be. Why is the bathroom the only place it can be? Take the easy road. Put it behind a screen (like a fireplace screen) in your bedroom or living room or wherever. You will find that it never pays to get into a ****ing match with a cat. They always win. |
#3
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Adopted Cat - Afraid of Bathtub/Bathroom
cybercat wrote:
"VelvetVellocet" wrote : I'm desperate for any advice anyone can give me about slowly desensitizing him to the bathroom, and bathtub so I can get the litterbox back in the bathroom where it should be. Why is the bathroom the only place it can be? Take the easy road. Put it behind a screen (like a fireplace screen) in your bedroom or living room or wherever. You will find that it never pays to get into a ****ing match with a cat. They always win. If I don't take a dump in my bedroom why should my cat? None of my previous cats ever pooed anywhere except in the bathroom, however, they were never traumatized by the bathtub or bathroom either. I love cats, however, I don't like the smell of cat crap wafting through the air anymore than I like the scent of gaseous human elimination wafting through the air, why isn't the bathroom the logical place for a litterbox. It's not my fault the previous owners terrorized him by bathing him in the bathtub. Your entire house probably smells like cat poo. As far as winning any ****ing matches, that will always be me. |
#4
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Adopted Cat - Afraid of Bathtub/Bathroom
"VelvetVellocet" wrote in message oups.com... cybercat wrote: "VelvetVellocet" wrote : I'm desperate for any advice anyone can give me about slowly desensitizing him to the bathroom, and bathtub so I can get the litterbox back in the bathroom where it should be. Why is the bathroom the only place it can be? Take the easy road. Put it behind a screen (like a fireplace screen) in your bedroom or living room or wherever. You will find that it never pays to get into a ****ing match with a cat. They always win. If I don't take a dump in my bedroom why should my cat? None of my previous cats ever pooed anywhere except in the bathroom, however, they were never traumatized by the bathtub or bathroom either. I love cats, however, I don't like the smell of cat crap wafting through the air anymore than I like the scent of gaseous human elimination wafting through the air, why isn't the bathroom the logical place for a litterbox. It's not my fault the previous owners terrorized him by bathing him in the bathtub. Your entire house probably smells like cat poo. As far as winning any ****ing matches, that will always be me. lol! Good luck with that. |
#5
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Adopted Cat - Afraid of Bathtub/Bathroom
VV,
I don't know how to desensitize him, it seems like that would be a lot of stress on both of you. You have to have that box wherever he will use it. If he holds it, and I've been through this, they end up with nasty urinary infections that are life-threatening in males. And the fun part is they then dribble everywhere. As for holding their poo, we now have a cat who just lost her colon. We don't know if she started out holding it and then eventually could not go, but that is one of the ways they get megacolon. There are lots of decent litters out there and if you scoop and flush enough, having a litter box somewhere other than the bathroom really isn't a big deal. If neither you or the cat will budge, it would be best to find him another home. For him, it's a potential health crisis if he starts holding it. Hope you can work something out. Rhonda VelvetVellocet wrote: I have an adopted 1 1/2 year old persian neutered male. I brought him home just this past weekend and placed his litter box in the bathroom next to the bathtub/shower stall and toilet (it's the only location in my apartment for this litterbox). He is adjusting slowly to his surroundings however, is very skittish about sounds, loud sounds or cars rolling down the street He had not used the litterbox for 4 days! Nothing wet or solid was in that litterbox. So, last night I decided to see if the cat had a problem with the location of the box. I put him into the shower stall/bathtub and he lost his little mind and went Ba-na-nas!! Apparently someone had given him baths in the bathtub where he came from and was scarred from this experience, and now he's terrified of the bathroom PERIOD. He hates the bathroom or anything to do with the sound of running water. I put the litterbox in an out of the way area of my apartment away from the bathroom, and overnight he left a deposit in the bank. So, that's how I figured out it isn't that he won't use the box, but simply the location of the box. I'm desperate for any advice anyone can give me about slowly desensitizing him to the bathroom, and bathtub so I can get the litterbox back in the bathroom where it should be. I don't plan on (bathing) grooming him myself, he's got a groomer appointment this weekend. |
#6
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Adopted Cat - Afraid of Bathtub/Bathroom
If I were in your shoes I would keep a second litter box in the bathroom just
so he knows it is there. If you can pick up your cat you can start by just bringing her in the bathroom and then out right away and then offer praise and maybe treats. When that stops freaking him out, take him in and put him on the floor, let him run out and more praise. Then you can try to keep him in there longer with more praise and treats. Go slowly over many weeks. If you go to fast you can do more harm then good. If you need to bath him try the kitchen sink. Atleast he'll stay off the counters after that. Good luck Brian -- Message posted via CatKB.com http://www.catkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...ealth/200608/1 |
#7
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Adopted Cat - Afraid of Bathtub/Bathroom
"VelvetVellocet" wrote in message As far as winning any ****ing matches, that will always be me. last words spoke before a surprise is left on your pillow ROFLMAO we shall see I will always lay odds on the cat You could always try feliway dispensers to calm the furball it is used for anxiety |
#8
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Adopted Cat - Afraid of Bathtub/Bathroom
Matthew wrote: "VelvetVellocet" wrote in message As far as winning any ****ing matches, that will always be me. last words spoke before a surprise is left on your pillow ROFLMAO we shall see I will always lay odds on the cat Yep. My coworker was telling me a few days ago that he didn't think his cat liked the new litter box. I told him how my cat peed on the bed when I changed to a pellet litter. I didn't fight. I changed right back the next day. He made it very clear he didn't like that litter. My coworker assured me his cat would never do that. He told me today that his cat peed on the bed. So, he took the cover off the new box. Unless you want a cat peeing and pooping everywhere, it is best to concede on litterbox issues. You gotta pick your battles to fight, and arguing over the kitty litter is not a good idea when you are the one stuck cleaning the mess, especially if your cat is smart enough to know where it hurts you the most (your bed). |
#9
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Adopted Cat - Afraid of Bathtub/Bathroom
Look - it's not the cat's fault that he's afraid of the bathroom
either. He's reacting perfectly logically to the seto of experiences that he's had and HE DOESN'T WANT TO GO IN THERE. You're the one who'd not being logical. it doesn't matter what you would prefer - he's afraid of the bathroom and there's nothing he can do about it. Don't get into a power struggle over something he can't help and that isn't his fault - just adjust. That's what living things do for each other - pay attention to his each other needs. He needs to have the litterbox somewhere other than the bathroom. Put it in a closet that you leave open. Put it near the washing machine. Put it in the kitchen. Put it in the living room behind a shelf or a another piece off furniture. You can buy litterbox screens. Scoop it twice a day and use an air freshener. or buy one of those fancy automatic litterboxes. But listen to him and find a way to accomodate his needs. |
#10
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Adopted Cat - Afraid of Bathtub/Bathroom
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