Thread: Toilet Habit Help!!!!!!!!!

Hi Herbie

Gosh that is an unusual toileting problem. I've never heard of a cat choosing that area for no 2s.
But you've got a serious hygiene problem there, so it's got to stop.

My advice would be, get at least one more litter tray, so that she has a choice of which tray to use. Maybe she would wee in one tray, and poo in another.
At the same time, she has got to be banned from the kitchen worktops as a matter of urgency. Even if she ends up pooing on the floor, it's better than the kitchen counter. Have a water spray or hairdryer to hand at all times and give her a blast every time she gets up there. Then if possible, point her towards one of her trays. Eventually she will get the message. And never leave her in the kitchen unattended, until you feel you have broken the habit.

What does anyone else think?

Good luck with it, and keep us posted xxx

Strange one, do you have a big tray?

I would go along with Howlinbob that you need to try two trays,I have got one that pees in one & then moves into the next tray for a poo,also agree with banning from kitchen & retraining as this sounds as if it has got as far as being the accepted norm with her for whatever reason,good luck,sure she will learn with patience,firmness & rewards on your part...x

We have tried two trays as well and that didn't work!!

Unfortunately the strange thing is that if we are there in the same/next room she wont do it and will use the tray. It is only when we are not there that she will use the worktops!

Could it be an attention thing? I have a friend whose cat wees on their sofa every time they go out...it's pretty awful. When they're in their flat though, she always uses the litter tray.

Oh dear! I would still say that 2 trays are better than one.

As she is only doing it when you are not there, why not have a policy of shutting her out of the kitchen and confining her to another room when you leave her, and have all her bits and pieces there, tray, bed, food, toys etc. Do you have to leave her for long periods, eg, out at work all day? If so, is there any way you could leave her for shorter periods, or have someone call round for you to check on her? I'm just wondering if this is a stress-related behaviour. Is there anything else going on which might be causing her stress, eg, another pet?

Is the litter tray large enough?
coonies need alot of room

We do work during the day, but quite a few dyas my other half works from home. We do have 2 other cats which means it is difficult to keep her out of the kitchen as then it stops the other 2 coming in.
It could be an attention thing, but apart from the toilet problems she is a happy playful cat that gets along with the other 2. Perhaps she just doesnt like being on her own?

OK, so when she is left alone, there are 2 other cats for company. But, given that there are 2 other cats in the house, could she be establishing a territory, in the most inappropriate of places? If a cat doesn't cover its business, it is deliberately trying to leave a smell as a signal to other cats. Is this dominant behaviour?
I still think that the solution could be to isolate her, or at least shut her firmly out of the kitchen, when you are not around, until she learns appropriate toilet habits.