Suri Is Hit-Or-Miss With Her Litterbox Habits....

DeputyMP24 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 18, 2015 1:31 pm **Posts:** 212

I have a feeling I know the answer to this issue, but as a first time indoor kitty owner Im not afraid to ask questions!!

Suri is really hit-or-miss with her daytime litterbox use. The box is kept in a bathroom. During the day if Im not paying attention, she will sneak off to a particular corner behind an end table and pee/poo there. Shes quite vocal about when she needs to go, so normally I have her follow me to the bathroom and she uses her box. She digs, but doesnt bury which I also find odd. (I usually end up doing it for her so theres no smell) I keep her box nice and clean...I scoop multiple times a day. Im also using the same litter her breeder used, so its not unfamiliar to her. At night, shes kept in the bathroom (for now) and she 100% uses the litterbox.

Is this simply due to her very young age and not remembering where her box is? Any ways to deter her from continuing to use her new favorite corner? I just ordered a bottle of Natures Miracle Cats Only Urine Destroyer. Hopefully it deoderizes the carpet and maybe stops her from returning....

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

Definitely do not be afraid to ask questions. Kittens can have accidents -- just like potty training a toddler! It happens. Suri knows where her littler box is. Perhaps she just can't hold it until she gets there. Things should improve with time. If you can figure out when she has to go, then you can make sure she gets to the box. If you have a large home, you may want to put another box out for her. It can be a long way to walk for a little kitty.

socalprincess · **Joined:** Tue Aug 11, 2015 9:17 pm **Posts:** 89

For now, you may just want to put an extra litter box in that corner temporarily if you can fit it, to reinforce the proper behavior. Sometimes being displaced in a new home, I think makes them act out a little bit as they are adapting, and it's important to nip any bad behaviors like that in the bud quickly to prevent bad habits from being formed. We have an 18-wk old boy whom we've had similar issues with pooing on our bed(s) only sometimes, and we are still having to reinforce some bad "habits" he picked up!

DeputyMP24 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 18, 2015 1:31 pm **Posts:** 212

Unfortunately that really wont be possible. My 2 year old son is a terror. Like....spawn of satan demon baby. He would be in the litterbox non stop. As is, its sooooooo hard to keep him out of the bathroom where her box is. Ugh. Toddlers. Ive been able to at least identify when she needs to go, and when I see her make a beeline for the corner I have her follow me to the bathroom instead. Im still waiting for my Urine Destroyer cleaner. When it arrives, Ill clean the corner REALLY well to help maybe change her mind. Im also considering treating the corner with lots of natural citrus scents to deter her from going back there. I keep reading cats hate citrus scents??

My husband suggested putting a scratching post back there, or maybe one of those kitty cave style cat beds...but Im worried that wont stop her peeing and pooping back there.

neonyellowclover · **Joined:** Mon Apr 01, 2013 11:03 pm **Posts:** 535

Move the poos that she leaves other places into the litter box. Then pick her up and put her in the box until she sniffs around and realizes that 1. That is her poo and 2. That is where it belongs. Also trying waiting to clean it so she can smell that is where she has gone before.

She has constant access to the box, correct? You don't close the bathroom door to keep your son out and lock the kitten out as well?

DeputyMP24 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 18, 2015 1:31 pm **Posts:** 212

Thankfully she hasnt had an accident in a couple days...but thats simply due to my watching her like a hawk and interveining when she heads for the corner. She still tries to use it multiple times a day. Ugh.

During the day the bathroom door is left open for her, she just refuses to go there. Shes using the same type of box and litter her breeder used, and at night when shut in the bathroom she will use it no problem. The bathroom is closer than the corner she runs to. Im not sure what her obssession is with wanting to use that corner!!!

Really hoping the Natures Miracle takes any odor away. Maybe that alone will change her mind. Im now considering going ahead and putting her new kitty cave bed there to further discourage using the corner as a bathrooom.

Ive read about Feliway diffusers...will that work for bad bathroom habits, or only for cats that want to spray/scratch/etc?

CMYKjill · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:38 pm **Posts:** 1838

Put a litter box in that corner. Put one where ever she goes so she understands she should use the box.

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

Oh dear -- you have TWO toddlers to watch over. A bengal will remain a toddler all its life! Good luck!!! At least your son will grow up and you can teach him to stay out of the litter box. Now it's interesting to him. I'm sure you are kept on your toes ALL day long with those two!!! You can try putting a scratching post and cat tree in the area of the "accident" once it has been cleaned properly.

XplosiV · **Joined:** Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:54 pm **Posts:** 181

Just a thought, it may or may not help, but, don't scoop for a day, and don't cover the poor over. She may have associated the constant cleaning by you as an 'oops I maybe shouldn't have gone in there' during the day. Thus has found an alternative location. Sometimes it's best just to leave things be for a day or two at a time to establish a new behaviour.

Suri Is Hit-Or-Miss With Her Litterbox Habits....

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