HELP with rescued cat and litter box!!!

[tinkerrn]

Mom rescued a 10 year old female cat 2 days ago. Kitty is very sweet and loving. Vet checked her out and gave her the OK. We bought her a litter box like the one she had in her cage; well, she won't use it. I went over last night and put it in fron tof her and she ate some of the litter before geting in an peeing. That has been the only time she has used it. She stays on the dinning room table and sleeps all day. Mom said she hops off to eat and drink and thats it. I understand that it will take a while for her to get used to her new home. When I went over last night her condo, near where the dinning room table is had a 'funny' smell to it. I thought it might be her food that smells, but I think its pee. I know NOTHING about cats, so please...someone help!!! I encouraged mom to bring her litter box and put it next to the dinning room table. Maybe she is having a hard time finding it?? PLEASE HELP KITTY!!! I am afraid mom will take her back to the shelter if she is peeing on her carpet.

 

[tinkerrn]

Ok, mom just called and found her 'toilet'...yes its in the dinning room, right under her curio cabinet. She only has to walk about 5 feet in opposite directions from the dinning room table to either her food/water or her 'toilet'. I told mom to put the litter box where she is 'going' until I can get out there tomorrow and shampoo her rugs and figure out what to do next. Now...how do you clean up cat pee...I know there is some enzyme you must use. WOW...and I just sprained my foot today.

 

[freckles and boo]

Cats are very finicky about their litter boxes. You may have to try different types of litter (clumping or clay) and different types of boxes. My guy won't use one if it has a lid on it or if it is in an area where a lot of people can see him. They seem to like a little privacy. Also, if your kitty's litterbox smells of other cats she may not want to use it. Did you just bring one home from the shelter or did you buy her a new one that hasn't been used before? Also remember that the cat is adjusting to a completely new environment and it may take some time to destress. Your mom may want to confine her, her box, and her food to a single room (but still give her lots of petting) and let her explore slowly. Good luck!

Edit - sorry, just reread your post. Ignore my stupid question!

 

[Polyfor30th]

Is the current location of the litter box in an open, exposed area?
Cats tend to like to do their business in a out of the way spot--perhaps getting kitty a covered litter box may help?

Also, there will be periods of adjustment and such--during this time--kitty may "act out" and do things like pee outside of the box, vomit in shoes, carry food into other parts of the home to eat it, and things of the like.

I hope this helped a little. It was such a huge gesture of love to adopt an older cat.

 

[Laura]

This all may have been too much change for the kitty, so I would have your mother confine the cat to one room for a while with her food and litterbox. There is a product called Feliway that is used for soothing stressed out cats.

For cleaning, try Nature's Miracle. I've heard it works, but I can't vouch for it.

 

[Imzadi]

Ok, mom just called and found her 'toilet'...yes its in the dinning room, right under her curio cabinet. She only has to walk about 5 feet in opposite directions from the dinning room table to either her food/water or her 'toilet'.

Sounds like you had placed her litter box right near her food. Cats will not go go to the bathroom in the same place they will eat. You ned to move the box farther away and keep the zones separated enough, (at least in the cat's head.)

 

[Sherri]

I would put the litter box near where she is hanging out the most. This way she knows where it is. Better yet, maybe put her in a bathroom with a blanket, her food and the litter box, then she will use it. After the short adjustment then she should be fine. Keep us updated.
Do you know any of the cats history. Why was she brought to the shelter? Did she have a litter box issue in her old home?
More then likely, it is just going to take time for her to adjust.
But once she does, you will have a wonderful companion.

 

[tinkerrn]

We bought her an open one. Guess I'll buy her a covered one.
Any other advise. Is it normal for them to lie on tables??

 

[tinkerrn]

Her litter box was down the hall and no where near her food. She just doesn't wander around the condo. Just stays on the coffe table and kitchen.

 

[freckles and boo]

We bought her an open one. Guess I'll buy her a covered one.
Any other advise. Is it normal for them to lie on tables??

Some kitties like to be up high so they can keep an eye on things!

Also, I second Feliway for soothing upset cats. I believe it is a synthetic version of the hormone they use when they face mark (that is, rub their faces on things). It comes either in a pump spray bottle or a plug-in (like Glade). It is available through veterinary offices. It ain't cheap, but it seems to work. Also, for cleaning up messes, we use Simple Solution. You can get that at any pet store.

 

[Laura]

We bought her an open one. Guess I'll buy her a covered one.
Any other advise. Is it normal for them to lie on tables??

Sure, it's normal for cats to lie on tables. Ours do it all the time when we're not looking. It sounds like she's not comfortable exploring her new place, though. Do you know what litter the shelter was using for her?

 

[RrCoAsTeR]

There are a few things you can usually do:

Put the litter box where she has been peeing

Put her food where she has been peeing

If the peeing continues, she may need more than one litter box, or take her to the vet again, because there could be something wrong that is not checked for initially... special food can help.

 

[themarquis]

most cats are really good about using a litter box and rarely have "accidents" -- a cat who is not using her litter box is usually sick or very very stressed. I agree with other readers that a) nature's miracle is great for cat pee b) separate the food and litter and c) try confining her to the bathroom or a spare room (with food and litter on opposite ends). It sounds like she's not making a good adjustment to her new life, and she's a bit older, so its gonna be harder on her (the same way it would be harder on an older person to move to a new house). If she can be in one small room with everything she needs and plenty of calm attention but nothing that will frighten her, hopefully she will start feeling better. She can be confined in one room for even a couple of weeks if needed. Please let your mom know that kitty is just having a rough time and it should get better -- don't return her to the pound yet. She might just need a confined, quiet spot for a while.

 

[tinkerrn]

Sure, it's normal for cats to lie on tables. Ours do it all the time when we're not looking. It sounds like she's not comfortable exploring her new place, though. Do you know what litter the shelter was using for her?

No, I don't know what kind of litter she was using at the shelter. I feel so bad for her. I have no history on her, someone just dropped her off.

 

[Sherri]

No, I don't know what kind of litter she was using at the shelter. I feel so bad for her. I have no history on her, someone just dropped her off.

If you put her in a bathroom (I suggest that because its a small area), she should have food, water, her litter, a blanket and maybe some toys or a stuffed animal. She may have been through an ordeal before you rescued her, and maybe she just needs a little bit of time to feel confident again.
With her litterbox right near her then she wouldn't have to walk to far to use it and eventually she should be a okay.

 

[AnnR]

Best remedy I have found for cleaning carpets of cat pee -club soda. Soak the area with it and use white towels to blot up. Then place white towels on the spot and put something heavy on top -books or whatever. Change the towels as they soak up the liquid. You will see them turn yellow. Keep going until the towels stay white. Oh -you may want to put something waterproof between the towels and the books. I told a friend this after she had tried almost every product out there. She couldn't believe how well it worked.

Good luck with the kitty. She is probably just stressed out.

Ann

 

[HappyDznyCamper]

Call the shelter to find out if she had any litter box problems, also ask what type of litter they used. Older cats can be very picky so she may not like her new litter. I have to agree with everyone else when they say to just give her a small area of the house for now. Until you are able to do that, put the litter box in the spot she has been using. You can also try putting the box where she is currently going, then move it a few feet each day until you get her where you want her. Catnip can also help an older cat "relax" and enjoy their new surroundings. She probably just needs time to get used to the "good life" so try and be patient.

ETA: If you put her in a small area, you may want to make a bed for her using "dirty" pillow cases or something else that smells like your mom so she will learn to associate the smell with comfort.

 

[Imzadi]

Cats do sleep an awful lot. Jay Leno jokes that his cat sleeps 23½ hours a day.

The older the cat the more they sleep.

I agree with everyone else, sounds like the kitty is having a hard time adjusting, especially if she's not curious and checking things out. She could be all stressed out and grieving, having lost her previous owner of 10 years.

When I traveled with my kitten for several days, she was quite curious & active in the hotel rooms, then would curl up into a ball in my lap during the hours driving. When we finally arrived at our new home, and she knew there would be no more traveling, she slept for 3 days straight! Only waking to eat & pee - so I know she was fine otherwise. I was still worried though.

 

[emmabelle]

Just wondering how it's going with the cat?

 

[tinkerrn]

Kitty is doing much better. She has used the litter box twice since mom moved it in her dinning room. She is becomming more friendly and jumps down frequently to meow and walk around. She has spent some time with mom today, curled up onto the back of her recliner asleep. Cross your fingers...kitty is sooo adorable. She is just a doll, everythime she sees me, she meows and jumps down to greet me with a good rub of her head against my legs.