any experience with cats that don't cover their stool in the litter box

fel-d1

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Any experience or luck in changing this behavior?
 

sicycat

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Nope lol. Zoey has NEVER covered her poop. She is so weird, she will actually scratch all the litter to one side and POOP in the bare spot, scratch AROUND it but just leave it there lol.
 
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fel-d1

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Originally Posted by Sicycat

Nope lol. Zoey has NEVER covered her poop. She is so weird, she will actually scratch all the litter to one side and POOP in the bare spot, scratch AROUND it but just leave it there lol.
Hi Sicycat,
How old is Zoey? Some people claims that their cat out grown this behavior. My Annahita actualy "try to cover" but she do it totally at the wrong place. She poops in the litter box but scratches somewhere outside the box
 

jenny82

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Chessy doesn't cover his either. He is 5 so I doubt he will outgrow it. I use covered litter boxes though, so it isn't a problem.
 

gailuvscats

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I read somewhere that the more independent the cat, the more likely he won't cover his stuff. I have a cat like that, but fortunately the other two will cover it for him.
 

sicycat

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Zoey is 4
She's always done this lol. It's ok because Saki will come by and cover it for her LOL.
 

purrpaws

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Originally Posted by fel-d1

Hi Sicycat,
How old is Zoey? Some people claims that their cat out grown this behavior. My Annahita actualy "try to cover" but she do it totally at the wrong place. She poops in the litter box but scratches somewhere outside the box
Prego does this too, and he's about six. Polly covers it up or if I'm home I scoop it out right away because Prego's bombs are the worst!
 

peachytoday

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My Zander doesn't cover his number 1 or 2. He scratches in the general area but doesn't do anything. I haven't figured out any way to teach him too. I just scoop right after him if it is really offensive.

Tricia
 

renovia

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i don't think there is anyway to change this behavior. i think that they just want to get out of the litter box as soon as possible as they can't stand their stink!~

DH and I joke about stoli leaving a 1400sq. ft. poop. tiny little thing packs a powerful punch.
 

epona

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I read that the most dominant cat will leave his doings uncovered as a form of marking his territory. Often in single cat households the cat will bury because he sees himself as submissive towards his favourite human (my single cat obviously thinks he's the boss though!), and in multiple cat households most will bury, but the 'top' one or two cats will leave it uncovered.

I have absolutely nothing to back this up, just something I read.

Also I think cats are taught proper litterbox habits by their mum, and some that are taken away too early, or orphaned, may not be taught to cover their business.
 
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fel-d1

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Is there such thing as a type of cat is more likely not to cover their poops? Can you guys tell me a bit more of your cat? Just to see if there is any pattern here. Info which might be usefull ( add if more )

name: cat name or anonymous

coat type: long, semilong, short
face type: flat face/ non flatface
origin: pet shop / shelter / breeder / home breed
age: years or month
pedigree: yes/no if yes specify breed


let me start..

name : Annahita
coat type: long
face type: flat face
origin: pet shop
age: 6 month old
pedigree: no
 

pippen

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My neutered male does a LOT of scratching but he's hit or miss as far as getting it covered.

Originally Posted by fel-d1

Hi Sicycat,
She poops in the litter box but scratches somewhere outside the box
I get real nervous when I see mine scratching the floor outside the box. It only happens when something about the floor has been changed--litter spilled, cleanser used on the floor, etc. Once I spilled out some smelly musty smelling liquid that had been lurking inside a steam cleaner and he was scratching away like mad--I was worried he was going to try and cover up that smell with his own so I got on it with lightning speed!
 

urbantigers

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Jaffa used to cover his but since I got Mosi he often leaves them uncovered. I think it's a dominance thing - he's showing young Mosi who's in charge (they are both dominant cats but Jaffa is bigger and is definitely the boss).
 

juliekit

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Ceci covers hers and thank god she does!!! I often have to wake up in the middle of the night to clean out the box because it is just nasty!

I wouldnt even want to know how it would smell totally uncovered!
 

tempermiranda

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We had a similar problem with our second cat Rajah. He is only about 16 weeks old and despite his attempts at covering, he always seemed to miss. Our older cat Baron (about 3) would come along and cover it for him occasionally, but he has since stopped. A few weeks ago we decided to try a different litter because we didn't think ours was working well enough, and lo and behold! As soon as we put the new kind in, Rajah did his business and covered it up perfectly. I don't know if it was because the new particles are much smaller, but it certainly seemed to do the trick. Thank God, because he is one smelly kitten!
 

felicia's mom

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Don't kittens learn this by watching their mother?
If so, maybe they weren't taught.

I had only one cat who didn't cover her stool. She was the only one to have lived outside until I took her in. I don't know if living outside had anything to do with it or not.
 

sicycat

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Originally Posted by tempermiranda

We had a similar problem with our second cat Rajah. He is only about 16 weeks old and despite his attempts at covering, he always seemed to miss. Our older cat Baron (about 3) would come along and cover it for him occasionally, but he has since stopped. A few weeks ago we decided to try a different litter because we didn't think ours was working well enough, and lo and behold! As soon as we put the new kind in, Rajah did his business and covered it up perfectly. I don't know if it was because the new particles are much smaller, but it certainly seemed to do the trick. Thank God, because he is one smelly kitten!
You might be onto something, my guys have had the same litter forever.. I am just too scared to change though lol.. plus I like my litter!
 
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