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Shadey needs to squat

post #1 of 9
1/14/10 at 8:13am
Thread Starter 
My Shadey is a good kitty. She uses her box 99% of the time, unless she figures it is too dirty for her little delicate paws. Then she uses her bed, or some big kitty toy she has.

Her main problem, she HAS to have a potty box with a lid and a door. She goes in and pees. No turn around, no squat, just step in and GO!! So she gets the front of her box nasty (inside). She used to pee on the door, but I thnk she didn't like getting it on her fur, so she alges a little to the corner. My problem is that it runs down sometimes and around the side, out the box, and on my floor! It doesn't happen all the time, twice in the last 2 months. But still!! eew

Is there a way I can teach her to squat a little. Before I realized she did this, she had peed on the wall in the bathroom around her box. I always thought one of the cats was just peeing on the floor, but no matter how good of job I would do cleaning, I couldn't get the smell. Then one day I saw her do it... UGH!!

She's had hooded boxes since. We realized quickly that she also needed the door. As a kitten, I would try to push her hind end down a little and it would just make her mad.

I've never had a cat who pees like her. They all squat! She's 5 1/2 now, so I don't know if I really can teach her.

Thank you for listening, It was kind of a vent too.

Be Safe.
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post #2 of 9
1/14/10 at 9:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MyRage View Post
My Shadey is a good kitty. She uses her box 99% of the time, unless she figures it is too dirty for her little delicate paws. Then she uses her bed, or some big kitty toy she has.

Her main problem, she HAS to have a potty box with a lid and a door. She goes in and pees. No turn around, no squat, just step in and GO!! So she gets the front of her box nasty (inside). She used to pee on the door, but I thnk she didn't like getting it on her fur, so she alges a little to the corner. My problem is that it runs down sometimes and around the side, out the box, and on my floor! It doesn't happen all the time, twice in the last 2 months. But still!! eew

Is there a way I can teach her to squat a little. Before I realized she did this, she had peed on the wall in the bathroom around her box. I always thought one of the cats was just peeing on the floor, but no matter how good of job I would do cleaning, I couldn't get the smell. Then one day I saw her do it... UGH!!

She's had hooded boxes since. We realized quickly that she also needed the door. As a kitten, I would try to push her hind end down a little and it would just make her mad.

I've never had a cat who pees like her. They all squat! She's 5 1/2 now, so I don't know if I really can teach her.

Thank you for listening, It was kind of a vent too.

Be Safe.


Have you tried cleaning out her box several times a day? That would probably make a huge difference as cats don't like to do their business in a "nasty", as you say, litter box. Just as I'm sure you wouldn't want to do yours in a toilet that had not been flushed and stank. Contrary to popular belief cats do get offended by "toilet" smells just as we do. Not to mention that they are extremely clean animals and yes they don't like getting their poops etc. on their paws or fur.


I also don't like covered litter boxes as they tend to keep odors in which makes it more unpleasant for the cat.


Trying to force her to "squat" may not be the best idea. Eventually she will only try to hide when she goes and so will pee in inappropriate places, much to your joy.


Lastly, I would have her checked out by your vet for a possible UTI.
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post #3 of 9
1/14/10 at 11:03am
Thread Starter 
She's done this her whole life. Yes she has been to the vet, she has a problem with her scent glands, they clog. The vet told me it wasn't a common problem, and to balance her diet between wet and dry food, and we have been. She did have an infection, and it is cleared up now. As a matter of fact, I think there may be a thread about it. These were taken care of months ago when I was still in Louisiana.

I havent thought of scooping her box several times a day. I agree with the making her hide to go, I don't want to do that, wich was why I only tried a few times when she was a kitten. She uses her box if we are in there with her or not. She just stands. Always has since she was a little thing.

I guess NyghtShade is the only cat that does?

Be safe.

Oh... She's 5 1/2 years old, been this way since she was a kitten. She gets fresh litter once a week (depending on how her box is, sometimes it varies) and it gets scooped every couple days. Being the only cat, her litter doesn't get that dirty that fast, but I scoop what ever I wouldn't want to touch.

She will be getting a check up soon, it's about that time of year again.
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post #4 of 9
1/14/10 at 11:10am
My Maggie does not squat. The best box in the world is the Clever Cat. No pee gets outside the box.
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post #5 of 9
1/14/10 at 11:30am
Scooping every couple of days is not enough. Boxes need to be scooped every day. At least once, better twice.

And you might try using a big rubbermaid (tm) box instead of a box with a door. But please, do start cleaning out the poop and pee daily.

Mazy pees standing up. I was having the same problems you are, and I keep the boxes pristine (scoop four times a day, at least) She LOVES her rubbermaid box!

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post #6 of 9
1/14/10 at 11:31am
I also have a stand n pee girl, we only use rubbermaid storage tubs for litterboxes here!
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post #7 of 9
1/14/10 at 11:53am
Thread Starter 
I had thought about that, but I was afraid she wouldn't use it because she had to jump in. I will give that a try, I would much rather she not be in an enclosed box like that.

I will start scooping once a day rather then every other day.

So just a normal rubbermade kind of tub thingie? Taller then she stands I assume.

Thank you

Be safe.

I have always been curious about this. Glad she isn't the only one. I questioned if it was because she's manx, and she is my first manx. (there are 2 other manxies that were found in the same area and rescued durring a snow storm, and they both look exactly like her.... hmmmmmm) (that hubby has seen)
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post #8 of 9
1/17/10 at 10:20am
Both of my cats are what I call "Edgers." Both like to pee right at the edge of the box and often pee over the edge. Abby in particular because she is my dyslexic kitty and forgets to turn around once in the box

I tried those litter boxes that have folded over edges. That helped with Chynna's scooping litter out of the box, but it didn't help with the peeing over the edge problem.

In the fall I invested in a new litter box. A bigger one in over all diameter. But best of all it's also deeper!

I put in 2 bags of scooping cat litter which brings the litter height to about 3/4 the way up the sides. Now both of my cats go in there and do their thing, and even if they don't squat low enough they still can't pee over the edge! I keep the litter volume to about 1/2 to 3/4 the depth of the pan.
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post #9 of 9
1/18/10 at 2:05pm
At the shelter we call it being "a high shooter." My Maggie doesn't squat at all. Levi starts out squating, but his little rump starts comming up on him as he goes.
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