HELP!!!! Feral Cat Not Using Litter Box

My husband and I took in a feral kitten (4months old) about 6 weeks ago. She has used her box since the day we brought her home. She is also coming around to being a friendly cat; she lets us pet her while eating, loves playing with her feather teaser toy, and she climbs on my head when I'm napping. It is going great, except occasionally, she poops in the wrong place. Once it was on the carpet in the living room and just now in the kitchen sink. We keep her box clean and with fresh litter every other day. What can we do? We have feliway going in our apartment.

If there was ever another cat in your apartment, she may be smelling (and reacting) to him or her. Try using an enzyme cleaner on the rug - it may help.

Also, she may be one of those fussy kitties who won't poop and pee in the same box. A second litter box may help.

I know, I know, the things we do to ensure our cat's happiness!

She is our only cat, and I don't think there was one before us. Oh she is such a sweet and odd bird.

Originally Posted by emilydickinson

She is our only cat, and I don't think there was one before us. Oh she is such a sweet and odd bird.

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And she has a tail, right ?

I'm not sure what else to suggest besides using a regular (unhooded) pan sized box with several inches of litter that is scrubbed thoroughly at least once a week (mine gets cycled through the washer ).

If none of this works, try experimenting until you hit on a magic combination of litter, environment and box by using various types of litter, adding another or easier kind of box, putting it in a different location, etc.


I hope it isn't a medical situation. She certainly sounds like the cutest thing ever !

I agree with adding another box. She has been use to having the whole outside as her litter box. Make sure its a large box, like the rubbermaid boxes you can get for storage instead of the tiny litterboxes they make for cats.

You do not want to use any scented litter and you may to switch to unscented sand or unfertilized soil, and slowly mix in litter, so she will get use to it. (since that mimics more of her outside 'box')

Its common for some cats not to like to pee and poo in the same location, so adding an additional box will help with that. Make sure that for now, the litter boxes are placed in a very private area with no lid. All of these things can change as she adjusts, but just change them slowly.

There are health issues associated with a cat eliminating outside of the box, so you will also want to address that as a potential problem with her veterinarian also.