litter and inappropriate urination

I just recently adopted a 4month old kitten from the spca. When I brought her home she smelled terrible, the whole shelter smelled disgusting and she was kept in a small room with all the other kittens and young cats. She wasn't using her litter box here at all so I switched litter and put her in the bathroom at night where the box is and finally woke up to see she pooped in it. I gave her a bath and thought we were making progress. But she sometimes hides under the couch and when she came out last night she reeked of cat urine. I didn't think cats would hang out where they pee! Could she just have terrible habits and bad hygiene from living in that nasty shelter for most of her life? Could she be ill or stressed? And how can I keep her out from under my couch? How can I encourage her to use the litter box only? Just to clarify, I switched to a litter similar to what the shelter uses, the box is very large compared to her and does not have a cover, she is going to the vet tonight. If this is going to be a long term problem I may not be able to keep her.

She is probably still very scared and still in her hideout phase.  Some scared cats who have not gotten over their hideout phase (sometimes 5 or 6 days) may pee and poop where they hide.  The smell of which can actually be a comfort to them.  I would get a smaller litter box, they make them for kittens.  Absent any health conditions, this is normal kitten behavior and should pass.  Try to be very patient with her and understand at this point she is just very scared.  She will get over it soon.     

hexiesfriend said:

 
She is probably still very scared and still in her hideout phase.  Some scared cats who have not gotten over their hideout phase (sometimes 5 or 6 days) may pee and poop where they hide.  The smell of which can actually be a comfort to them.  I would get a smaller litter box, they make them for kittens.  Absent any health conditions, this is normal kitten behavior and should pass.  Try to be very patient with her and understand at this point she is just very scared.  She will get over it soon.     

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Try putting the little tray in the hideout place she is using. Also, make sure you soak the spot she soiled with a good enzyme cleaner to remove any trace of her urine smell as residual traces can result in repeat behaviour.  I agree she is young and stressed at this point, and coming out to pee might have been too much for her.

I would put the box under there but it isnt possible.  We have a reclining sofa so she goes behind it and then under it.  I cant move the couch to get under there and keep it clean.  We are planning on cleaning under there tonight and putting down sticky paper so she will hopefully stay out, since thesofa reclines it isnt safe for her to be there anyway.  Is there anything else it could be?  I just want to be sure to ask about everything when I bring her to the vet.  Thank you guys!

Given the conditions you describe that she was kept in at the shelter I think you are wise not to rule out something with her health, and talk it through with the vet when you see them.  It is always a good idea with young cats and cats new to an environment to give them a number of litter trays and in different areas of the home so they don't get lost and not find one, feel scared to go where the tray is, or only have access to a type of tray they don't  like.  Try a covered and uncovered tray and different types of litter for example.

She is ill. She has a fever and respiratory and eye infections. So hopefully things will improve once she feels better! We moved the sofa and cleaned and there was no urine or anything under there! We have been keeping a close eye on her and watching everything she does and when we can't she goes into the bathroom where her litter box is. The vet said that it is a good way to handle it and to just keep it up and hopefully she will take better care of herself once she is well. Thank you all again!

This is so awesome you are doing all you can to nurture this baby. Please don't put the sticky paper where she hides. It will freak her out if she gets stuck and make her feel even less safe. Its a new environment and she will have to come to know it and make it her own on her own terms. Maybe a thick towel under there. She can't be making a very big pee at 4 months. Handle her and socialize her as much as you can. Bless you for loving her.

Awe, the poor little baby, she must feel miserable right now.  I'm sure you will see a big change in her once she feels better and I hope the vet has given her something to get over her infections and bring her temperature down.     Fingers crossed for you that she responds quickly to any treatment, and that once well the toileting issues are resolved and she is able to settle in comfortably with you as a furever home.  Thank you for taking her to the vet and doing everything you can for her.

She seems to be feeling much better!  The vet gave her an injection of a long acting antibiotic so no fighting over pills and she put ointment in her eyes there and I have drops to put in them twice a day for a week at home.  Her eyes are looking better and she is a little more playful.  She is very agreeable and tolerates the eye cleaning and drops really well!  I have never had a cat so laid back before, she goes into her carrier on her own and just rubs on the sides of it and purrs, happy as can be!  All my cats in the past I have had to burrito to get them in and then they spent their time in there yowling and trying to get out!  She is peeing in the box pretty well!  I have actually seen her go into the bathroom on her own and use it without me having to put her in there.  I have not found any other pee in the house but we have not given the bed back yet and we are careful not to leave any fabric items on the floor (blankets, laundry etc).  The vet advised us to keep up what we are doing for at least 2 weeks and up to a month- puting her in the bathroom with her litter box on one end and her food and scratching pad on the other (we hang up the bath mat now so it wont tempt her) at night and during times she is unsupervised, bringing her to her litter box after she eats and drinks and after she wakes up from a nap, taking care not to leave tempting piles of anything around that she might like to pee on and keeping closer watch on her than we normally would a cat.  

Yodaandblackie-  Dont worry, it is just contact paper turned upside down, she cant get stuck in it it is just supposed to feel annoying.  She has taken up residence ON the couch now and we are happy because we were worried she would get caught, or injured by the recline mechanisms.  She still goes behind the couch occasionally but she was already hanging out in the end table half sometimes so she has pretty much switched to that as her hiding spot- much safer!

Thank you to everyone!  It made me feel much better to be able to get some help while I was waiting to get her to the vet 

Wow, your little one sounds so sweet, even being cool about going in the carrier!  I'm glad she already seems a bit better, and isn't finding the eye drops too horrible (Mouse hates getting them but is fine about pretty much anything else).  

It sounds like once she feels well, and has settled calmly in her new home she should be fine.  Good luck with everything. 

Yay, this is good news and progress. He sounds like my Blackie Boy who has such a good disposition. He goes into the carrier quite willingly and just lays down. Although when we get to the vet he does dig in his heels. Once out tho, very easy to handle. Healthy happy kitty: lucky to have you.