Cat Queening Box and Litter Box Issues. Please Help

Help Needed!

I really have a problem with an outside cat that I have been taking care of for over a year.  I actually trapped one of her kittens,  during our sub zero weather here in Chicago in December and he (Suki) turned out to be a little sweetheart and was neutered last Tuesday.  He was born last July, 2016.

Well, I should have trapped mama cat (Cocoa Puff) sooner and had her spayed, because she is once again pregnant. I trapped her last week, because she was now living in our tarp covered swing outside.  Have no idea when she's due, but her sides are bulging.  She is safe now and living in our upstairs bathroom, away from any noise and upsets.  I've prepared a queening box for her, but sometimes she uses it for pooping instead of her litter box; which she does use most of the time and  which I clean multi times a day (except for this once a day problem).  So I know it's not because of a dirty litter box.   I have the Feliway diffuser going, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good.  She's eating and drinking well, but I don't know how I can get her to stop using the queening box to relieve herself once a day, which I then have to clean.   I've tried looking on line for suggestions, but have not found any posts for this problem.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Help please from anyone who knows about this problem or has had experience with this issue.

Thank you.

Regards,

goldntreasures said:

Help Needed!

I really have a problem with an outside cat that I have been taking care of for over a year.  I actually trapped one of her kittens,  during our sub zero weather here in Chicago in December and he (Suki) turned out to be a little sweetheart and was neutered last Tuesday.  He was born last July, 2016.

Well, I should have trapped mama cat (Cocoa Puff) sooner and had her spayed, because she is once again pregnant. I trapped her last week, because she was now living in our tarp covered swing outside.  Have no idea when she's due, but her sides are bulging.  She is safe now and living in our upstairs bathroom, away from any noise and upsets.  I've prepared a queening box for her, but sometimes she uses it for pooping instead of her litter box; which she does use most of the time and  which I clean multi times a day (except for this once a day problem).  So I know it's not because of a dirty litter box.   I have the Feliway diffuser going, but it doesn't seem to be doing any good.  She's eating and drinking well, but I don't know how I can get her to stop using the queening box to relieve herself once a day, which I then have to clean.   I've tried looking on line for suggestions, but have not found any posts for this problem.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Help please from anyone who knows about this problem or has had experience with this issue.

Thank you.

Regards,

Click to expand...

Have you tried adding a second litter box? Thank you for rescuing this lady!

Yes, awesome that you've brought her in. Some cats like to pee in one box and poop in another, so an extra box may solve the problem. Outside, she probably did her business in different places, so she is likely just acting on instinct.

Keep us posted about her kittens!

Thank you for replying.  No, I haven't tried a second litter box.  Eight years ago another cat just walked in when I opened the door and she was also pregnant.  I really think she was either thrown out or got out of someone's house and then found her way to my house and in a motherly way.  She was definitely not a feral cat...very loving.  Named her Muffin.

I made a queening box for her also and moved her into the upstairs bathroom.  She had six kittens, all healthy, gave one away at 10 weeks, I kept one and the other four were taken in by PAWS here in Chicago.  Never had this problem with Muffin and  the queening box.  I will try giving Cocoa Puff a second litter box.  She's a beautiful long haired black cat that looks mahogany color when the light shines on her, small in size, but feral.  Would be great if I could tame her.  Thank you again for your help and suggestion.  Have a nice day!

Regards,

Donna

I am going to try the second litter box suggestion.  Only, she poops and pees in her litter box now and that's what I don't understand as to why she once a day poops in her queening box.  Don't know what she's trying to tell me.  Will she still use the queening box to deliver her kittens?

Thank you for your help.

Regards,

Donna

I can only think that she may be trying to "mark" her nest. It's otherwise odd if she is also pooping in the litter box. Still, trying a second box may help.

I hope she will use her nest. She may use the floor or whatever is cleanest at the time. She may think the nest is a second litter box right now. Hard to say.

Regardless, once she has the kittens you can always move them into the nest.

Appreciate your suggestion.  I have just put in a second litter box, so we'll see what happens.  Her behavior is totally confusing.  I too hope she uses the nesting box.  Even though she knows me from feeding her and providing shelter since the winter of 2015, she still is feral and I don't think she will let me handle her kittens.  So, needless to say I am apprehensive and she keeps her distance in the bathroom.

During last summer I would sit on the sidewalk and hold her bowl of food and she would eat out of the bowl, while I held it.  At one point I was able to touch her face without her hissing or growling, but that was last year.  After she has the kittens and is done nursing, I will have her spayed.

Thank you to everyone on this site for your encouragement and suggestions.

Regards,

Donna

You are doing a great service and really helping her out. She is naturally wary with her kittens coming. Continue to be a steady, non-threatening presence in her life who is quiet and demands little. Hopefully she will relax a bit and come around eventually. [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Thank you for your kind words and suggestions.  I'm hoping the second litter box solves the problem.

Regards,

Donna

Yes, I hope so too. Give it a couple of days and let us know. [emoji]128571[/emoji]

UPDATE...Cocoa Puff gave birth to five beautiful little kittens yesterday afternoon.  The problem with her pooping in her queening box and cage continued last week, but I think what she was doing was marking her territory.

In the last week, her behavior had changed.  Our upstairs bathroom was built in an attic apartment and the bathroom window is like a small alcove and this is where she would stay most of the day.  The last three to four days she was now staying behind the toilet and yesterday morning I found her lying in her potty box, but she still didn't exhibit any signs of impending delivery. I checked on her several times yesterday, but about 2:00 p.m. I went to check on her again and when I opened the door there was blood on the floor and she was in the cage (36" dog cage), which is on the floor.  Cocoa had already given birth to one kitten, with more on the way.  By five o'clock all five had been born.  Now I'm sorry I left the queening box inside, because it does take up extra space and she's not using it anyway and because she's feral, I can't remove it, without injury to me.   I let her rest and later brought her food, which she gobbled up and used the potty box. 

She's safe, warm and being a really good mom.  Because she's black and the male, which is the black and white one in our neighborhood, three of her kittens are black and white and two are black.  Now my work is cut out for me.  As they get older and start crawling around, because she's feral and very protective, I don't know how she's going to react to me being in there.  She's so beautiful, I would really like to keep her after her kittens are gone and have her spayed.  I can't see letting her go back outside, after enjoying the comforts of 'home'.

Thank you everyone for all advice and suggestions.  Have a wonderful day!!

Regards,

Donna

Congratulations! I hope you do keep her. Keep us posted on the kittens! [emoji]128522[/emoji]

Sounds like all is well! She should have access to unlimited dry food and meals of wet food throughout the day.

See how mom does with your company. For now, she might be overly protective of the kittens and not welcome company. If you can, sit in the room and talk to her. Let her get used to you.

If mom does end up going back outside, please do her a favor and have her spayed first. Thank you so much for caring.