Litterbox fights

Thanks in advance for all the wisdom on this site!

I placed a kitty in a home this last Xmas. It was one of the most trying adoptions I've ever done. The kitty- Wilson- is a timid orange stripey fella and it was an ordeal even to get him into a carrier to his new home.

Brownie, a female about his same age (1 1/2), was already in the home when he got there (her sister had recently died from a genetic illness). She is a sweetie but she does rule the house. Wilson loves other cats so that has not been a problem - until -

Just recently Brownie has been keeping Wilson from using the litter box. She bats at him when he is coming and going, and bothers him when he is in there. So he has begun to poop outside the box on cloth things. At least his new family thinks it is him - they really don't know.

They are using Feliway spray and they now have two litter boxes. I just sent them the threads on pooping and peeing in general and I recommended they visit this site for help.

Wherever poop has shown up, they have thrown the pooped-on item away in order to prevent repeat visits. But they are looking for a permanent solution and want the stressed kitty to return to normal.

Has anyone had this problem before and is there any way to keep each kitty happy with their own box? I get the impression Brownie wants her own.

These two cats are otherwise pretty happy with each other. They share food bowls and the like.

I would just automatically suspect a health issue first. Once that was ruled out (hopefully) I would just put more litter pans out, in different parts of the home so the cat doesn't feel like he is being ambushed when he goes to use the pan. Make sure the pans are placed somewhere there is privacy, but also a quick escape route. Again, I suspect a health problem not a behavior issue.

Hi Hissy,

Is there any reason you think it could be health? When I saw your post I said "oooooohhh noooooo!!!" because Wilson is seriously phobic of carriers and I don't know if he is ready for strangers yet. I don't know if he can be safely examined by an at-home vet.

This cat is so traumatized by any changes in his environment. It was easier for me to trap and transport the feral cat than this one who was a foster!

So- I was trying to figure out if you were saying it is best to rule out a health problem first, or if you seriously think this could be medical.

I agree with hissy. It's best to rule out any health problems when a cat starts to defecate or urinate outside of the litterbox. This behaviour can be triggered by a medical condition, (and cats are notorious for hiding these EXTREMELY well), or triggered by something environmental like an event or change that kitty does not like.

I talked to the mom after my first post and she told me the pooing started after she decided to give their litter box a good washing. She said Brownie had marked the box, and the washing removed the marks.

She said that was when Brownie started whacking at Wilson whenever he went in or out of the box. So then the mom got them another box.

She also said things have been ok for the last week, but she wanted to know if there were ways she could keep Brownie from going after Wilson at the box without upsetting Wilson too while he is in there. And she asked if there were a way she could get each cat to use their own box. I sent her the poo and pee links (they are fabulous!) and she said those gave her some good ideas.

I also agree medically checking a cat is best to rule out illness. Due to Wilson's extreme phobia of the carrier, his extreme timidity, and because he is still establishing trust with his new parents, I would not recommend it in this case unless the behavior persists and behavorial issues are ruled out. He really freaks out and he bites. It is likely he would have to be trapped. And this would put him back to square one in his new home.

Plus as I mentioned earlier, the mom has not seen who is pooing. Right now she just thinks it is Wilson because she sees Brownie batting at him when he is going into or out of the box, and she is assuming it is him and he is avoiding the box so he won't get swiped at.

I understand where you are coming from. I have ferals here that when I have to take them to the vet, it can be a real struggle- BUT if the one cat has been stressed out enough to not be able to use the litterbox, then he could block himself simply from the stress. You say he is pooping on the floor, or that he is suspected of pooping on the floor. Then where is he peeing? That is the health issue I would be concerned about a UTI. You can find out quick enough by secluding both cats in separate rooms with their own litter pan and water and food for at least 24 hours. Make sure you feed them good meaty canned cat food mixed with water and see if both are voiding and pooping in the boxes. If they are, there is likely no health issue and it is behavioral.

I also agree medically checking a cat is best to rule out illness. Due to Wilson's extreme phobia of the carrier, his extreme timidity, and because he is still establishing trust with his new parents, I would not recommend it in this case unless the behavior persists and behavorial issues are ruled out. He really freaks out and he bites. It is likely he would have to be trapped. And this would put him back to square one in his new home.

Click to expand...

I don't know how it is possible to rule out behavioural issues before a medical issue. It is far easier to rule out a medical problem first. I do understand that in this situation, Wilson would be extremely stressed by the presence of the carrier, let alone being in one. There are members here who take feral cats to vets and other members still who have cats that get stressed and will go to all lengths to hide as soon as the carrier comes out.

And I personally have taken a newly introduced Rescue/Shelter cat to the vet for a prompt medical check up. She was highly stressed, and yes afterwards she retreated to staying under the bed, but after a few days, she realised no one was going to hurt her. (My resident kitty didn't understand any of the fuss at the time and decided the new kitty was a drama queen.)

It sounds like the owner is a good one. She has perservered thus far. Talk to her and let her decide what she wants to do for Wilson and Brownie. She must determine which cat is defecating outside of the litter box, otherwise both cats will need to visit the vet for check-ups.

Is Brownie batting at Wilson at any other times? Any hissing at any other times? Reason I ask this is that healthy cats do not like sick cats. Is Wilson on medication? Medication can change the scent of a cat and cats rely on scent in identification of one another. New Scent = Strange New Cat

Place the litter boxes in different locations around the house away from each other. She may even want to try two litter trays at each location. Some cats will pee in one tray and poop in another. And at each location, ensure that there is an escape route in case an ambush does occur.

Thanks Hissy, I will tell the mom to do as you suggest. It will go a huge distance to ward off more angst in the event he does not have to go to the vet.

Indeed the adoptive parents are unique and wonderfully loving. They decided to adopt Wilson after viewing him through a crack in the rafters of my basement where he was hiding due to his fear of strangers.

The kitties get along fine otherwise. They share the same food bowl and eat at the same time.

Thanks gem, those are helpful questions.

This kitty pretty much won the prize for carrier-fear. He equates it with death and he fights for his life. Think Animal Precinct.

On the other hand, as you said, the parents are very wonderful. It is possible they have won him over to the point where they can put him in a carrier. In the meantime I am putting paws together in hopes he will be fine either way!

Hi all!

This is just an update - the mom has reported that both kitties are using the two litter boxes and there have been no more problems.

She monitored their poops and pees and all is well (whew!)

Thanks for all the wonderful advice.