poopy apartment

ok so Ebony has been exhibiting some odd behavior for about two months now which I thought and hoped she might grow out of but still has not.

While Brendan and I are away or asleep she plays in the litter box, scoops out her poop and leaves it for us to find all over the apartment. In the bathroom, under the kitchen table, in the kitchen, under end tables.

I am trying to figure out what it causing her to play. Is she bored? We leave plenty of toys for her in and around the apartment but she seems to like her litter and poop better.

I keep joking with Brendan that we need to get her a brother or sister to play with instead of her poop. (which I would love but Brendan is not on board).

The only other explanation I can think of is maybe we're not filling her box with enough litter.

Anyone else have any ideas to get this to stop?

Hmmm.... I don't know the answer to that one. How often do you clean the litter box?

We scoop twice a day and clean out the entire box once a week.

-get a covered litterbox
-clean it more often
-get another kitten for her to play with
-try different types of toys, maybe she is bored with the same ones, put some out one day and then switch them a couple days later with new ones

those are the only suggestions I have right now

Originally Posted by berylayn

We scoop twice a day and clean out the entire box once a week.

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that's more than I do and I have two cats!

Just some questions for you to answer to help me to assist you.

How old is Ebony?

Is she healthy and happy?

How long have you had Ebony in your home?

Have you recently moved to the apartment?

Have there been any changes to your lives or Ebony in the past two months?

Just some questions for you to answer to help me to assist you.

How old is Ebony?

Ebony is 5 1/2 months old

Is she healthy and happy?

she has a clean bill of health from the vet

How long have you had Ebony in your home?

Ebony has been in our house since October

Have you recently moved to the apartment?

we have lived in this apartment since we got her

Have there been any changes to your lives or Ebony in the past two months?

no changes since we got her

Originally Posted by berylayn

While Brendan and I are away or asleep she plays in the litter box, scoops out her poop and leaves it for us to find all over the apartment. In the bathroom, under the kitchen table, in the kitchen, under end tables.

I am trying to figure out what it causing her to play. Is she bored? We leave plenty of toys for her in and around the apartment but she seems to like her litter and poop better.

Click to expand...

I'm sorry, Beryl, but I keep laughing about this. I know it's awful but I find it kinda cute too.

I'm just imagining pretty little princess Ebony playing with her poop and leaving poopy presents for her mommy and daddy around the house.

Aw, she's still doing this? Oh no... if no one has any other ideas, I can try to remember to ask the vet when I'm there tomorrow? See if he has any thoughts?

Originally Posted by SnowLeop

I'm sorry, Beryl, but I keep laughing about this.

I know it's awful but I find it kinda cute too.

I'm just imagining pretty little princess Ebony playing with her poop and leaving poopy presents for her mommy and daddy around the house.

Click to expand...

lol yeah I know....It is slightly amusing


She always looks so guilty when we get home and find it. She knows its wrong I can see it in her eyes.

She's like one of my Kindergarteners who it trying to be all cute to try to get out of trouble.

Originally Posted by pinkdaisy226

Aw, she's still doing this? Oh no... if no one has any other ideas, I can try to remember to ask the vet when I'm there tomorrow? See if he has any thoughts?

Click to expand...

Hey that would be awesome...I still thinkg I should use it as an excuse to get Eb a sibling...I am wondering how long it'll take to wear brendan down.

It is a kitten behavior. Add another litter pan, make them covered and play with her interactively several times a day.

Originally Posted by hissy

It is a kitten behavior. Add another litter pan, make them covered and play with her interactively several times a day.

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MA, I wish I could add another litter pan. In our tiny two bedroom apartment there really is no where else it will fit.

And we play with her it seems from the time we get home to the time we go to bed.

I may try getting her some new toys and see if that helps.

Originally Posted by berylayn

Hey that would be awesome...I still thinkg I should use it as an excuse to get Eb a sibling...I am wondering how long it'll take to wear brendan down.

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I dunno, I thought I wore my bf down but every once in a while he randomly goes 2 cats?!?!

Is Ebony playing with interactive toys with you or just with toys the she alone plays with? If mostly solo toys I would try and play with her more often, if you are not doing so now. Otherwise, I would guess that Ebony is more of a patron of the "Modern Arts" and she can't wait to show you!

Barbara

Originally Posted by Mom of Franz

Is Ebony playing with interactive toys with you or just with toys the she alone plays with? If mostly solo toys I would try and play with her more often, if you are not doing so now. Otherwise, I would guess that Ebony is more of a patron of the "Modern Arts" and she can't wait to show you!

Barbara

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We do both. she has lots of little solo toys she will play with, but we also have a good deal of interactive toys that brendan and i use for "quality eb time" after work.

I guess she a modern artist in the making.

Originally Posted by berylayn

Just some questions for you to answer to help me to assist you.

How old is Ebony?

Ebony is 5 1/2 months old

Is she healthy and happy?

she has a clean bill of health from the vet

How long have you had Ebony in your home?

Ebony has been in our house since October

Have you recently moved to the apartment?

we have lived in this apartment since we got her

Have there been any changes to your lives or Ebony in the past two months?

no changes since we got her

Click to expand...

Aah...it's beginning to make sense.

Ebony's still a kitten and it sounds like kitten bahviour as hissy said.

However, in the past two months there has been a change in Ebony's life. She moved in with you. That's a significant change for her.

Generally cats are comforted by familiar smells of their original home. It's why breeders generally offer an old sock or two that has been with a kitten since birth to ease transition into a new home.

If familiar scents are absent, then the only familiar scent will be that of the litter tray. And yup, some kittens and cats will play with it or sit in it for comfort. Though I haven't heard of a kitten or cat actually dispersing the contents until now.

Obviously Ebony trusts you and your partner. And this only happens when the both of you are out so this could be her way of coping with the separation, (albeit a temporary one).

Get some old shoes, like gym shoes. Wear socks, do the housework in them, or take a run around the block. Also wear an old shirt while doing this. Get really sweaty.

Now, don't wash any of it.

Let Ebony sniff them and smell your scent. Hopefully she'll rub against them or play with them. Good.

Then bag the items up in a sealed bag, (or two).

Place these items around the apartment, perhaps a sock or two near the litter tray. Your scent being there brings you closer to Ebony and hopefully distract her from going to the litter tray for comfort.

Adding another litter pan with some of her old litter in it, (no solid bits ), and placing it in another location of the apartment can help. I used to live in a one bedroom apartment with two cats and three litter trays. They don't take up much room honestly.

Whatever you do, don't punish her after you get home. She won't understand it at all. And as painful as this is, do not shower her with attention when you get home or even cuddle her for the first ten to fifteen minutes. It only strengthens her need for you. It's nice that they love you and need you, but you shouldn't be their fixation in life.

And when you have time, leave the apartment at random times for varying durations. Like for 30 seconds at one time, and then 15 minutes. So that Ebony learns that you do return and you're not always gone for long. Reduce the predictability factor in your routine. Because chances are, Ebony has set up a routine of her own while you and your partner are out. And it sounds like one that you want to disrupt permanently.

Mags,

Thanks for your long post! Actually, what you said is starting to make a lot of sense and there are great ideas. Ebony LOVES my socks. I woke up one morning about a month ago to find one pair filled with holes. I will have to retire a few old pairs to throw around the apartment and by the litter box. And if that still is not helping the entire situation I think i can fit a very small pan of litter in another room in the house. Thank you again for the suggestions!

Good luck

Keep us posted.

Good thing she likes socks. I actually give my old socks to my kitties before they end up in the trash.

sorry if you said this already, is the litterbox you have covered?