Not using litter box

Hi guys. I just got a cute 3 month old female from a shelter here in NYC (CACC) andput her litter box in a closet with the doors open. She was spayed that morning so for the next 10 days I have to shreded newspaper instead of litter. I've put her in there twice and have shown her the litter box a few times but she just leaves it every time. I also have out for her at different parts of the apartment bowls with water and food, a scratching post, and a towel for her to lay in.

This morning I found that the litter box has not been used and that she had peed all over the towel. I have removed the towel and put the litter box there instead. Do you think that is a good idea? How do I get her to use the litter box?

Thanks,
Keith

Hi Keith -- first off, welcome! I'm sure you can get more words of wisdom from people with more expertise on this than I do. But I am going to say, maybe your new little one is trying to tell you she is not feeling well. You may want to take her to the shelter or whatever vet they had her with while she was there, so they can rule out any UTI. If that's fine, honestly, she may just not like the shredded newspaper, so she goes on the towel. Clean the area, because she will just smell her scent and keep going there. Use some feliway spray and get her to a vet ASAP. Good luck.

In the UK, we don't swap litter when we have cats spayed. I think she may be doing it because she doesnt like the newspaper, although I would get her checked by the vet just in case she has an infection, although I think she is a bit young.

Thanks guys... please keep the suggestions coming. Since I just picked her up for the first time ever yesterday (from the shelter where they spay her) wouldn't the vet at the shelter have checked her out for anything wrong?

-Keith

Not necessarily for that, although she is a bit young.

I agree, she doesn't like the newspaper. I would try some scoopable litter in the box and see if she likes that better.

I would try hetr regular litter but it is not uncommon for recently spayed kitties (she was JUST spayed so needs time to recover!!!) to miss the litter box. Kittens will go in the bed or somewhere else (My YY went on my computer monitor, lol) and once they feel better and can get to the box without being in pain, they are fine.

Is she on antibiotics?

Originally Posted by CyberKitten

I would try hetr regular litter but it is not uncommon for recently spayed kitties (she was JUST spayed so needs time to recover!!!) to miss the litter box. Kittens will go in the bed or somewhere else (My YY went on my computer monitor, lol) and once they feel better and can get to the box without being in pain, they are fine.

Is she on antibiotics?

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Hi CyberKitten. Yes, she is on antibiotics (Orbax Situng). I have to give her 1/2 tablet every 24 hours (5 tablets total). That was hard getting that in her mouth last night!

I do not want to use regular litter as it may hurt her since she just had surgery. I also do not want her getting used to NOT using the litter box. I am hoping she will use it today... she's been mostly sleeping on my bed all day. She's so cute!

-Keith

Originally Posted by keithos27

She's so cute!

-Keith

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*tamps foot impatiently...*

Pics, please!!!

Originally Posted by keithos27

Hi CyberKitten. Yes, she is on antibiotics (Orbax Situng). I have to give her 1/2 tablet every 24 hours (5 tablets total). That was hard getting that in her mouth last night!

I do not want to use regular litter as it may hurt her since she just had surgery. I also do not want her getting used to NOT using the litter box. I am hoping she will use it today... she's been mostly sleeping on my bed all day. She's so cute!

-Keith

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Keith, we just continued using our regular litter (World's Best which is a corn product and IMO safer than clay based clumping litters) for little Mika after her operation and we had no problems. I don't see how using your regular litter would hurt her. She may actually be confused about litter right now with all the changes. Honestly, I'd try just using your regular litter and she'll probably be fine using it.