We just moved into a house that came with a little cat who apparently had always lived outside and had litters of kittens. The first thing I did was have her spayed, shots, ear mites, etc.
Before we moved in, we worked at the house every night for 2 months. I left the door open, and she wandered in and out. She's very affectionate and trusts me. Twice she peed on tarps, Then she peed on a chair we brought in. I put a litter box on the porch where she feels safe and I feed her. I set her in it after she ate, and moved her paws in it. She couldn't get out fast enough. I tried adding some dirt to the top since she has always only gone outside. No difference. After a week of nothing, I tried clumping litter. When I set her in that, she got out even faster. I wonder about pine litter, or a bigger box (she's only 6 pounds).
Clearly she has no life experience to distinguish inside and outside toilet manners. So now we just moved into the house with our other 3 cats and 2 greyhounds. Of course now the door is closed! The first time she saw the dogs, she came after them. Now she just keeps her distance and watches when I take them out on lead to potty. She sits and looks inside the bedroom window
and watches all the animals. I've let her in a few times to check things out and start to get used to them. I think over time, hissing and all, my experience tells me we could work out the 4 legged relationship part. But I know to not trust her about peeing around the house. Should I bring her in and confine her to a small room alone with a litter box to see if she gets it? My experience with outside cats tells me that she might freak not having an escape route (although letting her in the whole house she hasn't freaked, but I'm afraid to let her out of my sight).
Yikes, I don't know where to go with this.
Please help. She deserves a better life!
Jean
Before we moved in, we worked at the house every night for 2 months. I left the door open, and she wandered in and out. She's very affectionate and trusts me. Twice she peed on tarps, Then she peed on a chair we brought in. I put a litter box on the porch where she feels safe and I feed her. I set her in it after she ate, and moved her paws in it. She couldn't get out fast enough. I tried adding some dirt to the top since she has always only gone outside. No difference. After a week of nothing, I tried clumping litter. When I set her in that, she got out even faster. I wonder about pine litter, or a bigger box (she's only 6 pounds).
Clearly she has no life experience to distinguish inside and outside toilet manners. So now we just moved into the house with our other 3 cats and 2 greyhounds. Of course now the door is closed! The first time she saw the dogs, she came after them. Now she just keeps her distance and watches when I take them out on lead to potty. She sits and looks inside the bedroom window
Yikes, I don't know where to go with this.
Please help. She deserves a better life!
Jean
