Cat doesn't seem to know what litter box is!

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judewingate

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There is a neighbourhood cat in our area that is notorious for visiting houses other than his own. Over the last 6 months or so he has decided he REALLY likes it at our house and often comes in to sleep the day away. Every morning when I open the front door he scoots in for breakfast, sometimes goes back out right away, often parks himself....wherever he wants....and makes himself at home. We've all fallen in love with him and he is often waiting at the front door when my 21 year old son wanders in late at night. More often than not he spends the night sleeping on my son's bed (they adore each other). Anyway, I decided quite some time ago to get a litter box for our visiting friend but he doesn't seem to know what it's for. If I put it out he jumps in, rolls around in it like it's catnip and then jumps out. I'm assuming he has a cat door in his 'real' home and does his business outside. Any suggestions as to how to encourage him? We're sometimes gone for hours at a time and I'm concerned about him not having a place to go. Oh, and while I'm at it, he refused to drink water unless it's out of the toilet. Maybe this is normal, I don't know a lot about cats (other than I love them).
 
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tnr1

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Originally Posted by JudeWingate

There is a neighbourhood cat in our area that is notorious for visiting houses other than his own. Over the last 6 months or so he has decided he REALLY likes it at our house and often comes in to sleep the day away. Every morning when I open the front door he scoots in for breakfast, sometimes goes back out right away, often parks himself....wherever he wants....and makes himself at home. We've all fallen in love with him and he is often waiting at the front door when my 21 year old son wanders in late at night. More often than not he spends the night sleeping on my son's bed (they adore each other). Anyway, I decided quite some time ago to get a litter box for our visiting friend but he doesn't seem to know what it's for. If I put it out he jumps in, rolls around in it like it's catnip and then jumps out. I'm assuming he has a cat door in his 'real' home and does his business outside. Any suggestions as to how to encourage him? We're sometimes gone for hours at a time and I'm concerned about him not having a place to go. Oh, and while I'm at it, he refused to drink water unless it's out of the toilet. Maybe this is normal, I don't know a lot about cats (other than I love them).
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Cats that were never introduced to a litterbox and go outdoors often do not automatically adjust to a litterbox right away. What I recommend you do is get a low pan and put some potting soil in it (buy the potting soil from a garden store...do not use dirt from your garden as you could bring in unwelcome guests in the dirt). Over time, add a little more litter and a little less potting soil until this cat is using the litter on it's own.

BTW...make sure the owners are aware of their cat's 'wandering' ways...they may want to microchip him so that he doesn't end up at a shelter. Plus, he should be neutered if he hasn't been already.

Katie
 
hissy

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He is an outside cat and you are asking him to try and get used to inside items he has never seen. He has never seen water in a bowl all the time. Go and buy some aquarium rock and rinse the pebbles well. Put them in a large glass bowl and fill that with water. (keep the lid to the toilet down at all times when not in use) very bad for a cat to drink out of the toilet.

Go to a Home Depot or other similar store and get a hot water drain pain. Use duct tape to plug the opening, then put clay litter (plain) and some organic potting soil in this tray and set it near your door.
 
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