Big problem, really need help.

Ever since my cat Gracie had hr kittens last August she refuses to go outside.
Before she had her kittens there was no need for a litter box becuase she was very good at going to the toilet outside and we never had accidents.
Because she refused to go outside we decided to ontroduce a box back into the house she would use the box but then we would start finding poo's and wee's under our dining room table.
So. We placed another litter tray underneath there we have been trying so hard to make her go on her box but she still keeps urinating and poo'ing around the dining room mostly around the table.
This has been getting worse since august.
We are having alot of family problems and this is just adding to the stress we are going through at the moment.
Every morning we wake up to the house smelling of cat urine.
My step father wants to take her to the local cat shelter.I can understand his frustration and he at the end of his tollerance with her now.
I think if he has to do this its such a shame.
Gracie is very shy around people and refuses to live my room most of the time, and has lost any bond she has with the rest of the family, i think thats why they are finding the decision to try and rehome her so easy.
It hurts me thinking that we may have to rehome her because she is a lovely cat, she sleeps with me every night apart from when my boyfriend comes to stay.she hides.She is so sweet she likes to suck on my other cat phoebes toes and my earlobes when shes falling asleep.
She recently got herself tangled up in a plastic bag and ripped all of her toe nails out so shes even more nevous than she was before.
I was just hoping maybe to ask some of you guys for help...becuase it doesnt look like we are going to be able to keep her for long.

thanks xxx

You must take her to the vet to see about her claws! That may be part of the reason she doesn't want to dig in litter, and could have serious infection going on. IF the vet says everything's ok (which I doubt that she will), try placing just a tray with shorter sides than a litter box over where she's peed, with unperfumed soft litter in it and a handful of earth sprinkled on top. You'll have to sweep a lot for a while, but she may be more inclined to use the tray and once she's using it routinely (weeks) then you can switch to a regular box, gradually moved to an appropriate location. The earth is just for a few days til she feels 'at home' (as if she were outdoors) with it. Look for something called Zero Odor (website as well) which will get rid of all the smells in your house if used properly and she won't return to those sites (especially if covered temporarily) again, but leave one place in your room for now - tray right over it - for her to catch onto.

Please take your cat to the vet to be checked for health problems. It sounds as if she has experienced many stressors. A stressed cat is likely to develop urinary tract infections that will cause inappropriate urination.

Also, ifshe is not spayed, she will urinate around the house to spread her scent. So spaying will also help solve the problem.

Please note that if you take her to the shelter she will be euthanized immediately because they will not adopt out a cat who has these behavior problems.

Also, please click here to find a thread discussing these behavior problems. You will find one link to a page discussing inappropriate urination and a second link to a page discussing poop problems.

Overall, a vet visit will be the first thing you need to do. If this is a medical problem (which I think it is) medication is the ONLY thing that will make the problem go away.

Good luck!

Along with vet treatment. You can try confining her to a bathroom with teh litter box. Also try a type of litter that won't offend her paws. The sandy types might hurt so try crystals or newspaper. Actually just to get her used to things you could just put some shredded paper in the bottom of the box and confine her to a small room until she is comfortable using it.

It could be a urinary tract infection too .

Before assuming Urinary Tract Infection or getting rid of her for peeing or even LETTING her back outside at all...She NEEDS to be spayed! She will just get pregnant all over again if she goes out now! She is most likely peeing because she isn't spayed. That is almost always the very first step in solving the problem your cat is having. DO NOT let her back outside if she isn't spayed. Do not get rid of her for peeing all over your house...just spay her. It is most likely a simple solution here. Spay her please. If you live in the US go to spayusa.com for a low cost clinic near you, otherwise do a google search.

Not only will it help with her marking all over your house, but you won;t have to get rid of her, you will be able to let her outside again without getting pregnant, you will greatly reduce her risk of getting cancer and Pyometra when she is older...there are so many benefits to spaying her.

Just FYI also, if you still have her kittens and they aren't fixed yet either they will mark up your house too if they are indoors. They will also impregnate their siblings and their mother too.

ok well
she was spayed months ago! All the kittens were rehomed before christmas and she was spayed then.She just is terrifeid to leave the house.
Obviously i have taken her to the vet about her claws, this happened 3weeks ago and so we know thats not the cause of it.While she was at the vet we brought up her problem and the vet couldnt find anything wrong.
So couldnt find a medical reason for this.
We have tried many many different litters and trays but nothing.
Oh and our local rescue never puts animals to sleep.If she cant rehouse them the live at her shelter for the rest of their days.Otherwise we wouldnt consider it.

Originally Posted by lolly_tabby

ok well
she was spayed months ago! All the kittens were rehomed before christmas and she was spayed then.She just is terrifeid to leave the house.
Obviously i have taken her to the vet about her claws, this happened 3weeks ago and so we know thats not the cause of it.While she was at the vet we brought up her problem and the vet couldnt find anything wrong.
So couldnt find a medical reason for this.
We have tried many many different litters and trays but nothing.
Oh and our local rescue never puts animals to sleep.If she cant rehouse them the live at her shelter for the rest of their days.Otherwise we wouldnt consider it.

Click to expand...

Just for clarification- did they do an actual urinalysis to check for crystals, infection, etc. at the vet or did they just do a physical exam while she was there? Was there any discussion about doing a recheck or further testing (ultrasound or x-rays for stones)? These are some of the things that would be looked at to rule out a medical problem, so you can work on the behavior side of things.

Also, have you tried confining her to just one room for now with her litterboxes and things –like your bedroom-until you can find the cause and try to reduce any stress in the meantime?

Originally Posted by lolly_tabby

ok well
she was spayed months ago! All the kittens were rehomed before christmas and she was spayed then.She just is terrifeid to leave the house.
Obviously i have taken her to the vet about her claws, this happened 3weeks ago and so we know thats not the cause of it.While she was at the vet we brought up her problem and the vet couldnt find anything wrong.
So couldnt find a medical reason for this.
We have tried many many different litters and trays but nothing.
Oh and our local rescue never puts animals to sleep.If she cant rehouse them the live at her shelter for the rest of their days.Otherwise we wouldnt consider it.

Click to expand...

AWESOME!! I am so happy to hear that!! Sorry to assume the opposite but since you didn't mention it and you said she had kittens, I assumed, sorry bout that

Also, you never have to get rid of a cat. Ever. If you do, you (or your stepfather) has chosen to do so. PLEASE consider the fact that your cat, if she is not adopted-- and if you can't get her to use a box she won't be-- will be taking up a space in the shelter for years that many other cats could have used and been in much more need of.
I am glad to hear that she has been to the vet recently and also been spayed.

If she won't go outside, don't try to make her. She's safer and better off inside anyway.

What are you cleaning up her accidents with? Do you put the poo into the litterbox each time? Do you put her in it after eating or when she looks like she's about to go? Does she know what the box is supposed to be for, or did you plunk it down and expect her to just do it? Have you tried more than one kind of litter?