Ask the Pet Care Expert

We have 1.5 or so year old male cat - who showed up on our doorstep - I think someone dropped him off = b/c he doesn't act like other ferals in our neighborhood. YES< he is neutered....

He continues to PEE & sometims Poop all over our house & clothes & linens... even tho he goes outside too. It does get worse when we go out of town - but I don't think he's particularly more threatened by my other 2 kitties - I think it's something else!

My sis n law -- thinks maybe he was never "properly" litter trained. Could it be? and if so, is there anything we can do?

We've got the fluorescent light & the felimax spray =---- I LOVE cats - but simply can not spend my days going round & round cleaning up after him.

Alternative is to force him to be outside, i guess....

I know Amy & Gabby will have better ideas than mine, but this is what has worked for me and my 4 kitties:

1.  Take your new kitty to the vet to rule out urinary tract problems.

2.  Forget the standard sized litter box.  Get several of those deeper, larger, under-the-bed storage chests and use it.  If the box is too small, the kitties may start to reject it.

3.  If you have 3 kitties, you probably need at least 3, maybe 4 different boxes set up in a couple of different locations in your house.  That way, one kitty can't keep the others away.

4.  Use a good 3-4 inches of a good brand of litter in each box and scoop daily, or more often if need be.  Change all the litter and clean all the boxes at least every 3 weeks.  Kitties will shun a used, smelly box.

5.  When you go away, can you isolate the newer kitty in a separate room with a box, food and water?

Hope this helps.  Please don't relegate the new kitty outside til you've tried Amy's and Gabby's advice.

Hugs from mom to Patches, Blackie, Smokey & Tibby

Excellent answers!

I would add that using a black light (not fluorescent) to find the urine stains and clean works well. But you must use the proper cleaner that neutralizes the odor.

If the cat is going after fabric, I wonder if there's bleach that's attracting him? Or a change in the laundry detergent?

I'm not familiar with felimax...perhaps it's Feliway? That can help. But if there are two other cats in the house, and this particular feline uses the box at least some of the time, my suspicion is that one or more of the cats is making him uncomfortable. Guarding the facilities? Or he's wanting to challenge the status?

Once there's a health clearance from the vet, you can address behavior causes.

best,
amy

Amy D. Shojai, CABC
IAABC-Certified Animal Behavior Consultant
www.shojai.com, Free Monthly "Pet Peeves" Newsletter
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Author, 22 pet care titles, including:

PETiQuette: Solving Behavior Problems in Your Multipet Household
Complete Care for Your Aging Cat/Dog
Complete Kitten Care
The First-Aid Companion for Dogs & Cats
Chicken Soup for The Dog/Cat Lover's Soul

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