Never imagined I'd be able to mine such a rich seam on this subject!! You probably all think I love writing about litter - well, not really, but there turns out to be so much to say.
I've recently finished looking after two girl cats, and wanted to tell you about the litter issues I encountered, as well as the solutions found.
When I went to meet them and their family before I went away, I was told that they'd recently attempted taking a friend's cat into their home - with disastrous results. This cat had been used to a catflap, and had not used a litter tray, apart from when he was tiny. So, when he got caught short, and he was inside, he'd just go in the house, on the floor, or wherever. There was a litter tray, but he didn't use that.
The poor girls felt more than a little intimidated by him and took to pretty much living outside. Their mum was so upset to see them like this, that very quickly she had to find him another home, where he could roam about as much as he liked.
By the time I came to take care of them, they'd returned to the house and felt much more at home again. However, he did leave a legacy, that I was soon to discover.........
The first day I went to see them, they were outside, and came in when I turned up. The weather wasn't at all nice, so didn't want to go out again. No cat flap meant that when they were in, they were in - and when they were out, they were out. The next day, I checked the litter tray, but strangely it hadn't been used. They'd been in for 24 hours, and eaten all their food, so this didn't make much sense.
I decided to check around the house, and the first thing I found was that they'd used a plant standing on the floor as a litter tray - quite common actually, and when you think about it, why not, it's just like the garden!! So, I cleared out the mess, but knew that they would use it again - their scent was now in it, so it was doomed. I couldn't shut the door of that room to stop them using it, so knew I'd have to check each day they were indoors.
Nothing more was found until I got to one of the bedrooms on the top floor - and in 3 of the 4 corners, were neat little piles waiting for me. I cleaned them up, and shut the door. In fact, I shut all the doors that could be shut, to disuade them from using any rooms again. It was rainy again that day, so left them indoors again when I left.
On my return the day after, I was thrilled - they'd used the litter tray!! Hurrah!! But of course, they'd also used the poor plant, which by now was looking decidedly dead. A friend of their mum's was going to take care of them over the weekend, so I texted their mum to say I'd shut all the doors, and why, and would she let her friend know. But, when I came back again after the weekend, the doors were open, and once again little piles were left for me.
It became apparent that they were using places the other cat had used as the scent was there telling them that this was a suitable toilet. They wouldn't know any different. When the doors were shut, they happily used the litter tray, but otherwise, they'd use the other places.
It was a large house, over 3 floors, and knowing that 2 cats really need one tray each, plus another, meant that only one tray in the kitchen just wasn't sufficient. Also, the tray was by their foor, and as cats are very fastidious, they really don't like to toilet close to their food.
So, I suggested I purchase a couple more litter trays and place them in different parts of the house. I shut all the doors, and the cats were in for the day. The next day I nervously checked. Yes, the plant had been used, but so had both of the new litter trays. The one in the kitchen still hadn't been touched, so that really needed moving too, but I was so pleased that the problem had been resolved so simply. They just needed more options, and also to be kept away from the other smells they and the other cat had left.
I passed on a few other tips to their mum. For example, as cats don't like to eat and toilet in the same place, how about discouraging use of the old places by putting a small bowl of food in the corners of the room they'd used. That's a trick I've used successfully on a few occasions. Clearly the plant would need to be repotted - and perhaps just thrown out - and the litter tray from the kitchen could be placed where the plant was. And there are some great products that can be bought to properly clean old toileting smells - even if we can't smell them, the cats can!!
I've just had an email from their mum to say they're home now, and there are two very happy cats. And the multiple litter trays are working well!!
I've recently finished looking after two girl cats, and wanted to tell you about the litter issues I encountered, as well as the solutions found.
When I went to meet them and their family before I went away, I was told that they'd recently attempted taking a friend's cat into their home - with disastrous results. This cat had been used to a catflap, and had not used a litter tray, apart from when he was tiny. So, when he got caught short, and he was inside, he'd just go in the house, on the floor, or wherever. There was a litter tray, but he didn't use that.
The poor girls felt more than a little intimidated by him and took to pretty much living outside. Their mum was so upset to see them like this, that very quickly she had to find him another home, where he could roam about as much as he liked.
By the time I came to take care of them, they'd returned to the house and felt much more at home again. However, he did leave a legacy, that I was soon to discover.........
The first day I went to see them, they were outside, and came in when I turned up. The weather wasn't at all nice, so didn't want to go out again. No cat flap meant that when they were in, they were in - and when they were out, they were out. The next day, I checked the litter tray, but strangely it hadn't been used. They'd been in for 24 hours, and eaten all their food, so this didn't make much sense.
I decided to check around the house, and the first thing I found was that they'd used a plant standing on the floor as a litter tray - quite common actually, and when you think about it, why not, it's just like the garden!! So, I cleared out the mess, but knew that they would use it again - their scent was now in it, so it was doomed. I couldn't shut the door of that room to stop them using it, so knew I'd have to check each day they were indoors.
Nothing more was found until I got to one of the bedrooms on the top floor - and in 3 of the 4 corners, were neat little piles waiting for me. I cleaned them up, and shut the door. In fact, I shut all the doors that could be shut, to disuade them from using any rooms again. It was rainy again that day, so left them indoors again when I left.
On my return the day after, I was thrilled - they'd used the litter tray!! Hurrah!! But of course, they'd also used the poor plant, which by now was looking decidedly dead. A friend of their mum's was going to take care of them over the weekend, so I texted their mum to say I'd shut all the doors, and why, and would she let her friend know. But, when I came back again after the weekend, the doors were open, and once again little piles were left for me.
It became apparent that they were using places the other cat had used as the scent was there telling them that this was a suitable toilet. They wouldn't know any different. When the doors were shut, they happily used the litter tray, but otherwise, they'd use the other places.
It was a large house, over 3 floors, and knowing that 2 cats really need one tray each, plus another, meant that only one tray in the kitchen just wasn't sufficient. Also, the tray was by their foor, and as cats are very fastidious, they really don't like to toilet close to their food.
So, I suggested I purchase a couple more litter trays and place them in different parts of the house. I shut all the doors, and the cats were in for the day. The next day I nervously checked. Yes, the plant had been used, but so had both of the new litter trays. The one in the kitchen still hadn't been touched, so that really needed moving too, but I was so pleased that the problem had been resolved so simply. They just needed more options, and also to be kept away from the other smells they and the other cat had left.
I passed on a few other tips to their mum. For example, as cats don't like to eat and toilet in the same place, how about discouraging use of the old places by putting a small bowl of food in the corners of the room they'd used. That's a trick I've used successfully on a few occasions. Clearly the plant would need to be repotted - and perhaps just thrown out - and the litter tray from the kitchen could be placed where the plant was. And there are some great products that can be bought to properly clean old toileting smells - even if we can't smell them, the cats can!!
I've just had an email from their mum to say they're home now, and there are two very happy cats. And the multiple litter trays are working well!!
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