ph@wucec2.UUCP (Paul Hahn) (11/12/85)
Motley, our 3 1/2 month old kitten, has had problems ever since we got her, as far as I can tell. (We thought we had one licked for a while, but it turned out she was just doing it where we didn't notice it.) The first and lesser of her problems is this: she doesn't cover her shit when she takes a dump in the litterbox. She makes the right scratching motions all right--next to the shit, on the inner side of the box, the rim of the box, outside the box--in short, everywhere but where necessary to actually cover the stuff. The vet says there's nothing to do except wait and hope she figures it out when she gets older, and I'm beginning to believe him. The other is a little more serious: I suspect she never urinates in the box AT ALL. Instead she finds nice soft things lying around on the floor--bedclothes trailing off the bed, paper bags I give them to play with, my SO's nightgown, my sleeping bag, etc. I have actually seen her take a dump in the box (not covering it, of course), climb out, go over to a nearby paper bag, and piss on it. I haven't asked the vet about this one yet, but you'd better believe I'm going to. She is left alone for about six hours five days a week with another kitten, about 7 months old, for company. Attempts to train her have so far brought zero results. Otherwise she seems fairly happy if unusually brainless. Any helpful comments you can offer would be appreciated, and may save her life as I am considering strangling her (:-). --pH /* * "A kitten is so flexible she is nearly double; the * hindquarters are equivalent to another kitten with which the * fore part plays. She does not learn that her tail belongs to * her until you tread upon it." */
scott@hou2g.UUCP (Colonel'K) (11/12/85)
I'm currently experiencing the same (urinary) problem with
my new kitten, Gandalf. Most times he just doesn't want to
pee in the box.
The only way to solve it is training, and the only way to
do that, unfortunately, is watch him like a hawk. Each and
every time he finishes eating, or drinking, or calms down
after playing, I coax him (preferred over carrying) to the
box and get him to get inside. Sometimes I'll grab his feet
and make little "pawing" motions in the litter.
Of course, you must watch him closely in order to "catch him
in the act" whenever possible, then CARRY him to the box.
Speak calmly and lovingly when he's in the box. Yell at him if
he tries it on the rug. What I've also been doing is "rewarding"
him when he pees in the box "on demand". (I give him milk, since
in small quantities it doesn't bother him.)
Anyway, he seems to be responding, albeit SLOWLY....
Good Luck!
Scott J. Berry
ihnp4!hou2g!scott
P.S. The other male I've had, Merlin (R.I.P. ol' buddy) didn't usually
cover up his..er..waste products either. Their "big sister"
Athena has never had a problem. Could it be a male/female thing?