Cat owner needs litter training advice

[Mochajava]

I am the owner of two short haired cats, male and female. They are both around 14 years old (and still going strong somehow!). They were my mothers cats but she gave them to me a few months back when she moved. She had a terrible habit of not keeping the litterbox clean and in turn the cats adopted a nasty habit of going on the floor. I try to keep the litterboxes as clean as I can, scoping them about twice a day but they still seem to want to use the floor on occasion.

I could really use some advice on how to get them to use the box. I bought them a new big box and have changed over to wheat litter which has surprisingly helped but I still find "presents" roughly every other day. I no longer find urine, just feces.

If anyone has any ideas I would surely appreciate them. Thanks!

EDIT:

I should also note:

• They are now living with 4 other cats part time (they stay in our garage most of the time but I bring them in the house to slowly get them used to the other cats)
• I have two litter boxes, one with wheat the other with clay litter. They seem to prefer the wheat.
• The female seems to also be afraid of the litterbox when I put her in it.
  

[janetta]

Oi!
I've never had a problem like yours, but maybe try re-training them like kittens?
Just follow them around and if you see one "squatting", pick him up and place him in his litter box? Gently rubbing his paws in the litter might remind him of where he's supposed to go. It might be easier if there was no roof on it either.
If they poop in the same places, try placing the box there. Good luck!

[Patty Smyth]

Just a few things to consider

1 - do you have 1 box for each
2 - they may not like the litter
3 - the litter box may be too close to their food bowls , they hate that
4 - they are fussy and don't even like one pee or poo to be inthe box when they go
5 - they are ill, sometimes it's a sign

It could just be they need more training if they have been used to going where they want, they may come around. They could still be adjusting to being with you.

Good luck.

[frugal50]

i agree with patty
get seperate litterbox and they make not like the change of litter
better they poop on floor, than pee.... easier to find
the move to your place, may have caused it too

[MortgageQueen]

It sounds like they are actually improving/responding to your efforts. . .so that's a good sign. Maybe put some sort of material (i.e.sandpaper) in the areas they're going on the floor to make it "unpleasant" to go there. Keep being super viligant cleaning the box(es). Once they finally come around, you probably won't have to be quite so meticulous.
I agree with others in that it has a lot to do with Re-training.
Best wishes and kudos for YOU for taking in elderly cats!

[Mochajava]

I have two litterboxes, one with wheat litter, one with regular unscented litter. They seem to be using the wheat box more than the other now. The male doesn't seem to have a problem being in the box but when I put the female in she freaks out as if she is afraid of the box. Both of them go right beside the litter and not elsewhere (thank god!).

Just a few things to consider

1 - do you have 1 box for each
2 - they may not like the litter
3 - the litter box may be too close to their food bowls , they hate that
4 - they are fussy and don't even like one pee or poo to be inthe box when they go
5 - they are ill, sometimes it's a sign

It could just be they need more training if they have been used to going where they want, they may come around. They could still be adjusting to being with you.

Good luck.

[Pinkypie]

If you have 6 cats, you should have 6 boxes...

[Mochajava]

We do but my two cats are in the garage 90% of the time and only make messes out there.

If you have 6 cats, you should have 6 boxes...

[abbasgirl]

In most cases you wouldn't need a separate litter box for each cat. I have one for 2 cats and they're fine.
Have you actually seen the male cat making a mess? It sounds like the issue may be with the female cat. She's already peeing in the box, so that's a good sign. Keep the wheat litter since they seem to prefer it. Maybe just try some different things with the other box to see if there's something she's more comfortable with (It appears that she doesn't like being in the box for long periods of time and doesn't feel comfortable with scratching around and burying her feces in there.) If she's scared of the box, try putting her in and petting her, brushing her, giving her a treat, etc., so that she associates it with good things. If it's not already in a quiet place, try moving it. Try it with and without the lid. Try different kinds of litter. I recently switched from pine litter pellets to shredded newspaper. With the pellets, my female cat was using the box, but she wouldn't stay long enough to bury anything and she would race out of there and run around the house complaining when she was done. With the newspaper, she stays in there for 5 or 10 minutes scratching around and making little grunting sounds. She buries everything and comes out very calmly when she's done. I just put the newspaper through my shredder and change it completely every day. It takes about 5 minutes a day. It absorbs liquid and odor really well too.
Also, while it's often a good idea to make the area where the cats make a mess less cat friendly or accessible, in this case, since it's near the litter box, you don't want to do that and risk turning them off of the box even more.

[frugal50]

We do but my two cats are in the garage 90% of the time and only make messes out there.

what are they doing in the garage?
no wonder they'r having problems
it's cold and damp outside 90% of the time!

[SharonMe]

You sound like you're doing your best to get them trained.
Have you tried one little box with lid off.
They sell some lidless shallow litter boxes. The one who's afraid may be afraid of being in the small enclosed space of the litter box.
How do you find the wheat litter for cleaning up, dust. costs etc.
I'm looking for something that has less dust.
Best of luck training your new additions.

[matrix82]

What about a bigger box? I have three cats, and had three litter boxes, but the smallest cat for some reason was always pooping outside of the box. I got the large sized litter boxes and no problem since. She just couldn't tell her own size I guess.
The other cats which are almost double her size and had no issues with the medium sized boxes.

[Mrsb07]

I don't have anything else to add that hasn't already been said regarding the litter but if they are upset about the move or the other cats those cat hormone things you plug in work great at calming cats down and destressing them. One of my cats is very emotional and gets upset easy so when he's having troubles with something we plug it in for a few days and he calms right down. Cats can have litter issues when they're stressed out.

[Mochajava]

Actually it's insulated and more like a little apartment and we have a woodstove going almost all of the time. I check the temperature often and make sure it's comfortable for them. My female cat HATES the other cats so I kind of have to keep her out there until she is ok with the others.

what are they doing in the garage?
no wonder they'r having problems
it's cold and damp outside 90% of the time!

[Mochajava]

Thanks!

The wheat litter is amazing! There is no dust at all, it clumps a lot better , less odor. It's just all around a better choice if you ask me. It's also healthier for the cats. It costs a little but more but is worth it. If you do decide to change from clay to litter try mixing them together for a while until the cats are used to the wheat. Each time you change the litter put more and more wheat until it's completely wheat.

You sound like you're doing your best to get them trained.
Have you tried one little box with lid off.
They sell some lidless shallow litter boxes. The one who's afraid may be afraid of being in the small enclosed space of the litter box.
How do you find the wheat litter for cleaning up, dust. costs etc.
I'm looking for something that has less dust.
Best of luck training your new additions.