About a month ago Chad and I (well, mostly me) adopted two 6month old, kittens (almost cats). We renamed them Ginger and Franklin (Frankie for short). They are brother and sister and were part of the same litter as little Leroy (Katie's new kitty). I am seriously, totally in love.
They nap together in a ball of fur, chase each other across the apartment, chase their tales, pounce on shadows, clean each other and are alternately playful or loving through out the course of the day.
They both have so much personality. Frankie is bigger, more athletic and out going. He forces himself right on top of where ever you are or what ever you're doing, and he has no qualms coming back again and again and again no matter how many times you push him away. He'll put his little wet nose as close as he can to your face, sniff, then start licking away at your check, chin or lips. He'll sprint after any of the furry bell toys we got for him and leap, superman style, through the air if something he wants is above his head. He's aggressive and the very opposite of shy.
Ginger on the other hand was the runt of the litter. She is smaller and more timid with slightly longer fur. She looks almost like a teddy bear. She is much daintier in her mannerisms, but still just as playful. She won't force herself onto your lap like Frankie does, but she'll still curl up next to you. She much more skittish as well; loud noises and sudden movements seem to startle her and she'll shrink back. She's still just as loving, just much less 'In Your Face' then Frankie.
Ginger has her quirks as well. She loooooooves people food and will stalk it at any opportunity. If I heat up some left overs in the microwave she's there in a heart beat, nose in the air, sniffing for the cooked food. I've caught her, more than once, up on the count nibbling on whatever we left up there at the time.
I know I shouldn't have favorite, but I think I like Ginger the best. Frankie's aggressiveness can be annoying if you don't want him around whereas Ginger has a vulnerable fragility about her that brings about a desire in me to nurture and care for her. I think she loves me too, cause she's at my feet where ever I walk in the apartment.
She's also had an issue with pooping outside the litter box. Namely, in the bath tub. At least its in a easy place to clean, and always in the same spot. I've done some online research and there are any number of theories.
Here's a link to a lot of good information on the issue:
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19767
I personally think there are a few appropriate to our situation.
1) She first pooped there when their litter was too full. With two cats it fills up pretty quick. We cleaned it out and everything seemed ok. We began cleaning the litter daily. When we would skip a day, it would happen again.
2) The last few weeks we've been in and out of town alot. She may feel stressed out or anxious because there hasn't been any regular schedule with us being around. She did it again (two days in a row) right after out trip to Mexico. I scolded her but forgot to put her in the box to remind her the correct place to go. This may have caused her additional anxiety since I just yelled at her and she may not have known why.
"Trying to pin down the actual cause of why your cat is not going in the litter will need some detective work from yourselves, as each individual case can be different. However here are some of the usual causes:
- Too many cats living together in close proximity
- Separation anxiety ...
- ....(there are more listed)
3) After so many times going in the tub, she probably thinks of it as an ok place to go. I've been as calming and comforting as possible to her. I've placed her in her litter and pet her while she's there hoping to associate the litter box with good things (not equated with grossness) and keeping it as cleaned out as possible.
It's been three days and things seem to be going smoothly for now. I will continue to make sure she feels loved and at home and I will continue scooping out the litter daily.
In the mean time I found this online post supremely helpful
for cats who poop outside of the litter box.
Pooping outside the box is often a sign that the cat is sick. So, a vet visit will be a good idea. If the vet rules out medical problems, try some of these solutions:
Pooping outside the box will often happen when the cat has had painful bowel movements. The cat associates the pain with the litter box and becomes afraid to use the litter box to poop in. If you notice that the feces are hard and dry, try adding a little Libby’s raw pumpkin to her diet or give a little hairball medicine on a daily basis until the stool becomes a little softer.
There are many cats who refuse to pee and poop in the same box. Simply adding a second box often solves this problem. (scoop both boxes daily)
Also, many cats will do this if they don't think the box is clean enough. Just imagine yourself sitting and concentrating on a toilet full of excrement....not a pleasant thought! So, make sure you keep the litter box very clean (scoop daily).
For cats who poop just outside the box: This is often due to the box being too small for the cat so the cat stands in the box, but her bottom hangs outside while pooping. Switching to an extra large box (such as a rubbermaid underbed storage container) will solve this problem.
Also...she may be telling you that she just isn't comfortable with where you have the boxes right now. It is possible that if you put a second box in a completely different room, she may start using it instead of pooping where she is pooping. If the boxes are in a place where she feels vulnerable while she is having to sit and concentrate she won't use the box there. A quick pee in a scary spot isn't as uncomfortable as taking a poop, which takes longer and makes the cat feel more vulnerable. For some cats, they prefer their boxes to be out in the open so they can see the comings and goings of others...this way they can easily escape if they feel it is necessary. Other cats prefer hidden boxes where no one can see them while they are doing their thing. If the litter boxes are in a closet...this may be her way of telling you that at least one of them needs to be in a more open place. If this is the case, you can put it in a corner of a room and then surround the box with pretty house plants so that it isn't noticeable. Or vice versa; if the boxes are in an open spot, you might need to move one to a more hidden area.
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