HELP!!! My 9-month-old cat will not use the litter box!!!

We adopted our guy when he was about 3 months old. From the onset he preferred to go outside, although we have a litter box that my other cat uses exclusively. The little guy has used the box before. Well, now that we have ark-building weather here in SF, our guy has decided he likes to pee on beds. Our beds, my dog's bed. We have put litter boxes in two rooms, but he continues to pee on beds.

HELP!!! How do we litter box train this older cat? We love the little guy, but this can't go on.

Any and all info and suggestions would be appreciated.

I use it to calm my guys when I take them to the vets. But, there have been some stories here about spraying it on the places where the little guy is peeing. I bought my Feliway at my local Pet Supplies Plus store.

Also, Cat Attract litter might be a good idea. I use it, and, so far, my little guys have not had a single 'accident'.

Good luck!

sold at major pet supply stores. Some cats mistake soft surfaces (like comforters) for litter boxes. I've had at least three fosters who did this. I just removed the bedspreads until their litter box habits were better established-and used the "Cat attract" brand litter during the transition.

And don't forget to clean, bleach, and rinse the litterbox regularly. Cats hate dirty litterboxes; some won't even uses the box if another cat uses it, too, so I suggest you get your 9-month-old catolescent his own box.

having one of mine put down (suspected cancer). While I was there two people brought some young cats in. The clerk said there might be a problem getting them adopted because they weren't litter-trained. Apparently mama is supposed to do that. If a cat isn't litter trained by 10 weeks, it's not gonna happen.

we have former ferals at our rescue who become litter trained once they are indoors. We also have bottle raised kittens who never have a kitty mom to train them, but they learn on their own. Often all it takes is watching one other cat use it, then they do it without any further prompting.

There can be health issues- like urinary tract problems- that cause cats to go outside the box.

Esp. if he is just coming into maturity. Even being neutered, some cats go through something like this. Maybe you should add another litterbox temporarily, in addition to all the other measures (rescue rememdy and feliway). It's been so long since I've dealt with this type of situation, I can't remember what worked. Good luck

illegally before until you have it handled. It's a pain, but if you deny him access, he won't keep learning the same wrong thing.

Also, get some Nature's Miracle to clean the bedclothes, mattress, whatEVER got peed on. It works well and you can get it in pet stores and some health food stores.

If you want to go all out, put him in a small bathroom with his own litter box. When he consistantly goes there, let him out for visits. As he shows you he knows where to go, you can let him out longer and to a bigger area.

You can retrain this baby if you're willing to be patient with him. :)

It turns out Ren was scared by something in the backyard. Our dog confronted something out there - a brief encounter when they both were outside - and since then Ren will cry at the bottom of the stairs until either our dog or one of us escorts him outside. I thought it was the rain but I was mistaken. He doesn't mind that.

We bleach the litter boxes weekly. We have two for two cats, in different rooms.

We tried the Feliway; he still peed on my dog's bed once. We keep my son's room closed because that was his favorite place.

Finally located Cat-Atract litter in Daly City (20 minutes south of SF). SF doesn't have any decent pet stores at least that we can find.

Ren is so cute. We are terminally attached and will work through this.

I have never had a cat with this problem.

Thanks so much for all the advice.

that's always my first step with elimination problems. especailly when the peeing is on soft material like beds or clothes.

From Pam Johnson-Bennet, author of Cat vs. Cat:


"As for the issue of missing the box, when cats relieve themselves on a bed, often they're seeking the comfort of the owner's smell, as well as a location with a good lookout. This could mean your cats aren't getting along as well as you think. I can't tell you how often a dominant cat can stand guard near the box: it's a very subtle thing -- but just the presence of that cat may deter a cat who is less confident."

You mentioned that your dog protected the young cat when they were outside, but that your cat then peed on your dog's bed; maybe she was seeking protection/comfort from the dog. Just another idea to think about. Good luck in getting this sorted out.

If you can, take a room in your house where only this cat can go. Don't force the cat to stay there, but keep the other cat away. Feed this cat in that room and have fresh water and stay in there a bit with him, groom him and brush him or just pet him in this room. Have a nice clean litter box there as well where only he can go. And a nice comfortable pet bed. Let him have a "vacation" from the other cat for a little while with plenty of love time from you.

She sleeps almost constantly on my bed, and Ren alternately bites her and cuddles with her. Our other cat is innocuous as can be. However, our dog is part pitbull and Ren has really bonded with her. They run around in the back yard together and through the house. It is possible our dog, Seven, is a bit TOO aggressive or dominant, although Ren attacks her and doesn't seem at all afraid of her. Interestingly, Renfield also loves my 19-year-old son. (Ren only communes with me is when I'm working and he sleeps on my monitor.) Ren has only pee'd on Seven's bed and on my son's bed. Isn't that interesting? He's only done it once since I first posted, on Seven's bed, and since then is becoming more confident about going outside with either Seven or my son escorting him. Today it was sunny and he ventured out himself.

This is a puzzling and hopefully temporary problem. Thanks so much for all the advice and suggestions.

Must be idol worship, kind of like a little child's admiration for an older sibling or other person. Seven is his hero. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

He finally gets it. He has a separate box with privacy in the bathroom, and he actually uses it now!

I can't tell you how happy I am! Thank you all for your terrific advice. Ren was always a keeper, but we prefer a cat that doesn't pee on our beds. We're just funny like that.

Now if we could just get him to stop bringing crap - rocks, dirt clots, dead mice, sticks, plants, crap he finds in the garage such as sink stoppers, etc. - into the house ... but not peeing on our beds is a start.

I am glad for both you and Renfield!

the pet door. I don't have a pet door anymore. Maybe Ren wants his very own toys--not something he has to share with the others! I wish my cats were this imaginative!