How to train a cat to use litter box and not pee against my stove???

[cui bono]

I took in a stray male and he won't use the litter box. I have also had 3 instances of peeing against the stove which I assume is him. I have a female cat, also took her in from living in my yard, and she was using the litter box no problem.

So I have been leaving the doggie door open which I had left closed off after my dogs died, and he goes in and out as he pleases. Now my other cat does too since she's learned how to use it. But so do racoons and at least one is coming in the house at night.

Oh, I also just noticed this morning that the boy also peed in one of my tubs, the tub that has the litter box right next to it!

I can train dogs very easily, but I have no idea what to do about this cat. Now I see why his "owner" who lives a block away left him outside to fend for himself. She knows he came back here but never returned my texts. And after he was hanging around for a couple weeks I took him to the vet, he is microchipped so I got hold of her and she said she didn't even know he was missing. Now he was skin and bones, his spine was nearly poking out of his skin. He's gained 5-6 pounds since I've been taking care of him.

So anyway... what to do about not using the litterbox and peeing in the kitchen and tub???????????????????????????

I want to be able to close the doggie door at night to keep the cats inside and the racoons outside.

[Bongo Prophet]

1. Has he been neutered? If not, he is "spraying", i.e. marking territory, not peeing per se.

http://www.catsofaustralia.com/cat-spraying-urine.htm

excerpt:

Un-neutered male cats will usually start urine spraying behavior once they reach sexual maturity.

The age at which a tom cat sexually matures can vary greatly but in general it occurs between 5 and 12 months. Many factors can affect at which age a male cat starts spraying. Male cats in multi-cat households or in close proximity to other cats are more likely to spray at a younger age.

Spraying is territorial and can also be stress related. Neutering or spaying a kitten at an early age can prevent spraying problems in the future. Your veterinarian will advise you on the best age to neuter your kitten.

Multi-cat households usually have a far greater problem with spraying than single cat households. Overcrowding of cats will often result in problems with territory marking.

[cui bono]

2. Yes, he's neutered.

He's such a sweetie. He just has to start using a litter box.

[Voice for Peace]

10. I don't want to discourage you but I'm dealing with something similar:

a neutered male cat who has been spraying in the house
to mark his territory, ever since I moved here and he
moved in with me. He was here first, to be fair, and I
arrived with two more neutered male cats.. one of whom
was very observant and picked up the habit.

It is literally a pissing contest between them, and has been going
on for more than two years. I rarely catch either of them in the
act. It has nothing to do with needing to pee. It's about owning
the place, and you. If he's spraying up against the stove I'm
pretty sure it's a marking behavior.

In addition, there is Buddy the formerly homeless FIV tomcat who
although neutered continues to spray as territory marking.
Whenever he gets inside I presume he is participating in the piss
all over the house contest.

It's not fun but I deal with it because I've had little success stopping
it, and I love them all like crazy. Good luck! Keep a supply of

in a spray bottle for quick cleanup and stink removal.

[cui bono]

14. I might have gotten him to use the litter box!

See this post:

Also, I ordered some of that Feliway stuff, spray and diffusers because both cats are a bit on edge since raccoons have come in the house.

I got a Nature's Miracle hardwood floor spray and then I got some Anti-Icky-Poo odor remover. I used some Pet Force but I had it since my dogs were puppies so it's been sitting there opened for 10 years! Not sure it would still work. So I tried someone's homemade recipe - which is basically the same thing to use to get skunk smell off your dog - baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and a drop of dish detergent. But first she said to spray with vinegar and water then after that dried to use the other concoction. It helped a lot but I can still smell some pee on the hardwood floor.

Well he bought himself some time by using the litter box... lucky boy. Once I'm certain he will use it whenever necessary I will start closing off the doggie door at night after they are both inside.

I also ordered a couple collars to see if they will wear them. If they do then I'm getting a collar activated pet door, small size, to use instead of the big doggie door.

Hopefully some or all of the above takes care of it cuz he's such a sweet and beautiful boy.

[mockmonkey]

3. It sucks when they do this.

He might not like the type or smell of the litter you use or the size of the litter pan or perhaps the location.

You could try using either the additive or the premixed version of Cat Attract. I've never tried it.

http://www.entirelypets.com/catattract.html

I have a female that has behavioral issues and have had her on the medication "Buspirone" but that has stopped working. My Vet has run out of ideas. She enjoys TVs and Monitors and has lately added the stove top to her to do list (I keep aluminum foil over it now).

It started off with toasters on the counter top which was easy to remedy by simply keeping those things off the counter. My TV/ Monitor has to have a large garbage bag over it when not in use. She even peed on me one time when I was asleep.

If she wasn't so cute she would be history. I use Fizzion spray to clean up after her.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dpets&field-keywords=fizzion+tablets&rh=n%3A2619533011%2Ck%3Afizzion+tablets

[cui bono]

4. omg.... if it gets that bad he has to find a new home!

I work really long hours and can't deal with that.

I do use Cat Attract litter. I had been using Swheat with my other cat and all of a sudden she didn't like it anymore and started going in my bedroom. She likes Cat Attract, although I think she just likes the clay better than the wheat.

But now that I've taken in the boy, she's not using the litter box hardly at all. She used to be out all day then come in and use the litter box. I've seen her checking out the area outside where the boy usually goes so maybe she's going there now too.

Cats...

I'm going to look into Fizzion. I use Pet Force on the floor to get rid of odors. It seems to work. I have tile flooring so I can let it sit there til it dries up. Any tips on a deterrent spray?

[mockmonkey]

5. No luck with deterrents

I tried something called Pet Ease, it kind of smells like peppermint but I must have decided it didn't work at some point. There was also something called No-Mark but again I stopped using it. Some say Feliway helps but did nothing in my situation.

I use a motion detector spray on the counter sometimes, the best ones to get are the ones that can spray air while making a noise or can be set to just make a noise which is more economical because the cans of air are very expensive. I tried just regular dust away cans but they just don't work the same even though they fit.

If Pet Force is working for you, no reason to change.

I know my Vet is amazed that I've put up with her for so long. I'm hoping that after a break from using Buspirone that maybe it will work again.

[cui bono]

6. Thanks for all the info!

I looked up Buspirone and it says it's an anti-anxiety drug? Is your cat anxious? Mine is a pretty calm boy. He just has to worry a little bit about my female cat smacking him from time to time and now racoons coming into the house. But he's very calm.

[mockmonkey]

7. She has issues

cat issues...lol She is anxious because of the other cats. Buspirone changed her behavior. She used to stay mostly in the kitchen now she has no problem being everywhere else. She also used to only eat dry food now she eats dry or wet. It lessened her marking/peeing for a few years.

[cui bono]

17. I movved the litter box to just outside the bathroom door and that worked!

He's using it now for the last few days. I read that they worry about getting ambushed by the other cat when using the litter box so instead of having it way back in a narrow bathroom I moved it to just outside the doorway, where he had peed on the floor, and he's using it! I give him lots of affection after he does.

Don't know if this info might help your situation or not...

[mockmonkey]

19. unfortunately...no

It's great that you might have found the solution to your cats issues. I've had litter boxes in every room and I've put them in areas that I know she has marked. I know what you mean though about cats attacking other cats which is why I have litter pans in 3 different rooms.

I have a male cat, my youngest and since a kitten has liked to lay in the litter pan especially when I am cleaning them. He seems to always need attention from me. He's gotten better because as an adult he now only lays in the pan when I've put in a new batch of litter.

I've decided that cats have absolutely no sense at all. The female that does all the marking dislikes the male cats but when two males are rough housing she will come and attack whichever she thinks is the aggressor. It's not a good idea because then they turn their attention toward her. And then I have to separate them after listening to her "screaming".

She is so spoiled. Right now she is smelling something on the floor and has that lower jaw down to like inhale what ever is there...I can only guess. Since I put aluminum foil on the stove she has kept off of it. I seldom use the stove and I live alone so it's easier to do these things.

I don't know what it is about some female cats. Some know how to put the male cats in their place and are mostly left alone. Then there are those that the male cats seem to make sport of. I have a female cat with Thyroid issues and she is elderly and not in the best of health and the males this week have been going after her. I know that sickly animals are generally not treated that well by their fellow critters. Thankfully, they seem to have lost interest in her for now, plus I had to use the spray bottle on them which makes me feel crummy.

[cui bono]

20. Sounds like you really have your hands full!

I wouldn't be able to deal with all of that, they are lucky they have you!

[Voice for Peace]

11. I have also used Feliway and I think it works well, but I always run out quickly and it gets costly.

plus there are too many peeeers. But if you have just
the one, it's worth a try. And it can also help make
both cats more relaxed.

[Voice for Peace]

12. diapers. I've been considering diapers.

3 neutered males still marking inside and outside.

[Curmudgeoness]

8. The only suggestions that I have had in the past

when I have had to deal with this situation are 1) have at least one more litter box than you have cats...so if you have two cats, there should be three boxes, and 2) put different litter types or brands in the different boxes to see if there is one that the cat will like. They say that some cats were raised in a place where there were no litter boxes, so they never were taught to use one by their mothers, and it is hard to train them once they are adults. My cat did not do it for that reason, I don't know why he used it for years and then just started to go other places....stress, anxiety, not happy, health issue that we couldn't find??? Who knows.

I also started to put litter boxes right where the cat was going. I am not sure that it is easy to do that with your stove though.

[cui bono]

9. Thanks. I was going to get another litter box and put it out on my deck as I leave the dining window

slightly open so the cats can go outside and still be safe. But last night my female was growling and I saw a raccoon on the deck getting ready to come in the window! I thought he was only coming in the doggie door since that deck is second story and I didn't think a raccoon would climb up the posts. Aye-aye-aye... I guess I can wrap some metal sheeting around the posts so they don't climb up, I've seen people do that on trees to keep the squirrels from climbing up.

I can't wait to be done with my current job so I can deal with all of this! Right now I come home to see what I'll find after my 14 hour work day. Luckily I can text my neighbor to go over and put the bowls of cat food in the fridge after dark.

Cats are hard.

[cui bono]

13. Well I might have him using the litter box now!

I read about how cats get worried they will be ambushed while peeing and the litter box was way in bathroom where it would be difficult to escape an ambush. Also, he had peed twice at the entrance of that bathroom, so I put the litter box right outside that bathroom door and he used it! I know it was him because the other cat was outside at the time.

Hopefully he continues to use it. I'm getting more litter boxes. Actually I think I'm going to make a couple more out of storage boxes. I found some tips about making them yourself, just cut out an entrance and you can use it with or without the lid. That way you have a tall litter box to avoid litter going on the floor and also the pee if your cat sprays when in the box or pees standing up. It was suggested to use clear ones if you have more than one cat so they can see if the other one is coming to get them!

[Curmudgeoness]

15. Good, I hope it works.

I would hate to see you have to get rid of this kitty. I know how frustrating it can be, since I have dealt with the same problem. I never did figure out the reason for mine. Good luck.

[cui bono]

16. Well I guess what they say is true...

Location, location, location!

He's using it regularly now.

He gets to stay! And I get to close off the doggie door at night and keep the raccoons out!

[Curmudgeoness]

18. Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!