House training an adult cat

A question about : House training an adult cat

Hi, hopefully somebody can advise us.

Our beloved rescue cat died in October 14 suddenly, she was very old, we thought 16 but subsequently Cats Protection thought 19. We were devastated.

We have always had Russian blue or similar cats and we found 2 needing rehoming, 4 year olds, and we agreed to take them. They are beautiful girls, R is classical Russian Blue, C looks more like her British short hair father. They needed rehoming because their owner was away a lot. We only have a very sketchy history and have tried to get more information but it was not forthcoming.

R is no problem at all and is sociable and affectionate. She has adjusted well to going out and enjoys running round and has even caught several mice.

C is extremely withdrawn. At first she hid most of the time but she has started coming out. At the slightest noise she will hide. I think her eye sight is not very good either. Her main pleasure is sleeping on the bed with us generally on my feet. She will go outside but not for very long. She understands that she can come in through the cat flap but I have never seen her go out. There is small signs of progress - she has started playing a bit. She eats well but is not interested in treats.

We started them off with 2 litter trays - and slowly moved them to the back door and then put them outside. R did not have a problem, but C has had a number of accidents. I have put a litter tray under cover outside and I have seen her use it but not consistently. I guess the major problem is her severe levels of anxiety but I think she has other problems as well. If she was a child, a multi disciplinary team would be puzzling over her. I am reluctant to go to the vet because of her anxiety levels.

Do anybody have any ideas about how to tackle this problem? We have restricted the cats to a few rooms and removed as many rugs as possible.

Thank you for reading this, I hope I have not been too long winded.

PS This has taught us a lesson about private arrangements - go to CP or one of the specialist societies or a reputable breeder!

Best answers:

• Does she use the litter tray if it's indoors ? Also could you put her scent in the fresh litter tray, by using a tiny bit of her wee/poo that she leaves elsewhere ? She might be more inclined to use it if it smells familiar.
  I took on an older cat who would not use a tray. In the end I realised he didn't know how to, so I started lifting him into it whenever he asked to go out. I even scrapped the litter as cats do with their paws and gradually he got the hang of it. Only took a few days.
• She can use a litter tray - but often misses it. This started our suspicion that she has sight problems. We then noticed that her pupils do not dilate. We then realised you must speak to her before touching her.
  I have tried putting her scent in a clean litter tray outside. I think that the incidents may when she was too scared to go out (builders next door making a lot of noise plus she prefers to go out in the dark).
• Has she actually worked out how to use the cat flap to go out? It took Pixie several weeks to work out that the flap works the same both ways. She mastered coming in fairly easily, but we were having to prop the flap open, then partly open for some time, then finally about 10 days ago she got the drop on it. I would keep a tray indoors until you are confident she's mastered the flap both ways.
• If C has sight problems she will feel extremely vunerable when having to use the litter tray outside.Also using the cat flap will be frightening for her
  I had a rescue cat that went blind and rarely ventured outdoors unless I was there.
  Even before she totally lost her eye sight we kept her litter tray inside.. the only rescue we have ever had to do this for
  I think it might be kinder to let C use the litter tray indoors
• Cavework that is a really good post. However success today, used litter tray outside twice! Early days but we are really happy.
• I’d want to rule out an underlying medical problem before assuming it’s behavioural. Her anxiety, as Cavework has pointed out, could be due to her eye problems and her eye problems could be a symptom of a medical problem which needs treating. A vets trip might be an ordeal for her but could help or even save her.
  I might be barking up the wrong tree here but the cynic in me wonders whether the previous owner has dumped them on you knowing there’s something wrong and couldn’t be bothered with/afford vet care. It would explain why information isn’t forthcoming and you’ve picked up on C’s issues so surely the owner (of maybe 4 years) would have noticed too. On the other hand if she’s always been partially sighted/blind then why didn’t they let you know.
  I hope C is ok and just needs more time than R to adjust but please speak to your vet, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
• Still problems I am afraid. Came in from shops and was summoned upstairs by husband with a 'grave voice', C had just defecated on the bed of all places. He is disabled so could not cope with it, terrible mess which took hours to sort out. In many years of cat ownership, (40+) have never had this experience. Odd thing, no triggers whatsoever on this occasion. And things seemed to be getting better.
  Next day - asked her to come outside every 3 hours - no problem. Agree Florence 27 trip to vet is a good idea. Next week I think.
  Would agree that we have been 'had' but but both want to persevere. I work away from home 5 / 6 days a month and am racking my brains about how to cope. At the best of times, I have to prepare for hours so husband can cope. We also have to replace part of an oak floor because she peed on it (it turned black).
  We got our beloved rescue cat after he had his stroke to cheer him up. This really succeeded and when she died we decided to get younger cats. I deeply regret not going back to Cats Protection or to a reputable breeder!
  I also have our cleaner (much treasured and really good) complaining as well.
• If she's not happy using the tray outside, then you need to bring it in. She's probably stressed and desperate to go to the loo.
  For the time being, you may need to even have 2 trays until she's feeling a little happier. Trays don't need to be smelly - use a decent litter and the smell is minimal.
  Hope you can get this sorted out
  Fi
• Thanks Miiri will do that. I do hate indoor litter trays and he cannot cope with them either and I am away quite a lot.
• My rescue Tom used to go on the doormat until I got 2 litter trays down. He wouldn't and still wont go outside to toilet. I've now changed this to one massive tray and keep on top of the cleaning as he doesn't like to go even if theres 1 wee in it. I think your cat wants to go to the loo but theres nowhere for her to go poor thing. Also you could try putting the tray on newspapers in case of missing,I do this as well.
  I would also take her for a vet check. Good luck.
  I don't know if you have been had exactly, all cats are different and what some will do others wont. Litter trays are not nice but if you keep on top of them then its easier to cope with.
• If the cat is too frightened to go outside/not used to a cat flap and there is no tray inside, where is it suppose to go? I don't think you can blame the cat if you have not made provisions for it.
  You clearly think alot of your animals and it is great you want to resolve the situation and not just give on on them, however you may have to compromise in letting the cat use a litter tray indoors. It there any way this is possible? I appreciate your husband would not be able to change it when you are not there, is there anyone else who could help with this? how often does the cleaner come, would they be prepared to change the litter for you?
  Have you tried a feliway for the anxiety?
  I had a cat who would only use a tray, it would come in from outdoors go to the toilet If the tray was dirty then it would go elsewhere, I was out all day so had to provide three trays This is what as a owner I had to do to make the cat happy and in return, it made me happy, he really was a lovely creature.
• I agree that you will have to provide an indoor tray (or trays) for now.
  If she is missing, then consider providing her with a deeper tray - a friend of mine who used to foster 'hard cases' used to to recommend using a deep plastic crate - (she used ones which were a similar size to recycling boxes) and a deep layer of litter.
  You get less mess, because the high sides mean that a cat can't stand half in/half out, or stand in the tray or pee outside. Also, it being more enclosed can help the cat to feel safer and more relaxed.
  Using deep layers of litter also allows the cat to completely bury its mess, which cuts down on smells.
  I found that using the enclosed trays had similar advantages, and when I first trained my cat to go outside I started by moving the tray outside, and then used just the lid, over the area I wanted him to use, which allowed him to feel more confident outside.
  I agree that there may also be underlying medical problems. I had issues with my cat having accidents including on my bed (after having been completely house trained for years) when he fist developed thyroid problems. I'm not sure whether it was a direct result of the thyroid issue, or whether it was more of a protest about feeling unwell, or what, but it stopped immediately when we were able to get his mediation right.
  Use a paste made with water and biological washing powder to clean anywhere she has made a mess - ammonia based cleaning products can smell (to cats) like cat pee so they may continue to mark the same areas.
  Good luck.
• Would a covered litter tray be worth a try? Would stop 'near misses'
  Some have little doors like cat flaps and carbon filters which help contain odours.
  As has been said a good quality litter will also keep odours down.
  We have a litter tray down permanently with our current kitties, they are both rather nervous, and we keep them in at night so they need a tray then anyway. Got a covered tray for them and they definitely prefer it and it stops litter being spread around the tray if you have a 'digger'
  From what you have said OP I think that you really need a tray indoors for this kitty.
  Something like this perhaps?
  https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/c..._filter/391824
• Vet's verdict: healthy cat but some ? damage to optic nerve causing sight problems, try Feliway to reduce anxiety. He did a thorough optical examination. Cat extremely anxious but recovered quite quickly on return.
  Am trying an indoor tray, watch this space.
  Thanks for all the advice and help.
• Cat not interested in litter tray have shown it to her several times and she jumps out of it. Have put a tiny piece of her poo in it, will add some urine soiled litter too. Puppy pads also purchased and placed in strategic places thanks Cally6008.
  We had yet another incident yesterday this time a sofa. Spent yesterday at the laundrette, duvet, topper, sheets!
  She is banned from the bed unless with me, piteous wailing all the time to go into the bedroom.
  Next step I am afraid is the boot camp, my fear is that it will do more harm than good. We are looking at the bathroom or a crate.
  I will also have to take her with me when I work away from home the week after next. We have a tiny cottage and there are no carpets at all. Though this will disrupt the training arrangements, it will at least mean that husband can cope with the other 2 cats.
  I have also written to the previous owner again to ask about the precise arrangements for toileting and also to tell him about the sight problems.
  I do wonder if there is some brain damage, her reactions and behaviour are so strange. (but in subtle ways). She rarely plays, she will run up to the neighbourhood bully and touch noses with him, the only real pleasure she shows is jumping on our bed and sleeping on top of me. She can jump on to surfaces but jumps sideways. If this is the case, endless patience and repetition are probably the only solutions.
  Thanks for all your support.
• What litter are you using? It needs to be as soft and sandy as possible. If it's chunky it will be quite sore on her paws.
• We are using the same litter her previous owner used in one tray, a trendy wood chipping in the other.
  I have now heard from him, he said that both cats went outside and he kept 1 litter box inside but they only used it rarely (twice a year he thought). Never suspected any sight problems thought that she was just a very introverted, solitary cat.
  She is now confined to the bathroom with 2 litter trays, bed and food. not happy but has weed in one of the trays. One litter tray enormous, following the advice of one of the kind posters. We thought we need a few days consistent use of the tray before we let her out, then the tray can stay in the bathroom for her exclusive use. Her hidey hole is in the bathroom, under the floorboards so it is not such a bad choice. Piteous crying, but we need to do this. I feel really cut up about all of this.