posted 05-01-2003 04:05 AM           

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We just got a new kitten. She is 8 weeks old and usually a good kittie, but, in the 5 days we've had her, she has peed on our bed 3 times (although she used her litter box at first) and she peed a little on the carpet today. When I catch her I tell her "NO" and I put her in her litter box. Instead of using the litter, she starts attacking it, digging away and throwing litter all over the place...SHE'S CRAZY! She poos in her litter just fine. Also, she has not peed very much at all in the past few days. I am worried she may have a medical problem. After she pooped today she was dragging her bum across the carpet. I heard that this is a syptom of a UTI. Does anyone have a solution for my problem or a similar experience??? We are going to take her to the vet ASAP, so hopefully they can help us out.

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posted 05-04-2003 02:37 PM           

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No one has responded to my message so I'm going to try again. We bought a new quilt and so far, our kitten has not peed on it, but now she has taken to peeing on the carpet, around the same spot each time, in our bedroom. We deodorized the area and put a new litter box there for her to use but then today, she peed again in that area, right beside the litter box (although she has used the litter box for pee and poop many times already). I don't know why she is doing this. How can I stop her?

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posted 05-04-2003 02:42 PM           

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Also, I should mention that we did take her to the vet for a urinary sample and spent $80 to find out she is just fine and it's a behaviour issue.

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From:Harrisburg,PA USA
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posted 05-04-2003 04:08 PM         

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Are you praising her when she goes in the litter box? Taining cats to use the litterbox is alot like training a dog to go outside. Bottomline if your cat is peeing your carpet you are not watching her enough. Usually what I did when I had a kitten was start them off in a small room. ie the bathroom, kitchen something with easily cleanable floors preferably no carpet. Put her litterbox in there with her food and water. When she uses it praise her for using it. Make it a big deal and a good thing. I dont think this is so much of a behavioral issue as it is just a baby who doesnt know any better. Also maybe try changing the litter. And/or scooping it more often. Some cats wont use their litter box after they have already gone it until it is clean again. I know there is more I want to add but cant think of it right now so I will post back later. Good luck

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posted 05-06-2003 11:09 PM           

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Today she pooped on the carpet in the same area, right beside her litter box!!! It's not like she doesn't use her litter box. She has two and uses both of them regularily and we scoop it clean all day. This is the 1st time she has pooped outside her litter box and it makes no sense. The only option I have left is to try different litter, and believe me, I will. But I'm worried that that's not the problem, and I don't know what is. We praise her for using her litter, she uses her litter, no problem, she is a very happy/purry kitten, the vet says nothing's worng...I just don't get it.
P.S.-Her poo is quite mushy, so I was wondering if maybe there was some kind of problem there. She seems to like her food and she drinks water and once in a while she'll have a pounce treat, so, I don't know what's causing that. I just thought someone might have some insight about that. Anyway, I'm running out of options. Poo on the bedroom carpet is really gross--really, really gross.

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posted 05-06-2003 11:26 PM         

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Zoee, Try and be a little more patient with her. She's still a baby. She will make mistakes for a while. It's good that she is using her littebox at times.
Poo on the carpet is not pleasant, but when you have pets, paticularly baby ones, there are unpleasant things we have to put up with. I've been through all that - with cats and dogs.

Keep praising her when she does right. but don't tell her off when she doesn't. It will give her anxiety.

If her poo is mushy she may need a change of diet,that's all , and you could phone your vet about a suggestion. Also is she free of worms? That's very important.

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posted 05-08-2003 02:07 AM           

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The food we are giving her was recommended and given to us by the vet so I know it's good stuff. I think the area she was soiling in has that permanent cat urine smell from the previous renters. So, yesterday we put down a rubber mat to cover the area and turned it into an eat/play area. So far there have been no accidents. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I know I need to be patient with her because she is just a baby--and a cute one! So hopefully this is just a phase. We also bought nicer litter for her so I'm hoping she'll be a happy/healthy kitty. Thanks for the replies.

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posted 05-10-2003 01:18 AM           

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We still haven't had any "accidents". Things are going well. We bought her new litter and she seems to like it. It's more like sand, it's nice. Also, I figured out that the mushy poop was from canned, wet cat food we were giving her as a treat. After we stopped giving it to her, her poop went back to normal. So, for anyone with these same problems, don't worry. It will pass. Ciao!

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