Kitten Peeing next to the litter box

[Heidi n Q]

Ugh! Some cats can be so dang picky about their litterbox requirements that it almost takes Sherlock Holmes and Watson to decipher what the real issue is!

[Cindley]

I have some information that will hopefully help you. But first I have a few questions for you. Hope you do not mind answering a few questions.

I don't mind


First have you taken the kitten to the veterinarian? If not that is the first step. If you have taken the cat to a veterinarian what did they tell you?

Kittens have been to the vet twice since we got them. The first a couple days after we brought them home and then again Saturday. Saturday the only issue found was a yeast infection in Max's ears. They are both getting ear drops now. They just got off their 2nd 10 day antibiotic set for the URI the vet found the first visit. She advised otherwise they are healthy.


Also what type/brand of litter do you use? Next what type of litter box do you use? Where are all your litter boxes located?

We use Feline Pine. The exact same brand/manufacture the breeder used when when got the kittens. We did not want to confuse them by changing litters. We have 3 just normal large litter boxes which are just plastic boxes the litter sits down in. (Note: we chose the large litter boxes due to the size these kittens get. Max is already 5 1/2 lbs and just under 5 months old. He can already take up half the box. Sophie is 3 1/2 lbs and 4 months old. They are not litter mates but half siblings from the same house.) The other litter box is one of the filtering ones with the holds in the top layer to filter out the stuff and put the litter in the bottom tray. She has used all 4 at one time or another.

We set up the safe room as the living room when we brought them home. The room is open into the kitchen so we set up chairs with a blanket over it to block of the room to begin with. It only took Max a few hours before he was comfortable in the room then the house. Sophie took about 2 days before she was not nervous. Two of the normal boxes are in the corner together between a couch and chair so they are slightly hidden. Max mostly uses these. There is another in the opposite corner that is more open and this is the one Sophie prefers. The 4th box is down the hall on the opposite side of the house and they both will use it. We set them up in that room due to us not going in there much and she goes to the litter box fine as long as we are not in the room. She will even go fine sometimes when we are in the room. If we see her about to go somewhere other than the box we pick her up and put her in the box she uses the most. We have only not caught her twice but we could probably count the number of times we had to put her in the box on one hand.

A little more info that might help. Max already looks like a normal full grown cat but the Siberian kittens take 5 years to get to their full size and Max could get up to 15-20 lbs and Sophie up to 10-15 lbs when they are full grown. Max is about to start teething as he is already chewing on things a lot and he has never went outside the litter boxes. They still jump like kittens fortunately since they can jump high enough to get on the couch but not the cabinets yet and they cannot get all the way to the top of the table without jumping on a chair first. We are already planing how to keep them off the kitchen counters so as to prevent them from getting on the stove by accident. But they have no issues entering the litter boxes we have.

[Cat Person]

Hi Cindley,

First of all it sounds like you take good care of your cats.

It also seems to me like you used your knowledge of cat care regarding your new Norwegien Forest cats. Since you kept the same litter as the cats where used to it seems unlikely they would be avioding the litter box due to litter aversion. The safe room you set up for your new kittens sounds great to me as well. Your litter boxes set up in the safe room sounds perfect to me as well.

My only suggestion is maybe try an even LARGER litter box since you said they where almost the size of full sized cats, despite being kittens. They might have no problem entering the box but they still might like a bigger box.

Lastly you said Max your male kitten never missed the litter box but your female Sophie has missed the box two to five times is that correct? If so try keeping her in a small bathroom for 48 hours with a litter box and see if that helps.

*** I feel it is also important to note that the URI might be causing the aberrant litter box behavior. But you want to redirect her to the litter box due to the fact it could be become a behavioral pattern (litter box avoidance) even after the medical issue has passed***

[Cindley]

Thank you,

My husband and I are trying to do good. We have both had a lot of pets growing up but this is the first time either of us have had cats in the house. I have been allergic for a long time, so very happy I have had very minor reactions to these (I can live with itchy eyes every few days, especially when eye drops fix it fast). I can't remember a time though I have not had outside cats, normally strays that my dad (who claims to hate cats, but we don't believe him) has started feeding and taking care of.

We have another vet visit in 3 weeks for more vaccinations. We may try the larger litter box first. The last time she missed was the morning after the last med dosage. May be a few days before we know since it is not an everyday thing.

[Cat Person]

Hi Cindley,

Well I am glad it is not an everyday thing that is for sure. It might/should just clear up once the URI is gone.

My only other question is have you notice her peeing on a specific surface? For example carpet or tile?

Lastly if you have time I would love to see photo's of your babies. I love big furry kitties.

[Cindley]

I will have to wait till I get home to post more photos but I have 2 in the photo gallery http://www.catforum.com/forum/member...ax-sophie.html

It has always been on the fluffy carpet, we are thinking about putting a tarp under the litter box too, just in the area where the litter boxes are on the carpet, so the carpet near it is covered. We are afraid that she would not like to walk on the plastic though.

If we do this we will try it on Max's boxes first since he is the brave one.

[Cat Person]

Hi Cindley,

Your cats look great first of all. I can not wait to see more pictures of them. Your idea with the tarp sounds good.

Just make sure you keep the area around the litter box clean after she has an accident. What are you using for cleaning there accidents? I would recommend natures miracle which is a good enzymatic cleaner.

[Heidi n Q]

Ack! No tarp! Especially not one of those 'blue' tarps, they are NOT liquid-proof and can leak. I would recommend using either hallway-runner plastic or a sturdy office-chair carpet-protector-mat.

[Cindley]

I use natures miracle, we have some kind of orange Oxy version of it and we were trying to use a painters tarp (large sheet of clear plastic) and cut it to fit the area. The blue tarps also tend to unravel when cut.

Added a couple more pictures of them playing to the album.



Sophie is going to the one down the hall more frequently now too. If she misses that one it is on a stone floor, but she also has not missed since the first post. We have been checking frequently.

[Heidi n Q]

*fingers crossed*