Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat Health & Behaviour => Health & Behaviour General => Topic started by: Sootyca on March 22, 2010, 21:29:14 PM

Title: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Sootyca on March 22, 2010, 21:29:14 PM
So, our new arrival is here and we have a slight problem with her litter tray offerings...she hasn't got a problem with going in the tray at all and we've had no accidents.  The problem we have is that she can't seem to cover up.  She *tries* to cover up - scratching the plastic sides of the tray - but never manages to scratch the litter itself.

So far we have tried a large hooded tray (without hood) with lots of litter, normal amount and small covering in it.  We then switched to slighter smaller tray with normal amount of litter and have now changed to normal litter tray with different litter.   We've tried different litters but no joy.  We've shown her what to do but she hasn't taken to it.

It's only happened since she came here so any thoughts?  It could be due to her recent moves but she isn't showing any signs of stress or problems.

Karen
x
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Michelle (furbabystar) on March 22, 2010, 21:34:16 PM
Some of mine don't cover ....its not really a problem, unless you have a problem with it ?
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Sootyca on March 22, 2010, 21:40:00 PM
But she's trying to cover......just not managing to move the litter!  It's not a huge problem but if there is something she isn't happy with i want to change it!
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: puggy1975 Zoe on March 22, 2010, 21:46:00 PM
Ollie scrapes around the plastic on sides and scrapes door of his tray but ne never covers up
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: zoe (tiggy + pipins mum) on March 22, 2010, 21:48:57 PM
Tiggy and Pippin both do the same, seem like there trying to cover it but just scratch the sides of the tray then give Up eventually!
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: JackSpratt on March 22, 2010, 21:58:15 PM
Mine too. I watch Darwin and sometimes he does an amazing job of covering; other times he scratches the side of  the bath next to the litter tray..... :doh: All four of them don't always cover their business.
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Sootyca on March 22, 2010, 22:32:37 PM
But she did cover up when at RACR - it just seems to be when she has come here that she doesn't. Wondering whether it is a territory thing in a new environment.

I'm going to go shopping for different litter and a brand new tray, otherwise will be resigned to covering up after her (or hoping Robbie will do it for me!)
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Gillian Harvey on March 22, 2010, 22:38:20 PM
Some of mine go through the motions (ha!, motions, get it? LOL!  :evillaugh: ) of covering up too - i.e. scrape the tray, the wall, the floor, anything but the actual litter, they've always done it, whereas others scrape the litter and cover up beautifully - all different I guess.
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Janeyk on March 23, 2010, 06:44:41 AM
I've had cats who've covered and cats who don't cats who just scratch over and cats who dust all round the tray, and any furniture nearby  :evillaugh: (that particular cat covered up for the other cat and swiped him after for not doing it himself  :naughty:) 
The two I have now - neither of them cover.
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Leanne on March 23, 2010, 08:54:23 AM
We've had this too with both boys, they try to cover with the side of the tray and don't end up covering at all, but then other times they will cover up as normal.
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Feline Costumier on March 23, 2010, 14:09:36 PM
Dave digs to Africa but Chilli just stays in there scratching for what feels like hours. She never makes contact with the litter, just scratched the sides, the door, the mat in front of the tray. Can drive me bonkers sometimes the noise she makes!

Don't get me started on the pair of them trying to cover up any left over food with their dinner mats, floor, units, whatever is nearby and scratchable, they make a hell of a noise!
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Den on March 23, 2010, 14:15:51 PM
Memphis covers his wees but when he poops he likes to dig the air, ceiling and sides of the litter tray, anything but the litter. The first time I saw him do it I was in hysterics. To some degree I still find it very funny. I would love to know why, and it's also great to hear that it's not one of his little quirks. I was always unsure if other cats did the same.
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Kucinta on March 25, 2010, 17:25:00 PM
Remy covers his wees but not his poos; Milo covers everything in the litter tray, then comes out, goes to his food bowl and scrapes the floor all around it and the firidge door etc to try and 'bury' it, then goes to one or both waterbowls and scrapes the carpet around that/them, usually getting carpet in the water in the process.

Sometimes I find myself gritting my teeth VERY hard when the scrape, scrape scrape begins  :Crazy:

Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Kittybabe (Ruth) on March 25, 2010, 17:34:07 PM
Lexy partially covers. Mostly just scratches the side of the covered tray. Can be a bit scary when you're taking a nap and it sounds like Freddie Kruger has come a-knockin'  :evillaugh:
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Kay and Penny on March 25, 2010, 17:49:44 PM
Trigger can scatter the earth in his outdoor earth pit to a distance of 5 feet or more

am so glad he doesn't like using the indoor tray :evillaugh:
Title: Re: Litter Tray Issues
Post by: Feline Costumier on March 25, 2010, 19:25:12 PM
Remy covers his wees but not his poos; Milo covers everything in the litter tray, then comes out, goes to his food bowl and scrapes the floor all around it and the firidge door etc to try and 'bury' it, then goes to one or both waterbowls and scrapes the carpet around that/them, usually getting carpet in the water in the process.

Sometimes I find myself gritting my teeth VERY hard when the scrape, scrape scrape begins  :Crazy:



My two do this too! Well, not the water bowl but that's because they won't drink from it so they now have a pint glass next to the sink :innocent:

I also have to grit my teeth, they seem to carry on for an inordinate amount of time.