kitten doing the toilet in lving room and not litter tray...HELP!

[nomadicbry]

Hi

our kitten has up until now been using the litter tray with no problems and we remove its absolutions daily in the morning and evening religiously

However over the last few days it has taken to going behind the couch and doing number ones and number twos.
We're at a loss on how to stop this and more importantly why it has started to do this.

I'm sure others have had similar problems. Any advice on why it's happening and how to prevent it. Oh and any recommendations on neutralising the smell. Thankfully we have varnished floors rather than a carpet but it particulalry likes the curtains which trail onto the floor which we've now had to take down and wash. I seem to remember that citrus deters them is this true?

Thanks in advance,
Bryan

[catwoman999]

Firstly, you should move the cat litter to behind the couch where the kitten wants to toilet for the moment. Maybe where you have the cat litter at the moment is a bit too public for the kitten? Do you have other pets? Other pets could be scaring/following the kitten when going into litter. Therefore not getting privacy it needs. Maybe thats why kitten has changed its previously good litter habits and picked a more 'private' place. Something is clearly upsetting it away from its litter box.
Cats dislike citrus smells, so that could be sprayed on your curtains to deter the little kitten.
Soap powder is good for getting rid of urine smells. Just use carefully on your lovely wooden floor! :D
ps. this behaviour is very unusual in kittens/cats at such a young age, as they are naturally very clean animals.

[Elaine]

Just to add to what CW has already said,

Has anything changed within the household at all? It could be anything like re-arranging furnature or new furnature added/removed? Have you changed the cat litter to a different brand? There are many reasons for inaproptiate eliminations, have a look at the feline advisory bureau, they have info on this for you too.

Good luck in resolving this issue xxx

[dandysmom]

Excellent suggestions, can't add anything. Good luck, let us know how it's going.

[alexgirl73]

also, perhaps a visit to the vets to check there are no underlying health problems, like cystitis, as this can sometimes cause cats to go where they aren't supposed to. Hope it gets sorted soon :)

[pcspik]

The only other suggestion I can think of is perhaps your kitten likes to feel enclosed. He (she?) would have sides which your current (I am assuming you use a standard open one) does not. He may be better if you use a covered tray.

[nomadicbry]

Hi guys

thanks for all teh usefula dvice
We think it was us not cleaning the litter tray often enough. We now make sure we check every few hours when in the house and before we leave the house and when we arrive back to ensure it's clean. We are still limiting her access to the rooms in teh house when we're out. However as I've now fitted a catflap she has access to the garden and there now seems to be no problems we still kee a paranoid eye on her when she goes behind th couch though

[Mags]

Good news that the problem has been resolved:D

[dandysmom]

Excellent news! Some cats are mote fussy about the state of the litter box than others.