help with new cat

[newwiccan]

I adopted a new cat from the Humane Society on Wednesday and I need some advice. She's 2 1/2 and won't use the litter box. She's using the food bowl instead. How can I get her to stop? She knows where the litter box is but won't use it. I was told someone had adopted her and returned her for the same reason after 2 days. Help!!! I don't want to have to take her back.

[newwiccan]

Anyone? Please?

[freebiegrl22]

I'm trying to think of some advice...There has to be something! I had to return a cat to the humane society once b/c he was so sick, and my heart broke knowing I was sending him to his death:(

[newwiccan]

I don't want to take her back. She is such a good cat other than this one problem. :(

[krisharry]

I would try getting rid of the food bowl. Then when you
feed and give water only do it when you are there to
watch the cat eat/drink. Then take those bowls away and
plop her down in the litterbox. Keep doing this until
she gets the hang of it. Might work, can't hurt to try.
Good luck.

[jasmine]

well, try putting her feed bowl in the litter box?? And only put out her "real" feed bowl when you want her to eat, and then take it away immediatly before she has a chance to use the bathroom in it.
Or, watch her, and when you notice she's about to use the bathroom in her bowl, pick her up immediatly, and put her in her litter box telling her, and letting her/him know that she needs to go in her box, not her bowl????!!!!!!!

[Nikkole]

Maybe it's the litter?
At the spca those cages are small maybe it is behaveral marking what is hers, maybe it's the cat is set in it's ways. Try to call the vet and ask him what to do he could point you in the right direction..

[MrsSpeed]

Are they all using the same food dish? Maybe she's trying to mark her territory. :confused: Try getting her a dish of her own. Or maybe she doesn't like the food and that's her way of telling you. :confused:

[newwiccan]

I don't know. I've never had a cat act like this before. She has her own bowl and I'm feeding her the food that the previous owner said she ate. She has a sensitive stomach and can only eat a certain brand. I'm also using the same litter she's use to. She has a vet appointment on Monday afternoon. Until then, I guess I have to watch her very closely.

[jaybird]

Fill the litter box with a layer of CHEAP food. Gradually add litter and less food until it's all litter. IF that doesn't work, try putting litter in the food bowl. At least she's not going on the floors & carpets.

[renrut*]

agress with chelle-lol
try putting the litterbox where the bowl is. my new kitties were hard to train so i just kept putting them in there and taking their paw and scratching it back and forth like they do. the most important times is after they wake up and 20-30 min after they eat.be patient,it will work

[newwiccan]

Thanks for the advice. The info sheet that came with her said that she doesn't like change. That could be a BIG part of her problem.

[newwiccan]

Since I posted this Bailey has gotten worse. Now she won't eat or drink and she won't let anyone touch her. I talked to the Humane Society and they said to give it a few more days unless she starts attacking one of us. I don't know what made her change all of a sudden. What would you do?

[jasmine]

gosh, I'm so sorry!
was she abused before you got her?
Poor kitty.

[newwiccan]

Not that I know of. She seemed to be a very loving cat. When we played with her before we brought her home, she came right up and got on my lap and went to sleep. Even after we brought her home, she would still do that. Now she won't come out from under the bed. :(

[Syrinx]

It sounds like she's stressed out. Some cats take a while to adjust to new situations. But if she's not eating at all, you should probably take her to the vet in case there's a physical problem.

Do you have other cats? My inlaws had a problem with a cat they'd gotten from the shelter who wasn't using the litterbox (and instead was going on the bedroom carpet). It turned out that every time she tried to go into the laundry room to use the box, one of their other cats was chasing her out; once they put another box in their bathroom for her, she was fine. And I've heard of other cats who don't like to use a litterbox that smells like another cat. But if she's your only one, I don't know what to suggest.

Good luck though, I hope everything works out with her.

[newwiccan]

I have separate litter boxes in two different rooms because she won't go near the one my other cat uses. She has her own food and water bowls too. She has a vet appointment on Monday afternoon but I don't know how I'll get her there since she won't come near me.