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Conference misery::feline_v1

Title:	Meower Power is Valuing Differences
Notice:	FELINE_V1 is moving 1/11/94 5pm PST to MISERY
Moderator:	MISERY::VANZUYLEN_RO

Created:	Sun Feb 09 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jan 11 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	5089
Total number of notes:	60366

1269.0. "HELP FOR SARA!" by MILVAX::NICKERSON () Thu Apr 14 1988 12:55

    HELP...
    
    Sara, our newly adopted child, won't use her box to urinate.  She
    uses it for everything else.  What she is doing now is trying to
    find any piece of paper on the floor or otherwise that she can do
    her 'duty' in.
    
    When I don't find anything I get very worried both for she and my
    house.
    
    A little history on Sara...she is three year old, altered
    female..Persian.  I got her for company for my mother's kitten (6
    months old).  Since she wouldn't use the box, I didn't send her
    home with Mitzie when Mitzie left...my mother really doesn't need
    that problem.
    
    Sara was an only cat from whence she came so I thought that once
    the kitten left she might return to her original clean habits. 
    Guess what folks, no such luck.
    
    I know there are folks out there who have had the same problem.
    Please let me know what you have tried.
    
    THANKS

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1269.1		GEMVAX::ROY		`Thu Apr 14 1988 13:00`	3
	What about putting the paper itself directly in the litter box, while ensuring that there is no other paper to be found at floor level in the house?
1269.3		CIRCUS::KOLLING	Karen, Sweetie, Holly; in Calif.	`Thu Apr 14 1988 13:22`	3
	Holly has a second litter box, just for her, with flat (i.e., sheets, not torn up) of newspaper.
1269.4	a trip to the vet?	RATTLE::LANDRY	M-E-O-WWW	`Thu Apr 14 1988 13:24`	3
	Maybe the little furball has a underlying problem and should be taken to the vet?
1269.5	Reward and positive reinforcement	GRECO::MORGAN	Doris Morgan DTN 223-9594	`Fri Apr 15 1988 01:25`	10
	Alex had similar problems when I first adopted him, so I tried a technique that was wildly successful. I praised him profusely and gave him a treat every time he used the litter box. Thus, using the litter box became a pleasant experience and one that he was sure to try as often as possible! It took about a week of consistent reward, then I changed to consistent praise and gave him a treat only occasionally. I tapered off on the praise after that, and he has not reverted to his bad habits. It can't hurt to try this method!
1269.6	THANKS	MILVAX::NICKERSON		`Fri Apr 15 1988 13:38`	5
	Thanks for all your help...it is really appreciated. Will keep you posted on the results. One thing I did last night was put paper by her box and guess what she used it...one for our side and Sara's.