Going outside the box

Hank-and-Jack

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I have a rescue kitten who was litter trained when I found him. He's been living with me, my fiance and sister, the two others cats already in the home and the dog with no issue but we just made the decision to move back in with my parents for a while, as well as the three dogs they own.

My kitten has since stopped using the box. What should I do to help encourage using the box again?

I'm sure it's stress. He shows no other signs of any problems, but he is back to trying to sleep on my throat. He did this when we first got him and the vets we talked to said this was probably anxiety, so I think him reverting to that and the going outside the box are linked, I just can't have him destroying my parents' carpets.

Any tips are appreciated!
 

rubysmama

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How long has this been going on? It probably is due to stress, but it might not be a bad idea to let your vet know what's going on, as stress can cause UTI's in cats, and UTI's can cause litter box avoidance issues.

How old is the kitten? And is he neutered? If not, and if he's past 6 months old, it could be the start of territorial marking / spraying.

As for the spots he's peeing in, make sure you clean the areas with an enzyme cleaner to ensure his urine scent is totally removed, otherwise he may continue to go in the same spot.

You can also try putting down extra litter boxes. And maybe trying Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract™ Cat Litter - the litter cats love™

Here's some TCS articles with more info:

Litterbox Problems? Here’s Why You Should Call Your Vet – TheCatSite Articles
How To Solve Litterbox Problems In Cats: The Ultimate Guide – TheCatSite Articles

How To Get Cat Urine Smell Out Of Carpet: Effective, Non-toxic Solutions – TheCatSite Articles
How to Successfully Combat Cat Urine – TheCatSite Articles
How To Remove Cat Urine – TheCatSite Articles
How To Remove Cat Urine Odor From Your Home – TheCatSite Articles
 

FeebysOwner

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:yeah:. It probably is stress - new house and instead of one dog, there are now 4! If the litter boxes are anywhere near where the dogs hang out, it might just be too much for your kitten to handle. Do you have a litter box in your bedroom? If not you might add another in that location, especially if the dogs are not inclined to spend much time there.
 
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Hank-and-Jack

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Thank you all for the help! It's been about a week now and the issue has cleared up! He's starting to settle in and has started wandering around and exploring. Thanks again!
 

FeebysOwner

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Thank you all for the help! It's been about a week now and the issue has cleared up! He's starting to settle in and has started wandering around and exploring. Thanks again!
:yess: Don't forget you "owe" us a name and some pics, when you have the time. (And, an update on how things are going, wouldn't hurt either ;)).
 

rubysmama

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Thank you all for the help! It's been about a week now and the issue has cleared up! He's starting to settle in and has started wandering around and exploring. Thanks again!
Excellent. Thanks for the update.

My fiance named him Jack, but we call him Jack-Jack or Little Bit.
Oh... he's gorgeous.
 
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