Adopted cat will not use litter tray - help!

[iheartruby]

Hi Abers,
I've recently adopted a 9 year old persian cat from Cats Protection. She is so loving and affectionate I found it hard to understand why she had been placed up for adoption twice...... Over the last week of having her it has become apparent - she will not poo in the litter tray - only wee.
They told me she will only use newspaper in the tray and not litter - they said they had tried all different litters and paper was the only one she'd use. She poos on the floor about a foot away from the tray. She also has 2 trays so no danger of it being because the other is dirty. Last night I even tried putting extra newspaper in the spot she'd been doing it, but she just pooed further along the floor!
For this reason I have to shut her in a room with laminate floor every time I can't supervise her and I don't want this life for her - I want to be able to trust her to roam around the house. And I don't want to give her back - she's been though enough.
PLEASE help!! Any suggestions? Anyone else had this problem?

[ruthann58]

hi we had this once with one of our cats he would always poo about a foot away from the tray never could break him of the habit so just got used to clearing it up he never did it any where else in the house so hopefully yours will be the same .we have 1 now that will run indoors use the tray then go back outside

[simonruss]

the missus doesnt like it when i miss the toilet either!!!!

[dot.hawkes]

well cos my 10 year old cat had never used a tray, we put it in the larder cupboard in the side of the kitchen and closed the door so that it was dark,, he used it and now uses it if he needs to and knows to meeow when he wants it, maybe the cat feels too exposed?

[iheartruby]

nice one, simonruss - maybe she should put you up for adoption.....?
thanks dot & ruthann, maybe i'll try her with a hooded tray and see if she'll use that.
any more advice also welcome.
thanks.

[gluteusmaxi]

HI. What a nuisance for you. Just what you don't want the cat to do! Have you tried putting garden soil in a litter tray for her? A bit of a pain, I know but it did work for a friend's cat who had the same problem. If she does use the soil, let her get used to it for a week or so and then gradually introduce the litter. My cats will only use the fullers earth type. They flatly reuse to use any other, cheap or dear! Lewt me know how you get one, please. Good luck. Hope this helps.

[showcatbenga]

I read your post with interest because I have an entire female Bengal who will use only one tray for urine & a totally different tray for defecating. I had one idea that may help you - perhaps the trays are too clean. First besides daily 'scooping' only clean the trays (when necessary) with warm soapy water - a drop of washing up liquid is sufficient. Anything stronger may put her off. Secondly you could try putting a very small amount of her mistake in a tray next to the offending spot. She may return to the same spot on scent grounds.
Sadly, in my experience, persians tend to have this type of problem more frequently than some other breeds.
One last suggestion is to treat the problem like 'middening' (the correct term for toileting deliberately in an inappropriate place) & try a pheramone spray from the vets - not the diffuser. Full instruction on the box. Hope this helps.