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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!ihnp4!mgnetp!mgwess!plw
From: plw@mgwess.UUCP (Pete Wilson)
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Re: kitty won't use her box (phew!)
Message-ID: <14950@mgwess.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 29-Sep-85 00:06:46 EDT
Article-I.D.: mgwess.14950
Posted: Sun Sep 29 00:06:46 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 30-Sep-85 01:16:51 EDT
References: <488@tektools.UUCP> <263@hsi.UUCP>
Reply-To: plw@mgwess.UUCP (Wilson,Pete,PL)
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Information Systems - Montgomery Illinois
Lines: 38
Summary: 

In article <263@hsi.UUCP> tankus@hsi.UUCP (Ed Tankus) writes:
>.... It seems that male and female cats within the same domicile(sp?) require
>separate boxes......
>
>    Ed Tankus
>    Net  :  {noao!ihnp4!yale!}!hsi!tankus
>    Snail:  Health Systems Int'l, 100 Broadway, New Haven, CT 06511
>    Bell :  (203) 562-2101

	I have 2 males and 3 females and they all use the same box (talk
about MESSY!). I have even seen 2 of them (a male and a female) use it
at the same time (we're talking 2 14lb. cats in a 16 X 30 in. box!).
	The only time any of them don't use the box is when, in their
judgement, it's too dirty. Usually the youngest male will get quite
vociferous when it starts turning bad - this guy's been on latrine duty
ever since we got him: covers up the messes of the other cats if they
don't, complains when the litter needs changing, etc.
	Usually there is a reason why a cat won't use a litter box -even
an outdoor cat. The problem is in figuring out the reason. Cats don't
speak human talk too well (at least mine don't) and you have to keep
trying different things until one of them works. The brand and type of
litter seems to be important to them. Mine weren't happy until I started
buying generic litter, just plain old dusty, natural clay. They didn't
like Kitty Litter(T), Litter Green(T), or any of that fancy odor-reducing
stuff.
	It could also be an emotional problem. Maybe the cat doesn't
like being left alone for lengthy periods, or it doesn't like the time
that it gets fed or the food it gets. From a cat's point of view, it
takes quite a bit of training of the human to get the human to do things
right!


	Pete Wilson
	AT&T IS CGBS
	Montgomery Works
	..!ihnp4!mgnetp!mgwess!plw