Let Him Into The Room Or Keep Him Out

[Rafiki]

I agree with the others that Anti Icky Poo or Unique Distributors may be required to completely eliminate the odor that he can smell but that the humans cannot.

Did the previous owners use pelletized horse bedding? If not, I would suggest reverting to whatever litter they used if the problem persists. We now have both the jumbo cat box and an even larger clear box. The sides of the box are so high that our little digger cannot launch any of the litter out and it should work for helping him from having the pee miss the box.

What kind of plant is it? Are you positive that ingesting bits of it cannot harm the cat? I would be more worried about harm to the cat over the loss of a plant.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

Agreed with Rafiki, although I love the wood pellet litter, I know that I am fortunate that all five of mine are happy to use it. If one didn't, then we would have to reconsider. Better to have cooperation using the litterbox!

 

[Louie's Dad]

Do you have prior experience with him soiling when you have visitors? If he has a safe place he can go when you have visitors -- a crate or a room where he can hide if he chooses and if he has access to his litter box, then no need to confine him. If he has soiled previously when you've had visitors, I'd put him in a room with his litter box. If he isn't extremely skittish, I would try to desensitize him to visitors by putting him in a large wire crate with his litterbox, half the crate covered by a sheet and place the crate near the room where the visitors are so he can see/hear/smell them. It would be so much better for you and him if he got used to visitors. Some cats are hopeless about this though, so the only thing you can do is try and if he isn't comfortable, then confinement is the best and only option.

You don't have to use a tarp on the chair if you're sure he won't pee on it. Or you can keep a tarp on it when you're not using it, when you're not home, or when you have visitors and you think he may be upset about that.

I strongly recommend that you buy the Anti Icky Poo and re-clean the rug where he peed. He's likely smelling the area because he can still smell urine. Also strongly recommend adding a 2nd litter box in a different location. A lot of cats prefer to poop in one and pee in another. It is a simple thing to do to stack the cards in your favor.

Please post some pics of your boy when you get a chance. We are always picture hungry here.

This will be the first time I will have visitors since I adopted him, so, no prior experience.

Would be great to get him to socialize with strangers, but he's 10 YO. Would he be able to change at this stage? I think I'll give him the run of the place and let him decide whether to join us, or hide. I WILL keep the door to the "forbidden" room closed, though. He seems to be doing well in the "forbidden" room. Every time I go in there, he follows me in and has not done any soiling. He leaves if he gets bored. I also play with him in there, and feed him treats in there, all with the thinking that I can make him feel warm and fuzzy about the room.

 

[Rob1984]

maybe when you were gone his litter box was too dirty for him and you said he was given up twice cuz of urination problem due to multi cats if he is still doing it i dont think other cats was the problem if he is the only cat now

is he declawed? if so maybe thats why he doesn't like the litter box

 

[WitchyWoman]

Would be great to get him to socialize with strangers, but he's 10 YO.

Ah yes, but consider that he's been re-homed a couple times and is still a loving happy purring cat which indicates that he is adaptable and has a certain level of trust and confidence. There are numerous examples here and on FB groups where a cat re-homed just one time had difficulties adjusting such as aggressiveness (based on fear) toward new owner, not using the litterbox at all and generally wreaking havoc on the household. Your boy is doing extraordinarily well considering his background. Do a search here for "Ziggy" and you'll see how lucky you've been thus far.

You are doing the right thing letting him decide how to handle your guests. I hope he gives you a pleasant surprise. If he does approach them, tell your friends to be conservative in their interaction and let the cat decide how much he wants. And if you're going to be playing poker, try not to lose your shirt

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

As to being older and adapting to visitors, I don't see it being an issue if he's not forced to interact and has a separate space that he can retreat to if he wishes.

My F1 Missy used to race upstairs and hide under the bed the moment the front door opened to a guest. As she's gotten older she's gradually changed... to coming back down after an hour, to only running a room away, to standing within sight...to her 12 year old status of actually coming to guests to rub against their legs and allowing a pet on the back.

 

[Louie's Dad]

Agreed with Rafiki, although I love the wood pellet litter, I know that I am fortunate that all five of mine are happy to use it. If one didn't, then we would have to reconsider. Better to have cooperation using the litterbox!

He uses it just fine. He poops as well as pees in it.

Just that his aim is a bit off.

The past owner used conventional clay based litter.

I would think that if he was averse to the litter I introduced, that he would shun his litter box.

Need experience here to shade the gray area.

 

[Louie's Dad]

Ah yes, but consider that he's been re-homed a couple times and is still a loving happy purring cat which indicates that he is adaptable and has a certain level of trust and confidence. There are numerous examples here and on FB groups where a cat re-homed just one time had difficulties adjusting such as aggressiveness (based on fear) toward new owner, not using the litterbox at all and generally wreaking havoc on the household. Your boy is doing extraordinarily well considering his background. Do a search here for "Ziggy" and you'll see how lucky you've been thus far.

You are doing the right thing letting him decide how to handle your guests. I hope he gives you a pleasant surprise. If he does approach them, tell your friends to be conservative in their interaction and let the cat decide how much he wants. And if you're going to be playing poker, try not to lose your shirt

You have no idea how much that means to me! Thank you for the encouragement.

I'll do my best to beat the odds. I'm training Indy as we speak, to count cards.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

He uses it just fine. He poops as well as pees in it.

Just that his aim is a bit off.

The past owner used conventional clay based litter.

I would think that if he was averse to the litter I introduced, that he would shun his litter box.

Need experience here to shade the gray area.

No, a cat will try to use the litterbox even if unhappy with it... they will mount small protests until something happens that just tips the balance when you have a real problem. So many owners will think that because the cat mostly uses the litterbox then it is not the problem.