Hi All,

As many of you know I have recently purchased a kitten with Cat Flu. Now although she has improved dramatically, she is not using the litter tray. She went for a poo in my bedroom which I cleaned up with Flash Lemon spray. And shortly after she went for a wee in the litter tray. Due to the fact she is all bunged up with Cat Flu the reason for this is because she cant smell the scent of the litter tray. She is also eating VERY little so I am aware of the fact she wont be using the litter tray alot anyway.

I have done as much as I possibly can by clearing up her nose with Olbas Oil, and making her inhale steam to bring all the fluid off of her chest. She has improved LOADS since we got her *Friday 8th May*. However I only have a week to sort this litter tray problem out due to the fact im going to be going back to work.

Also I have another boy kitten who was here for 3 weeks before she arrived and was PERFECT with his litter and eating etc etc and if he can, will try and get away with ANYTHING. And I can just see him looking at me as to why he has to go in the litter tray and she doesnt!!!

Please has anyone got any suggestions before this matter gets COMPLETLY out of hand.

Maybe try and confine her for now to just one room and also maybe try a different litter,she may not like your current choice,or put another tray in for her,she may just be a very clean fuss pot Carmela,as for her sense of smell,cats use their sense of smell as a first(the way we use our eyes first) and it's extremely sensitive so am sure even with a bunged up nose she'll be able to smell,good luck with her and well done on adopting this lady

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Dogs have owners, Cats have slaves

Burnthwaites Siamese

try different types of litter, different types of trays (some like to do their poos in privacy so a hooded tray works), and more trays. How many have you got? She may not wish to poo where she wees or where he wees and poos. SHe is also still wee and may have been caught short in your bedroom - maybe restrict the movement around the house she has.

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http://finesthourbirmans.webs.com

Are you aware that by letting her have free roam of the house you may be keeping her sicker longer? Unless you are following her around all day and wiping things down after her, you may be allowing her to reinfect herself having so much access to the rest of the house.

Your best bet would be to confine her to either one room OR a large kittening pen. So you can wipe down the area with dettol kitchen spray (not dettol concentrate or Flash)OR even better Safe4 spray, Vetaclean or Trigene if you can get some online or from your vets.

You also need to clean the soiled areas with a bio washing powder solution leave to dry and white spirit also leave to dry(vodka, gin, the cheap stuff is fine!). Using ammonia or bleach based products will only attract them back later.

It's more likely she is not using the tray because she doesn't feel well NOT because she can't smell the tray. Cats used their litter trays by habit not just by smell. She's just unwell and trying to tell you this. Keep her confined to a smaller space and clean up regularly and she will be fine. You also need to keep her away from the other cat as even if he doesn't show any symptoms he can pass it back to her again as a carrier. Quarantine is the key with keeping the sick period down to a minimum. With the right care and cleaning you can get it to 4-6 days! Don't forget you can be part of this infection spreading so wash, and change your clothes or wear gloves and a plastic apron when cleaning and treating her.

Don't place the Olbas oil directly on her skin. you can put her in a small dog cage and cover it with a towel with a bowl of hot water and Olbas oil next to the cage but please do not place it on her skin or coat directly or leave the bowl in the cage with her. 15mins is max for leaving her with the hot water bowl twice a day. Early AM and before bed I find is best for them.

Leaving her to rest and be in a Large dog crate or Kittening pen is ideal. The more she stays put and get some sleep and doesn't get too over heated the better. With the pen and crate you should have enough room for, food, water, bed and litter tray. That should be it! She'll be back to her old self in no time! Good luck hope she feels better soon.

Well, I agree with others. Try contain her on one part of the room. Eventually, she'll be pooping there *try to use better words but my english sucks! >_<*

Or try to put her in a cage, if she like it. I have aunt who keep her persians inside a cage and feed them there. There's a litter tray there IIRC.
Hope I help.

Edit: Ah, Animalia already suggest the pen/ cage stuff. Guess I should've read it better.

Hi all,

Thanks for the suggestions, I just want to clarify I am not putting Olbas Oil on her skin, and the methods I am using are from my Vet. As for keeping her away from my other kitty, one is upstairs and one is downstairs. She only has the freedom to roam my kitchen and lounge now. I have tried all the methods that have been suggested and she hates the pen/cage thing!!!

Good news is, she has eaten today *kitten food, dry AND some sardines!!!! So she should pass anytime soon.... so we shall see. There are 2 litter trays. One hooded, one not, both at separate ends of the kitchen. She has got in it a few times but has not gone yet, so I am hoping she is getting herself use to it!!!

If she's locked off only in the kitchen and in the lounge then how did she poo in your bedroom???
And i'm sorry but of course she's not going to like being penned or caged especially if you let her out at the first instance that she puts up a fuss! But if you want to sort her out then you need to do it so she doesn't keep making herself sick over and over. Once they get cat flu they will continue to get it because you really can't vaccinate them for it. So this will be a regular occurrence for you once every year if not more. It's best if you get a routine down to get hold of the virus and get her better as quick as you can. It wouldn't be fair to leave her to be ill for weeks at a time like that when you could sort it shorter by just being a little more strict and not such a softy! But it's easily done! We're all guilty, but at the end of the day we do what we have to do when it's the best thing for our babies!

She pooed in the bedroom as she was allowed in there as I hadnt got the Vet advice on how to contain the infection. I didnt let her out in the first instance she was in it for several hours, it had plenty of toys and of course a litter tray, food, water plus blankets. However she cried the whole time, and Im not going to make her do something she doesnt like as stress can cause the problem to get worse *as advised by my vet* I have been washing all the floors, sides after every 3 hours, and her blankets every day and replacing with new ones. Plus hoovering. The vet has given me brilliant advice and it is working a treat. Like I said my only problem was the litter tray thing, and she has eaten today therefore we shall see what happens when she passes and where she passes.

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that I have successfully managed to get Millie to use the litter tray!!!! Thanks for all the comments and advice, and I hope I can help with your queries in the future.

Take Care
Carmela
xxxxxxx