Automatic Litterbox Central

I have two cats, brother and sister, age two and a half years. The male is long-furred and, as long as he's allowed to do it on his own terms, will adapt to anything. The female, on the other hand, is very picky about her litter box.

When we tried to toilet train them a year and a half ago, the male took to the training nicely, but the female wouldn't adapt to not using litter, no matter what we did -- including liberal applications of patience. So we finally put them back on a regular litter box (with hood).

We decided to try the Litter Robot after reading about it on this site; we feared the LitterMaid would only frustrate us, and the LitterFree seemed likely to have problems with the male cat's fur.

My husband and I love the Litter Robot. Our male cat has accepted it. Our female cat, though my husband was sure she had used it last night (and so we finally cleaned and removed the now-stinky old litter box), peed on the couch instead of in the 'bot this morning.

I'm kind of stuck for what to do now. The only time she's ever peed anywhere but in the litter box before now was when we were in the process of attempting to toilet train them. She doesn't do it out of stress or displeasure; only when no litter box she isn't afraid to use is available, and then only when she simply cannot hold on any longer.

What can I do to convince her our new Robot is a litter box as she understand the term?

First, put the old box back to save the couch. Then talk to your vet.

According to our vet, some cats have more trouble with change than others. Every cat at some point reaches a stress level that causes them to act out - usually by peeing on something. For us and my friend who uses the same vet, he prescribed valium for the cats. He says, it seems to be true, that a week of valium can correct most stress/behavioral peeing outside the litter box problems.

(Friend's cat was peeing on new boyfriend's overnight bag. The valium stopped the behavior.)

It is as if they are relaxed by the drug enough to cope with the changes.

I would talk to your vet and see.

Thanks for your advice, cas. Mehitabel, our female, seems to have adapted fine to the Litter Robot now.

We unplugged it again when we realized my husband had left it plugged in after running a cleaning cycle, and we took to picking her up and placing her in it at least twice a day for a few days. We started leaving it plugged in once we were sure she was using it without being placed there, and we don't seem to be having any more problems.

We would have taken her to the vet if that solution hadn't taken care of things, but didn't do so immediately because we don't have a vet established in our new home yet.

Poor girl -- she just had to be convinced it wasn't going to eat her.

I'm glad your kitty-baby decided to use the box. Did you move to Houston? I ask, b/c someone on this board did and I have a vet recommendation if that is the case.

cas

No, we just moved to Chicago. Our old vet recommended a vet here, one he studied under; but we haven't found the place yet.