Automatic Litterbox Central

Ok, so he *is* using it, but here's the deal. I've only had the bot for 2 weeks. He wouldn't touch it the first week (litter = world's best with cat attract sprinkled inside). So the second week I stuck him in the kitchen with the LR. He used it all week (normal amount of daily pees and poos). So I let him out after that and he tried to use the carpet! So I put him in the LR when I saw him scraping away at the carpet. He glared at me and ran back out. So I confined him in the kitchen at which time he immediately used the LR. Anyone guess how long it will take him to use it without being confined? He has no problem doing his thing confined in the kitchen, why such a fuss when he has access to carpet?

Also, he has good litter habits generally unless he's very sick and the litter gets nasty (had a bout with IBD). Oh, and he's neutered.

why such a fuss when he has access to carpet

He likes the carpet?? Okay, I know... that wasn't very nice... While I was writing a note on the forum, yesterday, my younger cat was upstairs pooping on the bed. Granted, the washing machine was going and he is scared of it...and the Litter Robot shares the laundry room so Nuba went upstairs and did his thing on the bed. Tonight, same thing happened but no excuses this time... No washing machine going...

I forgot one essential, yesterday, when cleaning up after Nuba -- to spray the area he had used with a spray that neutralizes the odor so he won't be tempted to use the spot, again. Thus, I sprayed, tonight. Nuba will also be confined to the laundry room (in fact, he's there right now) until he is using the LR unfailingly and then, when he is out, again, I will be keeping a close watch on him during the times when he usually poops to assure that he is still using the Robot. A week is the maximum that he is confined. Often this cat is out sooner... within a few days. I also did a good clean job on the LR and put in some fresh litter in case Nub was getting a little fussy about LR cleanliness.

I hate this routine but it usually works. So, did you use a spray that will neutralize the odor in the area that he eliminated on?? And, did you give him lots of praise for using the L.R. ... maybe even a few treats? He may need some more time with the L.R. before he really gets that this is the ONLY place in the house that is actually the litter box!

Hang in there...

Oh, he gets loads of praise and treats both when he uses the LR and while it is rotating.

He also didn't eliminate on the carpet, I just noticed his telltale warning signs! Other than that, I will try another week in the kitchen and then give him some free time and keep a close eye on him.

Thanks for the help!

Sounds like your cat is doing pretty well with the LR. Some cats have a difficult time adapting to it.

Best wishes

Mine had trouble... I did this...

1) Put them in the box.. let them jump out. That way, they felt the litter on their feet and knew it was there.

2) Stopped hsing Worlds best cat litter. I thought I would try it when I changes bioxes, They didnt like it. Back to Scoop Free.

Mike

If he really doesn't do well, then I'll try switching litter. I tried switching litters before though and very bad things happened. I don't like to think about that!

I just feel like I'll have to leave him in the kitchen for a month before (if?) he gets used to it! This is the same cat that hid under the bed for 3 days without moving when we turned on the ceiling fans. And I finally had to put him in a cage (4'x4') in the room for 24-48 hours before he would stop hiding. Hopefully the LR will go better... Thanks guys!

Well, I kept him in the kitchen for 10ish more days and let him out, and he uses the bot consistantly in the kitchen, no problems. The second he's allowed in the rest of the house, he pees on the carpet. Help!!!

Hmmm... Could he be marking territory... claiming the living room as his domain?? I would use some neutralizing cleaner designed to take the cat pee odor out of the carpet.... And maybe use some of that cat repellent on the carpet in the area he peed on as well... And, purchase a cheap plastic tarp to cover the carpet on a temporary basis and see if that will encourage him to find the Robot instead. Someone had suggested using tin foil to cover an area -- that cats don't care for tin foil.... How large are space blankets? I wonder if that would work.

My dear cat who decided to poop on the bed... four times!... (no, I wasn't very good initially at keeping him locked up...) lost his access privileges. Last time he pooped I took him upstairs, showed it to him, and said a firm and probably loud "no" and he went to the laundry room. I took the bed down (an inflatable mattress on a folding frame -- all its bedding had, by this time, been initiated on by the cat!). I used one of those child's gates to block off the stairs to the loft where the bed was that he was using. I kept him locked in the laundry room only in the mornings until he pooped then I let him out (he was only pooping on the bed in the mornings; at night he used the LR). If I was working, then he was in the laundry room until I got home (poor baby). After a few days, he seemed to get the message and he's been fine. He didn't even try to get over the gate to go up the stairs even though his pal, Zen, the older cat jumps over the gate freely.

Good luck!

No he's not marking his territory because he will use his normal litterbox in preference to the carpet.

He's now pooping on the floor in the bathroom and held his pee for three days before my roomie let him out to use the normal litter box.

=( This is getting really depressing.

Well, can you return the LR and try another litter box? There's the ScoopFree, less money to purchase one and my cats used it right out of the box. They even used it together at times! Try your cat with crystals and see how he does.... You can return the SF -- 90-day return policy... And I found one in the local pet store... If I went the SF route, I would purchase one of those home-made reusable trays or make one to save money. Crystal litter, at least where I live, is becoming more and more affordable.

And there's the Simply Clean... And, of course, the Cat Genie... With one cat, on-going costs might not be too high.

I am sorry your cat is having such a tantrum when it comes to the LR but sometimes that happens. I have one cat that doesn't mind the LR and one that uses it reluctantly. He simply doesn't like being in an enclosed area. My other kitty loves getting into appliances so the LR was more of a natural for her.

I actually have two cats and one used the LR the second we put it down. We tried the male before with crystals and he threw the same tantrum about using crystal litter. So that's out. I was thinking about trying the simply clean to see if he'll use that. :/

Hmmm... I think the Simply Clean is a good choice... It was going to be my next try after the LR if the LR didn't work out for my cat. I haven't heard any complaints about it. Can you return it if it doesn't work out??

You might try leaving the old box out. When I first got my LR they were using 3 boxes. I added the LR and gradually let the other boxes get dirtier and removed as they used the LR more. It was a few months before the last box was removed. I waited to observe all the cats and that they were comfortable. I basically gave them the choice of the clean robot or the dirty regular box.

The cats could care less how dirty their litter box is. We even had a litter box that was dirty and had no litter and my cat hopped right in and peed. They use dirty hideous stuff over the clean stuff it seams! In any case, my 60 day guarantee is running out so back it goes on Saturday. At this point, I'd like to send the cat back too!

At this point, I'd like to send the cat back too!

I don't think they'll take the cat. I'm sorry it didn't work out. What I finally did with my two cats is give them two boxes. They generally poop in the LR and pee in crystals (crystals are easy just for urination) in an the old fashioned litter box. This has worked out quite well although now Zen prefers the LR because she prefers the Nature's Miracle litter that I am using in the LR. And Nuba sometimes screws up and poops in the crystals but its rare.

I hope you find a litter box solution for your cats diverse litter box preferences. Let us know how it turns out.