Lucy pooping outside kitty’s box?

[MissPinUp]

My husband and I got a kitten in June.  Lucy was raised around cats her entire life.  She’s only a year old this past July.  She’s completely (or so I thought?) litter trained.  She’s never had any issues with any other cats.  When I first adopted her, I was at my parent’s house.  They have 2 cats, male and female.  She got along great with both of them.  Loved the female.  Adored her. 

When my husband and I moved in together, I had Lucy, he had a dog.  The dog and Lucy leave each other alone.  No aggression.  Nothing.  They just ignore each other.  I figured we would get a kitten to bring them all together.  The cat would play with the dog, which they do, and it’d play with the bunny, which he does. 

Lucy has her litter box, Gatsby has his.  Lucy, for some reason, poops in front of the cat’s litter box all. the. time.  Nothing, it seems, that I can do to stop her.  Sometimes she even goes IN the cat’s box.  He doesn’t get upset except when he has to go, and she’s in there.  I’m just frustrated because husband gets frustrated with her pooping on the floor.  Call me a weirdo, but it’s just bunny poo.  Coco puffs.  But I do catch his meaning, she needs to not do it.  I don’t know why she does, and she doesn’t seem upset or anything.  She just…poops.  Any ideas? Help?  I feel so slow when I have to ask these questions, but every now and again she throws a curve ball and makes me go “Oh noes!”

[jerseygirl]

Sounds pretty typical of marking her territory. This stranger has come into HER house. It’s different to your parents cats because (I assuming) they were the 1st residents and Lucy came into their environment. Also, her being young at the time would have had her being less territorial.
I’m wondering if you attempt to “bond” her and kitty that her marking might lessen. So have them become more friends and have positive interaction with one another. Is there a way you can prevent Lucy from having access to the kitty’s litterbox?
I hope this HRS article might provide some more insights. http://www.rabbit.org/journal/2-11/cats-and-rabbits.html

[MissPinUp]

Thanks so much! Sometimes it seems like they’re having a great time together, and other times, I just don’t know. They play what my husband and I call tag. The cat will tail Lucy, then she does the same to him. Neither ever displays an aggressive stance or anything, and Lucy binkies so much the cat has started binky-ing as well! But actually bonding them is a great idea I’d never thought of. Thanks

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