Major Relapse in litter habits?!

[Princess*Smudge]

So as the title states Smudge has had a MAJOR relapse in her litter habits but I believe the introduction of our cats is what has caused the problems.. I’m just not sure what to do to fix it.

When we got our dog Pepper last September Smudge went through a territorial pooping phase but it seemed to last a couple weeks and then she went back to a normal amount of stray poops (she’s always had a few no matter what).

Then about 2 months ago my sister got a kitten, I again noticed the territorial poops but also this was the first time she peed outside of her box as well. She has always peed in her box 100% of the time since she was 6 months old. I thought maybe this is because Tigerlily (the kitten) isn’t fixed yet as she’s still too young. Could her hormonal smell be effecting Smudge more?

The problem seemed to lessen and went back to territorial pooping after about 2 pee accidents. Then we were surprised with Louis, it was a split second decision to bring him home.. something we never do. He used to be my cat but 2 years ago we were suddenly evicted and he was supposed to live with a friend of my friend’s older sister. He then ended up my friend’s sisters house and then ended up at my friend’s house. Louis is a very very very vocal kitty lol and her mom found him annoying, she was hitting him it was really sad and Louis was miserable. They already had 4 cats and he is very much a cuddly cat, he sleeps next to me every night they are not cuddly people. Needless to say I told my friend I would be taking Louis back home as soon as I found out what was happening and we had a huge fight about the way her mom was treating him (she didn’t defend her mom at all she was just upset because they never wanted Louis in the first place).

ANYWAYS Louis came home about 3 weeks ago and since then Smudge has continued to have about 1 pee accicent a week always in one of two spots and is pooing EVERYWHERE.

Nothing else has changed. Her litter box is cleaned daily mostly, sometimes every other day. She eats normally, drinks normally, plays normally, she doesn’t mind the cats at all if anything she’s curious about them and wants to play! She tried to get Tigerlily to groom her through the playpen lol. She’s had a vet check recently and is healthy as can be. So I’m sure it’s the addition of the 2 cats that is causing this…

My question is what can I do? Or will this behaviour taper off once she has adjusted like she did the the dog it’s just worse this time because there’s 2 cats and possibly because one isn’t fixed?

Thanks for reading through my novel hahah I always talk way too much I just love my little girl so much and I want to help her!

 

 

[Spacehopper]

It’s not just you!!!! Whilst the Bristar insists on pooing in his cage (the litter box is now redundant it seems), Bettie has just gone right off the scale and poos anywhere but..luckily not on the bed, but everywhere else. Little sod!!

[KatnipCrzy]

It sounds like the cats are the cause of the slip in litterbox habits.  I don’t think that spaying Tigerlily will make any difference to Smudge- I don’t think cat hormones should bother or affect a rabbit in any way, unless hormones were causing TL to act differently to Smudge.  But it does not sound as if that is the case (obviously I recommending spaying Tigerlily regardless, even though I doubt it will impact Smudge).

Did you mention this to your vet when Smudge was there for visit?  Inapprop elimination can be medical- poos and wees.  A bladder infection is painful so they associate the litterbox with pain- so they poo and wee elsewhere in the hope that it will not hurt.  But from your description- it sounds way too coincidental that this started with the intro of Tigerlily and escalated with Louis coming into the house too.  How is Louis and Tigerlily getting along?  If there is stress or fights between them that could stress Smudge- as rabbits are prey animals and any sign of aggression or agitation from the cats could affect Smudge even if it is not directed at Smudge. 

Is Smudge free run? restricted areas?  I guess you will have to get Smudge used to the cats on their own terms- no forced or held intros.  Does Smudge have his/her own place that the cats do not get to?  So becoming adjusted to the cats and litterbox retraining (restricting areas if needed) might the the way to go.

I would like to hear what others think.

[Princess*Smudge]

Hi okay to answer all the questions!!

Thanks Spacehopper at least I’m not alone!

Okay so:

Yes we will definately be spaying Tigerlily next month when she is old enough, we don’t agree with not fixing pets, but I’m glad that the hormones aren’t bothering Smudge in any way.

I talked to the vet about introducing the Tigerlily when I was there because we hadn’t gotten her yet, the vet did warn me that a loss in litter box habits would probably occur with the introduction of a new pet (like when we got out dog Pepper last year).

Tigerlily and Louis get along great, Louis is the most layed back cat in the entire world so nothing phases him he has no interest really in Pepper Tigerlily or Smudge lol.

Tigerlily and Pepper however had to be supervised, when we first got her they were seperated for whatever reason even though Pepper had been around cats before the two of them rough housed just a little too rough (they both gave as good as they got though lol). Now they are out together all the time and get along fine but they do chase each other and still play ALL DAY I wonder if this chasing and activity is cause Smudge to feel threatened?

Tigerlily does show an interest in Smudge, the first week she was here she jumped into the cage/play pen while we were all sitting in the room with her (we since corrected this so she can’t get in anymore). She likes to lay right next to Smudge’s cage and pen although Smudge will also flop next to her and periscope to see her when she walks by so it doesn’t seem like either are afraid of the other

Smudge has a condo in our kitchen, she comes out to the living room to play in her playpen and is never left unsupervised with any of the pets. She has a box to I’ve made if she feels the need to be out of sight even though the kitten can’t get into the pen anymore. She also gets to come into my room for free run with just me often. We haven’t done any forced intros I wouldn’t want to stress anyone out, I just let them meet on their own terms with me standing reading to intervene if need be.

I hope that answers all of them! Thanks so much KatnipCrzy for taking the time to help. On the plus side today Smudge had no pee accidents at all (she’s only been having a couple a week anyways but I haven’t seen one since last thursday) and there were only a few poos in her little bed and everything else seemed to be in the box. Maybe this means she is adjusting? hahah she would start to adjust the same time I ask for help….. bunnies!

[KatnipCrzy]

It does not sound to me like Smudge is afraid at all- it sounds like Smudge is trying to be assertive in claiming her territory.

I have 2 bunnies- Cotton- who I got as a wee bunny and is in my avatar pic cuddling with my cat Pixel.  As Cotton got older and the cats did not (or would not in Cotton point of view) groom her- she started bullying the cats- insisting on grooming and when the napping cat failed to comply she would chase them away with a nip to the belly.  Now all the cats are a little uneasy around Cotton- and won’t groom her because they are so busy giving her the stink eye and trying to pretend like they are not uncomfortable with her that close, but they are uncomfortable and they know she will bully if she feels like it.

Penny on the other hand- grew up with cats, and I got her about 6 weeks or so ago.  If am am holding Penny on my lap and the cats jump up- the will groom Penny, and Penny shows interest in them and has not nipped them.  But if she is going Bunny 500’s- and the youngest cat tries to join in- it seems to scare her and she thinks she is being truly chased.

Cotton on the other hand will let the cat “chase” her and then turn around and “chase” the cat.  She is clearly playing, but seems to need to assert that she is dominant also by chasing the cat.   Every once in a while she will charge the dogs- once she charged Skye, hit her like a cannonball and bounced back, shaking her head.  Skye looked at me like- seriously, what was that?  and then looked on the floor for any poos. (Skye is a 45 lb Aussie).

But when Cotton is in the other areas of the house- she will leave a stray poo here and there to “claim”.  And this weekend she even got by the cat litter boxes and peed on their litter mat (it was obviously her since the pee was “red” and there was a pile of poos there too).  But Penny does not claim other areas- at least not yet.

So from their difference is behavior and how you are describing Smudge- it sounds territorial/dominant as opposed to fearful.

[Beka27]

it does sound like it’s just territorial and it’s already resolving itself. i’m glad you always supervise Pepper when the other animals are around. i think this is important, at least until you have more confidence in how they will react together.

[Princess*Smudge]

Hmm Smudge… feeling like the entire house belongs to her and wanting to ensure that every other living creature knows she is in charge NOOOOOO WAAAYY lol well hopefully she will make her dominance known soon and we can get back to proper litter box habits

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

LOL Yup that’s what it sounds like

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