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One of our two tonk sisters has been defecating outside the box...literally, just outside, on the floor outside the box. We have now changed litter type in 2 of the 3 boxes, added the 3rd box, put the (new) 3rd box in a different location (laundry room, the other 2 are in bathrooms on separate floors), added Feliway pheromone diffuser to the house. Cara (the culprit) sometimes seems a little depressed or distant. And Mia sometimes seems to bully her. Mia outweighs Cara by at least 2 pounds, but they are both quick so they don't seem to hurt each other. No claws seem to be involved in their spats. They are 14 months old, both spayed. The do sleep & cuddle up together. Fecal tests came back negative, so it's behavioral.

Has anyone had issues with 2 tonks with behavioral issues? We are at a loss.
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Denise, Cara & Mia

Hi Denise.
I'm assuming it's not possible to set up a box that only Cara has access to, in case it's an issue with not wanting to go where Mia has been.

I haven't had any problems with Emily and Eddie, but when I had my two little DSH rescues--Poochie and Piewacket--I did have a similar problem with Piewacket. I think it was because Poochie was the alpha cat and demanded, and got, more attention. And Pie did seem sort of depressed to me, too. So I made a concerted effort to give Pie as much extra attention as I could and it seemed to help. Maybe you could try giving Cara some extra attention and affection beyond what she already gets.

A friend has been having a similar, but worse, problem with her cat going into their room and going on her husband's clothes. They had him checked out and there's nothing physical, so they got a pet behaviorist to come to the house. She made all kinds of recommendations--including a new kind of litter, some odor diffusing enzyme stuff, antidepressants (for the cat), and keeping the bedroom door closed. Fortunately for the cat it seems to be working, because the husband had issued an ultimatum. It was hard for me to keep my mouth shut when this was all going on, because the source of the problem was very clear to me: The husband hates the cat, and the cat knows it.

I firmly believe that these wonderful little creatures are every bit as capable as we are of having emotional issues, and maybe Cara's is that Mia sometimes picks on her...

Please keep us posted.

Carol, Emily, & Eddie

>>One of our two tonk sisters has been defecating outside the box...literally, just outside, on the floor outside the box. We have now changed litter type in 2 of the 3 boxes, added the 3rd box, put the (new) 3rd box in a different location (laundry room, the other 2 are in bathrooms on separate floors), added Feliway pheromone diffuser to the house. Cara (the culprit) sometimes seems a little depressed or distant. And Mia sometimes seems to bully her. Mia outweighs Cara by at least 2 pounds, but they are both quick so they don't seem to hurt each other. No claws seem to be involved in their spats. They are 14 months old, both spayed. The do sleep & cuddle up together. Fecal tests came back negative, so it's behavioral.
>>
>>Has anyone had issues with 2 tonks with behavioral issues? We are at a loss.
>>-----
>> Denise, Cara & Mia

I have 3 males and had a similar problem...except it was Bentley, our alpha, who decided to poop outside the box a few years ago...it was because he was protesting...he was telling me he no longer wanted to go to the bathroom in a box that had the other cat's or his own waste in it...(even though I cleaned the box upwards of 2x per day, it was not 'clean enough' for him...)

I got an automated litterbox and problem was solved.

I can't say that this is your probem...but she is definitely trying to get your attention and tell you something

Although...Tabitha, the cat I grew up with used to do this too...turned out the dopey cat was just a bad "positioner" in the litter box and would accidentally hang her butt too far out and miss...but it was sporadic...Bentley was deliberate for like a week straight...

Did the vet check her for a urinary tract infection? Tabitha had kidney stones once and peed outside the box in front of me to tell me she wasn't feeling well....Alastair did once too...he had a UTI...
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Lisa, owned by Bentley,Alastair, Finster, & Trysta (greyhound)

>>One of our two tonk sisters has been defecating outside the box...literally, just outside, on the floor outside the box.

Today's update: Thanks for all the suggestions. We have been trying to give Cara a little extra attention. We've been playing with them a lot when we come home from work, & talking them up. Lots of petting & kisses. Last night Cara pooped again outside the box in the bathroom downstairs. She looked upset with herself right after it happened, but then I just cleaned it up & continued playing with her. She came out of her mood pretty quickly. Today we put "wee-wee pads" near all 3 of the boxes. We are pretty sure that Cara pooped in the box with the Cat Attract in it. At least so far today, no poop on the floor. They both seem to go 1 x per day in the evening. (Dear Lord. Is it possible I know my cats' pooping schedule?)

In general Cara's mood seems better, or when she gets sad or upset with herself, she comes out of it faster than she did, say, on Sunday, when she was really upset. Honestly, you could see it.

Thanks for the support! We will keep you posted!
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Denise, Cara & Mia

That's good news -- we're keeping our fingers crossed!

Carol, Emily, & Eddie

>>>>One of our two tonk sisters has been defecating outside the box...literally, just outside, on the floor outside the box.
>>
>>Today's update: Thanks for all the suggestions. We have been trying to give Cara a little extra attention. We've been playing with them a lot when we come home from work, & talking them up. Lots of petting & kisses. Last night Cara pooped again outside the box in the bathroom downstairs. She looked upset with herself right after it happened, but then I just cleaned it up & continued playing with her. She came out of her mood pretty quickly. Today we put "wee-wee pads" near all 3 of the boxes. We are pretty sure that Cara pooped in the box with the Cat Attract in it. At least so far today, no poop on the floor. They both seem to go 1 x per day in the evening. (Dear Lord. Is it possible I know my cats' pooping schedule?)
>>
>>In general Cara's mood seems better, or when she gets sad or upset with herself, she comes out of it faster than she did, say, on Sunday, when she was really upset. Honestly, you could see it.
>>
>>Thanks for the support! We will keep you posted!
>>-----
>> Denise, Cara & Mia

>>One of our two tonk sisters has been defecating outside the box...literally, just outside, on the floor outside the box.

Yesterday Cara had a relapse for the 1st time since Tuesday. Pooped in two locations in the family room bathroom, & tried to cover one of the two poops with the wee wee pad. She's been nervous last night & today. Sigh. Seems we go two steps forward & at least one back.
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Denise, Cara & Mia

Seems we go two steps forward & at least one back.

Seems like that's the way it always is...

Carol, Emily, & Eddie

>>>>One of our two tonk sisters has been defecating outside the box...literally, just outside, on the floor outside the box.
>>
>>Yesterday Cara had a relapse for the 1st time since Tuesday. Pooped in two locations in the family room bathroom, & tried to cover one of the two poops with the wee wee pad. She's been nervous last night & today. Sigh. Seems we go two steps forward & at least one back.
>>-----
>> Denise, Cara & Mia