Litter Training
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 11:27:46 EDT Subject: FEL-L: Litter training needed for 12 week old C. Lynx
Litter training methods needed!
Situation: reasonably large multiroom house with a litterbox in each of room where the Canadian Lynx kitten has been staying. She has been failing to find the box and dropping both urine and stools in non-litter box locations, in a seemingly random pattern -- on chair, on books, next to wall by bed, on bed, under chair, in bathtub, etc.
When I am there I can discourage (growl/hiss) when as the dirty deed starts and gently carry her to the box. However, she is too often failing to make the decision to find a box and use it if she is not close (a few feet) when she gets the urge.
When she is in a cage (multi-level with food/water on top, resting area middle and litter box lower) she does fine. Being tired of extensive cleaning each time, when I can't observe her directly, I've been confining her and a domestic kitten (for company) to the cage off and on for a couple of days.
I've not disciplined her with hitting or swatting, not believing in that and not wanting to threaten the positive emotional bond we share from bottle raising her.
I'd appreciate any help in a training method. Thanks, Kelly
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 16:17:21 -0700 Subject: FEL-L: Litter Training
Don't know if this will help (every cat is different) but what we did with our Serval is... (1st Caveat... my wife works out of a home office, so she was there for consistency)
After every meal, carry your baby to the box and use the "wet towell patted/rubbed on the bottom" method of getting baby to pee and/or poop
Between meals, about every hour, repeat above carry/rub Pray
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 17:18:00 -0700 Subject: RE: FEL-L: Litter Training
I found Canadian Lynx much more difficult to box train than any of the other species I have raised or been around (Siberian Lynx, Bobcat, Serval). My Canadian seemed to be particularly resistant to being litterbox trained. Most of the time I could convince her to pee in the box, but even if she was locked in the kitten cage with the catbox, she wanted to be up high on something and hang he butt of the edge to poop. I used to compare 'pooping' stories with friends from Spokane whose Canadian Lynx found the weirdest places us use. I remember being particulary astounded when I found out that mine had been (somehow) getting up on the shelf in the closet and pooping down on my clothes which were hanging where they should be. Anything that didn't stick to the shoulders of my clothes, ended up in my shoes. (Nice shootin' Banshee!) My friend's lynx seemed to find it irresistable to sit on top of the portable TV and poop into the little slot on the back where you stick your hand in to pick it up. (Surprise!) I noticed the adults standing up on logs to hang their butts over the edge. Interesting behavior, but not especially welcome in the house. My little lynx found her way outside much earlier than any of the bobcats did, and her 'potty habits' were a large factor.
Servals are probably the easiest to train -- At least until they start spraying. Lynx spray too. You ARE prepared for spraying -- aren't you? ;o)
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 17:43:27 -0700 Subject: Re: FEL-L: Litter Training
I use large deep tupperware/sterilite storage boxes it gives them hanging room :-) use lots of litter for weight or you will get tip over. I never tried it but maybe ashelf over box might work.
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 23:02:29 EDT Subject: Re: FEL-L: Litter Training
Hi Shirley, You just saved the day for me! I have been watching the responses to the C. Lynx litterbox saga. I thought that my little lynx was standing on top of things to poop and pee because he couldn't see. He is partially blind. Well now I know this is normal. So I will add a stump and a bigger the litter box. I use a cement mixing trough for my cougars litter box. Do you think that if I tried the same size box and put in a log to stand on it would help? Anything is better than my basket. ;0) sherry:)
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 22:34:33 -0500 Subject: Re: FEL-L: Litter Training
Some bobcats have that strange "I've got to hang my butt over something" habit. Mine has done is for all of her two years. Here's what I did when I figured out what she was doing. She knew what the litter box was, so I set a full can of paint right beside the litter box. It's still there. She's happy and I'm even happier!!! She will not put her dainty little feet in that nasty old litter. Her favorite thing before that was to get on the dresser and deposit a load of really nasty stuff between the dresser and the wall! Glad I'm not the only one that had to go through that. Karla
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 20:59:28 -0700 Subject: Re: FEL-L: Litter Training
And don't EVER leave your filing cabnet drawer open!!!!!! ;-)
Date: Wed, 22 Jul 1998 23:11:44 -0500 Subject: Re: FEL-L: Litter Training
Allen, Does that go under the heading of cat proofing your house? Like- never leave worn underwear anyplace that can not be shut tight? Getting rid of all your house plants unless they hang from the ceiling away from where the cat can jump? Not having anything breakable sitting where it can be reached by the cat? Moving the bed so the cat can't do an early morning launch onto your sleeping husband, who just happens to be sleeping on his back at the time? Just thought those things should be included in the "living with a crazy cat" handbook. Now, for a more serious question - Which do all of you think is easier to live with, a bobcat or a lynx and why? I am really curious about that one. I have heard so many different ideas. Karla
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 10:29:13 -0500 (CDT) Subject: Re: FEL-L: Bombs Away !!!
seeing as all cat's food isn't digested well, there dung often becomes food for others...thus a method of being away from the "food" would be a good defence...
this is in a way why domestics bury theres also...from my studies of Ferals in the wild, they often run QUICKLY away after going...to remove themselves from the "smell" that often attracts peeditors....
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 09:51:21 -0700 Subject: RE: FEL-L: Litter Training
Yes, I think it would be helpful to do that. They don't need to be up really high, most of my adults just want to stand on a log that is laying on the ground. My Canadians are all very consistant about pooping in the very same spot all the time. It seems to be kind of a territorial thing. It would help to always leave just a little bit of poop in the spot you want him to use, especially when you change the litter. Since he is partially blind, it will be very important for him to be able to orient himself.
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 13:35:54 EDT Subject: Re: FEL-L: Litter Training
My bobcat taught himself to use the toilet as a litterbox. He also will use any stream or puddle of water, when traveling, if he is allowed to go to it. He must be pretty mallable for a bobcat because I can pick him up and take him anywhere. Yes he complains mightly at times but that is about it . I never had a lynx so have nothing to compare to. Shilo is my first and only bobcat. He lives in the house. I am told that bobcats are solitary animals but mine seems to be completly bonded to me. A tree fell and broke a window , and the cat got out , was gone when I came home. Heartbroken I looked for hours, no shilo, I thought he was gone forever. I went to bed and left the door open hopeing against hope. At three AM a big heavy wildly purring furry body hit me in the chest. Shilo was home.
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 14:37:42 EDT Subject: Re: FEL-L: Bombs Away !!!
Hi , Cheetahs like to go on high places also. Jan
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 13:21:09 -0700 Subject: RE: FEL-L: Bombs Away !!!
A lot of the smaller cats like to use branches overhanging water and I know owners who place bowls of water in their cages for the cats to use instead of a litterbox. When one of my bobcats, Sarah, was little I used to take her out to the river with me and she would run down to the water and pee or poop in the water and run back up to my blanket. I imagine a lot of predators do this if they have a choice to hide their scent from their pray.
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 23:47:10 -0700 Subject: Re: FEL-L: Litter Training
I have always heard that Bobs and Lynx both have the instinct to hang there rear over something and do the dirty because in the wild they usually like to find a stream or pond with a branch that extends over water; thus sending the mess down stream for somebody elses enjoyment I guess. Just an interesting theory on this messy subject. My Bobs and Lynx just love to poop in water of any sort. We tryed to avoid this behavior by finding a tall spaghetti type pot. It held a couple gallons of water and was taller than it was wide. Boy was I surprised when I went out and watched my male Bob trying to balance himself on all four feet on top of the pot so he could still poop in his water. I thought I would just die laughing.
Date: Fri, 24 Jul 1998 11:29:00 -0700 Subject: Re: FEL-L: Litter Training
Ocelots and margays do the dirty over water, too. Our bobcats do the balance thing with buckets trying to go in them. Even our Amur leopard cub, well, she's 14 mths. still spends alot of time trying to balance herself just right so as to poop in her bucket! She's a riot to watch!
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 19:06:52 EST Subject: Re: FEL-L: Fwd: Training
Never do anything that could gepredize the bond between you and the cat/s. Remember a cat is a cat, you never discipline them, you try to guide and lead them to some behavior patterns - - at best - - that you like.
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 16:26:55 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: FEL-L: Training (fwd)
Just a little anecdotal pause:
My lion, at 5 weeks old, was going in a litter box until he could no longer fit his butt in it. I think the last time he went in it was when he misstepped on the edge and flipped the entire contents over his head. I got him to go in the box in the first place by knowing his bathroom habbits. He would wake up between 5 am and 6 am and have to go. I'd put him off the bed, he'd stumble over to the litterbox, go, and then stumble sleepily back to bed. There are lots of other tricks that can work as well, like finding out material they like to go on. Some like cedar shavings, some like cat litter, some just like news paper. Or putting a little of a prior 'accident' in the box to make it smell more inviting. However, most of it was knowing his bathroom habbits and setting up the right situation for them to go in. And of course priase when they do it right.
(A prelude to this story is when he visited his new home. We brought him in the kitchen and the first thing he did was mark his new territory with a pile. :) He was never perfect. :)
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 21:54:18 -0600 Subject: Re: FEL-L: Training (fwd)
I have found that Lions are more likely to be taught since they are a pack animal, they seem to retain more than the tigers. They usually pick 2-3 spots that they will utilize as a pee pee place. They will also pick up on commands quicker than tigers. They are very unique and interesting to study when we can take the time. Another thing is that the lions seem to prefer the open places where with tigers seem to like to hide and are a lot more evasive, even with young cubs in the house.
Date: Fri, 25 Dec 1998 23:33:53 -0700 Subject: Re: FEL-L: Natural turf
I have Canadian Lynx, Siberian Lynx, Bobcats, and Servals all living on natural ground. Many are rescue cats that came from unknown living situations, but they quickly develop 'bathroom habits', some of which I can influence to a certain degree.
The Canadian Lynx generally do not bury droppings, but actually use them to mark their territory. They use one specific area, usually near the door as if to say "This is my territory. Do not cross this line." The adult Lynx rescued from the fur farm are very adamant about this behavior.
The Siberian Lynx have picked a number of spots to use near the perimeter of the cage, so they don't walk through them in the middle, except for when I messed up the whole pattern by giving them a sand mound in the middle of their cage. They loved that mound, but like any domestic cat in a sandbox .........
I taught the Siberian Lynx kittens I raised to use a spot that I wanted them to by giving them material that they liked to use to bury droppings and putting their used potty box litter in that spot as a 'starter' to give them the idea. They are over 1-1/2 years old now and still use the spot I requested. The female isn't real good at covering it up, but the male is a little obsessive and will go to great lengths to make sure that there is enough 'coverage'.
The bobcats generally bury droppings and use one or two areas that they have selected.
The servals neatly lay strings of poop on top of the ground, with no attempt to bury. The are confined to a general area, but not as much so as the other cats. The male tends to use a strip down the middle of his cage and the female has an area in the corner.
I hope this answers all your questions about 'cat pooping habits'. Anybody out there with cougars care to comment?
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 01:34:20 -0800 (PST) Subject: Re: FEL-L: Training (fwd)
> I have found that Lions are more likely to be taught since they are a pack
An interesting note about potty training is that we also have a tiger who's four months old and he will cry to go outside so he could do his number. Sometimes he doesn't even like to do it in his own cage. And to me it seems more like lions learn because they're lazy enough to stay still. Tigers remind me of kids with ADD. :) (This is a joke stereotypical observation.) But, yes, I would definitely categorize the tigers as more... independent thinkers. Trouble makers. :)
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 22:53:39 -0800 Subject: FEL-L: Serval Poop
>The servals neatly lay strings of poop on top of the ground, with no
Oh good... and I was wondering if E'Leisha was unusual for not even making an attempt to bury her daily piles... but it looks like she is "typical" Serval in just doing a "drop and go" in the potty
At least she goes in the litter box!