Kitten preventing older cat from using the litter box

[babblino]

As expected of a kitten our Yuki constantly chases our older cat Kiska, who is too passive to fight back. Unfortunately this means that Kiska has resorted to peeing and pooing wherever she is when nature calls. She is too afraid to come downstairs because Yuki will know about it and will pounce on her. Yuki also frequently uses both litter boxes so I think that might also be putting Kiska off using them. Can someone please help me, I have to literally carry Kiska to the litter box and wait for her to do her business because she is reluctant to do it herself. Sometimes I even have to scratch the sand to remind her. We clean the boxes of poo and clumped pee frequently and we have two boxes, one on the top floor and the other on the bottom. Kiska doesn't use the top one because it has a flap on it and she is afraid of closed spaces.

I suggested to my mother to buy more litter boxes as I know you need more everytime you add a cat but she is reluctant to buy another (to be honest there isn't really any place to place another one, atleast not discreetly). We can't afford to buy any fancy pancy microchip litter boxes or w/e either.

I'm considering buying one of those relaxing sprays to relieve the stress from Kiska and to maybe calm Yukis crazy personality, otherwise I think we'll have to go back to isolating Yuki to a room and re-introduce them unless we can sort the chasing issue. Yuki needs to get it in her head that Kiska doesn't want to play and Kiska needs to feel confident again.

[Lilith]

Hi there. If Kiska dislikes the entry flap on her tray, then I'd take it off. I have similar trays and haven't even fitted the flaps to them as I'm pretty sure my cats would find them offputting. I think flaps are one of those features designed to appeal to the human rather than the cat.

I know an extra tray is always a pain, but it would be a good idea, your mother permitting, of course.

Otherwise you're doing the right things by being vigilant and keeping the trays clean.

I can't advise on sprays I'm afraid; I once did try Feliway for my manic Molly, but it made no difference. They all seem to react differently.

The situation between my Molly and Mouse used to be very similar to the Yuki/Kiska relationship - exhausting! But Mousey has finally begun to be dominant - and even got up on the bed with Molly the other day and gave her her tail to play with! So I feel there is hope, and good luck!

[babblino]

Yes Kiska has started visiting my mothers room again (Yuki's domain) and slept with my mum, something she always did before we had Yuki. It's just at night when Yuki is hyper that she gives Kiska a hard time (Kiska sleeps in the mornings). I try to play with Yuki as much as possible to burn her energy but she has infinite amounts of it (we have her chase and catch wand toys, sometimes she likes to play tag by running after us and then away).

On another note Yuki suddenly jumped up and slept on my chest one night whilst I was on the computer. I was surprised as she's normally the kind to immediatelly bite if I reach out to pet her. I pet her head and then let her be as I wanted her to trust that I wouldn't bother her. I want her to do that more.

[meriad]

If you're home enough then you need to train Yuki; but it needs to be constant so your mom has to follow through as well. If you see a situation developing call Yuki and say the word NO firmly and loudly enough that she notices but doesn't scare her. Then try distract her with a toy, ideally something on a string that really will get her interest and is easy to have lying around (and you'll need pieces of ribbon, string or whatever all around the house).

I know many won't agree, but when I was having an issue with two of mine I used to have a whole lot of small 2ml syringes filled with water around the house. And whever there was an issue I'd say the word no and the squirt the water in the direction of the cat, but way over him so it was never aimed directly at him but he'd hear it. 2ml really isn't a lot of water so it never did any damage and you could squirt wherever you wanted Thankfully, whilst the two boys still aren't best friends, things have hugely improved so no more need for the syringes. But for me it worked.

also another thing to do is make sure that Kiska is always fed first, gets attention first etc to reinforce to Yuki that Kiska was there first.

i'm not sure how old your two are, but I'm sure that things will settle in due course, but they just have to find their own balance.

As for the flap on the litter tray - agree; take it off and see if Kiska will use it then; or provide an open tray instead of a covered one

Good luck