Cat Information

How do I stop my 12 month old neutered male cat from using my log basket as a cat litter tray?

He has a cat litter tray in the house which is kept clean but he loves the logs, its driving me mad please help He has a cat litter tray in the house which is kept clean but he loves the logs, its driving me mad please help. I need to have the logs in the living room for my woodburner.

Public Comments

1. Replace the logs with festive holly leaves tightly packed-in. When his nuts get caught in that lot, he'll get the message. After Xmas, remove the holly, and replace the logs. By that time, he will have hopefully learnt. update: Hang on, you said neutered didn't you? so, no nuts. Holly idea might not work.
2. spray the basket with human deodorant or perfume. animals hate our perception of nice smells.
3. He pees on the logs???? First I would put the logs in another place that the cat cannot get too. If he uses the litter box and also the logs, then taking the logs away should stop it. But he may like the smell of logs. If so, then perhaps you can get the wood pellet litter and change him over to that.
4. My local SPCA sells something called "nature's miracle" that you can use to clean up pet odors. Try using that so he can't smell that he went there before.
5. If he wasn't using the other litter it would have been because it's placed somewhere your cat doesn't like/or doesn't feel safe (e.g. close to food or in a high-traffic area of the house). Since that doesn't seem to be the case, you might wanna try to fence off the place (get one of those baby safety things for fireplaces). The smell of urine will definitely drag him back there because for him it's a signal it's the litter spot. You need to disinfect the log basket completely to remove the odor.
6. He wants to pee in the logs 'cos it's his house and he recons he can pee where he wants. He obviously doesn't like the litter, some cats, sorry, most cats are fussy, that's why we love 'em! Better there than the floor even. Good for him. Try a different brand of litter, the white stuff is better than the impregnated green.
7. You should spray it with cat repellent and then every time he goes to pee on it take the basket away. It should reinforce the message.
8. try feeding him near the logs as cats don't like to go near there food. if that doesn't work put a touch of vinegar on the top log my cats hate vinegar. good luck
9. wipe the basket with vinegar, cats hate the smell.
10. Golden rule with cats of both sexes, if it smells like a toilet, it will be treated like a toilet. In essence, anything that comes from nature has probably been pee'd upon at some time. Cats' sensitive noses will always detect his no matter how much deodorant spray you use over the item. They will attempt to mask other smells with their own, or refresh their own smell if there are other rivals about, or if they just think it needs boosting a bit (like you do with household air-fresheners, see?) If you replace the logs, rinse the basket through with vinegar solution, as one of your previous respondents advised. They cannot smell the old urine through the vinegar and this may break the habit. Otherwise, keep your logs outside. Merry Christmas from a fellow sufferer.
11. Clean the basket out and put a blanket in it. Maybe if he sees it is soft and warm he will lay in it instead of peeing on it. Cats don't pee where they sleep so clean it good and maybe that will work. When you get a cat, everything in your house belongs to them so either make it his bed or suffer, lol, sorry.
12. Sounds wierd but it works.. put coathangers on the logs, they hate them.. do try it!!!!