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solid74

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hi everyone,

We have 2 wonderful cats, a 7 year old Himalayan boy and a 3 year old Tuxedo girl. We have always been ok with the odd habits of our Himi, Tao. He exhibits what I have joked at several times as dog-like behavior. We moved into a new house last summer from an apartment where the kitties could only go in a litter box. Now, we have the litter box still, but they have a big back yard to explore. We even made a couple of dirt areas near the bushes where they can do their business. The girl kitty, Sophie, always knows what to do and where, like all cats I have seen. But Tao, he always goes on the grass like a dog. I watch him go right by the dirt and go on the grass anyway. I'm just a little tired of scanning for landmines every time we barbeque. It is kind of funny watching him try in vain to bury his mess with grass, but I'm over it. :x

Any ideas as to what this might be the result of or what I can do to remedy this situation? Any help would be appreciated! Thanks for reading!
 
Does he have a problem going in the same box as your girl inside? Are there strays around the house? I don't think I could help much but maybe if you put some of his mess where he is supposed to go he might get the picture better since his sent will be there.

Good luck in dirt training him! :)

^.".^
 
I would put a box outside as well.
Or, how about giving him a designated grassy area? I would try moving his, um, "landmines" to one area and see if he figures it out. But, honestly, my guess is that he will do what he wants where he wants. After all, he's a cat! :)
Good luck.
 
Crapping is a big-time territory marker for kitties, so he might think that the one dirt pile "belongs" to your other cat. Try making your Himi another dirt pile of his very own, and put one of his landmines in it. :)
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Thank you all very much for your advice!

I never thought of training him with his own scent, what a good idea! They both have shared the litter box since we have had them, and with no issues. And the girl goes in one of the 2 dirt spots exclusively, so I could try to set Tao up in the other spot. As far as strays, I haven't seen any, which isn't to say that there are none. Cats are sneaky! But we do have a few neighbor cats that are out and about. Sophie is quick and agile, so she is always hopping the fence to mingle with the others, but Tao can't seem to jump as well, so he never leaves the yard. I don't know if that's relevant or not, but I thought I should mention it.

I wish I could designate a grass area for him, maybe with a little string around it like a plant. Honestly, I don't think he is bright enough to figure it out. He dumps all over the yard, no system to his madness at all! We always joke that he's kind of a dum-dum, Sophoe looks at him with contempt whenever he is acting like it. But it makes him more affectionate I think. :)

I am going to go collect landmines and get his spot going! Should I try the litter box out there too or just go for it? Anything else I could do to make his new dirt patch more appealing?

Thanks again for all of the great help!
 
The reason I mentioned strays is because, since he is the dominent male of the house he might be marking everywhere to let any cats outside know that the yard is his territory.

I'd say just go for it and put his mess in the place he's supposed to go in and take him over there a couple of times to remind him it's there since cats remember where they are from where they've been.

^.".^
 
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