What to do?!? ~ Cat issue (LovinMyLife)

 I am soooo not a cat person, but even I find this irratating.  I wonder if you might have more luck on some sort of Cat board on possible ways to 'untrain' the behaviour.  I know lots of people say cats cant be trained, but well, they can. 

Why does the cat bite?  Obviously because it has no claws to help defend itself, but does it have to be provoked?  My cats have all been trained not to scratch...why can't the cat be trained not to bite?  Sorry I don't know much about cats. But I agree wholeheartedly, you monster in law needs to take responsibility for her own actions.

I actually have heard clicker training works wonderfully for kitties

eta: oh yes....full medical workup as well to make sure she's not in pain or sick.

My cats around 8 yrs. old (don't know exactly, my 11yr.old isn't here to ask, lol), he's been declawed and I've never had a problem with him using the litter box or biting.  Actually, I never heard of such a thing that declawed cats bite.  Could just be a myth.  The only time he bites is when one of my girls are pestering him and he won't even bite right away, he'll let out his low growl, but if they don't leave him alone that's when he'll bite.  Can't blame him, it's the kids fault.  Maybe his litter box needs cleaned out more regularly, that's why she's not using it, or maybe it's the kind of cat litter.  You know, cats are finiky.  Is he up to dates with his shots?  Maybe she needs her distemperment?  Or like Gina says, she might not be feeling well, and needs a good check up to rule out any kind of pain issues or sickness.  Good Luck!  Hope things work out for the best!

I have never heard that declawed cats bite more, or tend to urinate outside the litterbox.  I would think the best place to start would be a full vet workup for the kitty.  Since this is a change in behavior, your problem may be medical. 

When you say the cat is biting, is it attacking your MIL, or just not liking to be handled anymore.  I have had many cranky cats, some just don't want to be bothered!  But if this is a sudden change and not the way the cat has always been ( I'm assuming) the vet NEEDS to be consulted.

There are specific litters you can try for cats that stop using their boxes.  I'm not sure of the names, but they sell them at petsmart. 

 A squirt bottle might help with the biting.  Possibly adding a second litter box in another area might help with that problem. 

What a sad situation.  I don't have any advice except that in my experience at a cat rescue, a cat who bites and doesn't use the litter box is likely to have a lot of problems being placed, so the training would be a really good idea whether or not your mother-in-law decides to keep the cat.  If the cat hasn't been checked for health issues that might be affecting litter box use (especially urinary tract issues), that would be a good thing to look at.  The suggestion to get a second litter box is good, a well as making sure the litter is cleaned every day - one of my cats is very picky about her litter and won't use it if it's the least bit dirty.  I'm so sorry she's doing this, but it's great that you're advocating for this cat.

my cousins had the cat from Pet Cemetery... he was demonic. but we think my cousins little brother had something to do with that. he tormented the poor thing to the point of insanity.. adults should be careful when talking about myths and facts around four year olds. Justin (my cousin) wanted to see if cats really DID land on their feet so he dropped Dusty all the fire escape at their apartment.. and a few other times when bigger kids in their complex would tease Justin he would run and grab Dusty and throw him on the bigger kids (because Dusty by this point was vicious) even if you left Dusty alone he would come looking for you. would buzz saw your ankles.. hide on top of the book case and take swipes at your head (aiming for your eyes!!) my aunt had enough.. she finally managed to teach Justin to not torment the cat... but it was too late for Dusty.. he was mental.. unlike most people (your MIL) they didnt want to put him to sleep or give him away... so they got him neutered and declawed.. it helped but only a little.. he stopped looking for someone to bite.. basically NO ONE touched him except my aunts daughter.. he was HER cat after all.. the only one who didnt torture him.

Dusty is a legend... cat loving cable guys and service men in north florida remember him well.... they learned the hard way that just because a big fluffy cat brushes up against your leg and rubs his head on you doesnt mean you CAN pet him. Dusty couldnt scratch with his front claws, but he didnt have to. he would latch on with teeth and kick you with the back ones..

 i would like to know the conditions this cat lives in and the circumstances of each bite...

if the cat doesnt use the litter box like it should then it COULD be because her feet hurt.. and digging is too much of a pain. 

i'm like you though.. i tell people to bring me their dogs or cats before taking them off to the pound or putting them to sleep... we just make it work until a better arrangement comes up. its not always easy to do and will get you beyond stress if the animals dont get along at all... but in the end you've done a good deed and improved the life of the animals involved.

you could contact a rescue and ask advice or if there is room for them to help you out. i can tell you right now if MIL is ready to kill the cat then she isnt going to even TRY to train it.....  

Re. declawed cats not using the box, this is for cats that are declawed as adults.  When they are itty bitty kitties, it is not nearly as painful because they weigh less than 2 lbs.  However, for an adult cat to be declawed is pretty inhumane, IMO.  We had an adult cat that was caught as a feral and declawed.  Not only was she not trained to use a box b/c she was wild, she then HATED the box because of the declaw (it's very painful for them to use litter and they associate the box with that pain).  I don't know any vets who would declaw an older cat.

Two of my three are front declawed (before I picked them out from the shelter), but both were done as kittens and recovered within two days, same as the spay/neuter.  Neither have biting problems or have ever had accidents outside the box.  But again, the older cat who was declawed had such severe emotional/behavioral problems she had to be medicated (some of that was from being caught as a feral, but was no doubt exaggerated by being declawed).

Now, as for the cat in question....if it bites...well, maybe it's just going to be a biting cat.  Not all cats want to be held and carried.  As long as it's not actually attacking people, I'd advise them to KEEP the cat and just let it do its own thing.  For the litter box problems, sometimes it helps to change to a totally new type of litter and get a new box, maybe move it to a new location.  If the cat is associating pain with THAT box and THAT texture, change it up and re-train the cat.  I would also check for a UTI.  If the cat was in pain pawing at the litter and just stopped using the box, that can contribute to a UTI.  Or, it could just be a UTI and the declaw is not the issue.

Yes, you can clicker train a cat.  I clicker trained one of mine to target and it took about two five minute sessions. 
 

Hmmm maybe I can train her. I will look into it for sure! I know you CAN train cats, mine knows "speak", "get the treats", "say your prayers" (which is too cute LOL), "gimme your paw", "gimme your OTHER paw" and a few others.

She WAS declawed as an adult (I think MIL got her when she was 3ish) which I agree is cruel. She has been to the vet, gotten blood work and screened for a UTI, but she is healthy. Her living situation... MIL is single and lives alone and works full time so the cat is alone most of the time. I am not sure when she bites, I will have to call MIL because I haven't talked to her, DH is kinda playing the middle man LOL

I will let you guys know what happens. I'm going to tell MIL to use something else in her litter boxes (she has them ALL over the house) to start, maybe that will at least help with the potty issue.

Liesje

Re. declawed cats not using the box, this is for cats that are declawed as adults.  When they are itty bitty kitties, it is not nearly as painful because they weigh less than 2 lbs.  However, for an adult cat to be declawed is pretty inhumane, IMO.  We had an adult cat that was caught as a feral and declawed.  Not only was she not trained to use a box b/c she was wild, she then HATED the box because of the declaw (it's very painful for them to use litter and they associate the box with that pain).  I don't know any vets who would declaw an older cat.

Two of my three are front declawed (before I picked them out from the shelter), but both were done as kittens and recovered within two days, same as the spay/neuter.  Neither have biting problems or have ever had accidents outside the box.  But again, the older cat who was declawed had such severe emotional/behavioral problems she had to be medicated (some of that was from being caught as a feral, but was no doubt exaggerated by being declawed).

Now, as for the cat in question....if it bites...well, maybe it's just going to be a biting cat.  Not all cats want to be held and carried.  As long as it's not actually attacking people, I'd advise them to KEEP the cat and just let it do its own thing.  For the litter box problems, sometimes it helps to change to a totally new type of litter and get a new box, maybe move it to a new location.  If the cat is associating pain with THAT box and THAT texture, change it up and re-train the cat.  I would also check for a UTI.  If the cat was in pain pawing at the litter and just stopped using the box, that can contribute to a UTI.  Or, it could just be a UTI and the declaw is not the issue.

Yes, you can clicker train a cat.  I clicker trained one of mine to target and it took about two five minute sessions. 
 

LovinMyLife

Hmmm maybe I can train her. I will look into it for sure! I know you CAN train cats, mine knows "speak", "get the treats", "say your prayers" (which is too cute LOL), "gimme your paw", "gimme your OTHER paw" and a few others.

She WAS declawed as an adult (I think MIL got her when she was 3ish) which I agree is cruel. She has been to the vet, gotten blood work and screened for a UTI, but she is healthy. Her living situation... MIL is single and lives alone and works full time so the cat is alone most of the time. I am not sure when she bites, I will have to call MIL because I haven't talked to her, DH is kinda playing the middle man LOL

I will let you guys know what happens. I'm going to tell MIL to use something else in her litter boxes (she has them ALL over the house) to start, maybe that will at least help with the potty issue.