I got a cat from a shelter several months ago. She is spayed and vet checked, she's perfectly healthy. She just has a bad habit that I would like explained and to get rid of.

When I first got her, she had a regular depth uncovered litter box, and she would frequently "overhang" the box and end up peeing and pooping over the side of the box (she'd be totally in the box, yet so close to the sides that stuff would end up outside the box). So I fix this by getting a deeper, covered box and all has been well for months, no incidents. For the past few days, she has been managing to start up this habit again by mounding litter by the opening of the covered box so she's able to overhang again. I purposely put the bare minimum of litter in there (as I always have, so no change there), so I can't very well reduce the litter level anymore as I think that would be too little litter.

What can I do now? It appears to me that she likes to do this and it's just a habit, because the typical triggers of bad behavior aren't there-the box is clean as always, same litter brand, no new pets (no other pets at all), same box she's had and been fine with all this time, etc.

Do you think if I put her food by the opening of the box that might stop this?

I'm really mad about this and I don't have the patience for this. I don't want to have to get rid of her, but if I can't find a solution I will have to.

I already have the deepest covered box that they make.

Cover the opening and make a hole in the top of the box and let her little rear end come in and out from the top. Or where the opening is put something there so she can't rest her rear on it maybe foil or something uncomfortabe to sit on. My old 13 year old cat does this sometimes, so I just put a large plastic lid under it from an old tote. Hope this helps

You should call the shelter and see what they say about it or maybe ask someone at PetsMart. I have two cats and one will use an open litter box only the other one wants complete privacy. My cats like a lot of litter to dig deep holes. They don't seem to like if I switch litter. My one cat has accidents because his fur is so long it sometimes gets stuck. I haven't had your problem but I do keep there food close to the box. I hope everything works out.

bushg, you really think she will go in and out from the top? That's a clever idea! I'd just be afraid she won't go in at all!

I would go buy 2 of the flat boxes and tape them together (duct tape)cut the top out almost completely leave an inch or so at the edges. You can get the deep box for the top of it. Try this before you tear up your covered one, They are more expensive. See how it works It just may do the trick. Let us know if it works, that is if you choose to try it.

I had a cat that did the same thing so I went out and bought a tote box tall enough so the cat can't hang out, and put lots of cat litter in it and it worked for me.. Hope this helps you.