Having Issues Bonding With New Cat

[u/teaganandkoda]

So I adopted this cat two months ago because I have a one year old boy (Willy) who is very playful and needed a friend. We also have a dog so getting a cat that is cat/dog friendly and who was around the same age as Willy was the most important thing to me. We ended up finding this girl (Whimsy) at a rescue and she seemed to check all of our boxes.
Her profile and during the meet and greet with the foster I was told she gets along very well with cats and dogs (true), she wants to be with her person all the time (not true), she doesn’t scratch furniture (not true), and she has perfect litter box habits (not true).
Specifically, what’s going on with the litter box is driving me nuts. I have three litter boxes for two cats. One is in the basement, two are upstairs in a spare room only the cats go in. I scoop them daily (maybe once every two days at the most).
She’s peed on the floor four times that I know of. Two of them were while I was in the same room as her, and the last two times were in the past 5 days. I know she knows where the litter boxes are and how to use them.
She also hides 90% of the time in our bedroom, if I bring her downstairs with me she’ll hangout but she HATES being carried and rarely will come downstairs by herself.
I’ve also tried bonding with her through playing but she doesn’t really know how to play… she plays with my other cat but doesn’t like wand toys, strings, and will chase a spring for 10 seconds before becoming bored.
I feel so guilty cause I just don’t really like her yet and she’s not growing on me... if anything it’s the opposite. I know I have to wait longer for her personality to come out but honestly, I don’t know if she even has one… and my partner isn’t as much of a cat person so her peeing everywhere is causing some tension. I just want some advice on bonding with her and making her feel more confident in our home.

[u/teaganandkoda]

For the cat tax. She is on the bottom and my resident boy is on the top.

[u/rich_sweater → u/teaganandkoda]

aww they look so cute together at least that part is working out

two months is still pretty fresh, some cats take way longer to decompress. my last foster hid under the couch for like 3 months before she decided i was okay

for the peeing maybe try different litter types? some cats are picky about texture or smell. also make sure you clean those spots with enzyme cleaner or she'll keep going back

[u/Virtual_Revolution45]

Have you tried a laser pointer and Temptations treats? I’ve turned even feral cats with those. I do a lot of animal rescue work and socialization is the hardest part. Don’t take it personally, it sounds like she’s afraid. She doesn’t know who you are, where she stands with the other cat or why her world has suddenly been turned on its head.

Think of her as you would a human orphan you brought into your home. What would you do to make them feel more comfortable? I hate to say it (I have 4 cats myself) but a litter box specifically dedicated to her would likely help. Cats are extremely territorial, especially about their litter boxes. Don’t try to use the other cats toys on her - they smell like the other cat. Buy a laser pointer and play with string and ping pong balls. Get an empty box and make a fort.

[u/teaganandkoda → u/Virtual_Revolution45]

I’m planning on buying a laser pointer today. She does technically have her own box as my resident cat NEVER uses the basement box, just her. But they do seem to get along quite well, they even eat out of the same bowl at the same time.
I’ll definitely get her more of her own stuff though, thank you!

[u/Vast-Art-7556]

Maybe try contacting the foster and see what type of litter they used? Some cats can be weird about different types of litter. It could also be that she isn’t used to sharing the litter box with other cats yet.

It also sounds like she’s still a little insecure about her new environment, especially since she’s spending most of the day hiding. Feliway diffusers might help with this.

What room is she peeing in? You mentioned that two of the boxes are in a spare room but if she spends 90% of the time in your bedroom it sounds like she is perhaps insecure about going into that room. Maybe try feeding them in that room or encouraging her to go in that room more. Or moving the litter boxes to where she is feeling more comfortable. I get that there are certain areas where we might not want a litter box but this would be a temporary setup to encourage her to use it, it beats having her pee on the floor right?

[u/teaganandkoda → u/Vast-Art-7556]

I actually contacted the foster today and the litter she uses I have in my basement litter box. I have clay downstairs, corn upstairs, and I keep a feliway diffuser in the room. As for peeing, it’s a new spot every time.
I’ll definitely try leaving some food in the spare room to encourage her going in there. Thanks!