I have a cat who is 9 months old. From day one after we rescued him from the pound he's been good about the litter box. In the last month, however, he's been pottying under my sewing machine and the computer table. I've tried everything from time out in the bathroom after a good scolding to dispersing mothballs in the offending area and putting 'things' on top of the preferred places.
He'll be good for a few days then BANG right back again.
I thought it was the environment. I changed litter, made sure the box was being cleaned two or three times a day, there have been no unusual disturbances and nothing out of the norm. He gets plenty of attention.
I need to get him to stop this before I have to take him back to the pound. I can't have an outside cat and he's so amazing - other than the potty issues.
A week ago he started not peeing in the litter box at all among the other things he's doing. He's peeing outside in front of the litter box (thank god I keep it in the bathtub).
Any suggestions? Please help me!!
He'll be good for a few days then BANG right back again.
I thought it was the environment. I changed litter, made sure the box was being cleaned two or three times a day, there have been no unusual disturbances and nothing out of the norm. He gets plenty of attention.
I need to get him to stop this before I have to take him back to the pound. I can't have an outside cat and he's so amazing - other than the potty issues.
A week ago he started not peeing in the litter box at all among the other things he's doing. He's peeing outside in front of the litter box (thank god I keep it in the bathtub).
Any suggestions? Please help me!!
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Los Angeles
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Re: Cat pottying in bad places ...
Tue, April 24, 2007 - 12:20 PMTake him to the vet. It may not just be behavioral. I had a cat who started doing that, and it turned out he had a urinary tract infection. Once he was better, no more problems. Its worth checking out. -
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Re: Cat pottying in bad places ...
Tue, April 24, 2007 - 6:51 PMsame here. ours has interstetial cystitis. getting off dry food and giving her albaplex solved the problem completely.
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Re: Cat pottying in bad places ...
Thu, April 26, 2007 - 10:42 PMAs others have mentioned, the veterinarian is your first stop, to rule out physical conditions that might cause this behavior. Second stop is the store to get a second litter box. Some cats like to pee in one place and poop in another. Best of luck getting this sorted out.
Another thought... has he been neutered yet? This might be territorial marking, as those are places where lots of scent would get left, from your feet and shoes. -
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Re: Cat pottying in bad places ...
Thu, April 26, 2007 - 11:52 PMWhen we purchased him from the pound as a kitten he was neutered. He was fine for a really long time and then suddenly, with no change in our schedules or atmosphere he started leaving presents under my sewing table. If you get down under there he's peed too. I have used PDQ to rid the smell. Mothballs worked fairly well to keep him away but unbeknownst to me, mothballs disspate with time. I also did the duct tape trick and that worked REAL good. Only duct tape looks so bad under the table and you have to explain why you do this.
I'd lock him in the bathroom with the litter box but I have another cat who is, and always has, been just fine with where he goes potty. I can't see punishing the good cat because the other cat is being a snotface.
I talked about the vet option with my fiancee. He's going to call them this weekend and make an appointment. Meanwhile I need to find kitty diapers or a good cork (just kidding). -
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Re: Cat pottying in bad places ...
Sat, May 5, 2007 - 8:21 AMThe vet trip is definitely in order. I had a cat do this, and it turned out he had a urinary infection. Hopefully it's something simple.
As for locking him in the bathroom, you mention the other cat is doing fine. Do you think maybe you need to get a second litter box? Maybe he's not happy sharing? Or at least you could lock him up for longer periods, if this turns out to be a behavior problem and not physical. What kind of litter box are you using? You mentioned trying various litters, maybe a different kind of box? A larger, deeper one? Or one with a cover? Just tossing out thoughts here. But the vet comes first, before trying anything else :)
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Re: Cat pottying in bad places ...
Sat, May 5, 2007 - 11:20 AMyou should always provide one litterbox per cat PLUS one... and the boxes should be in quiet, clean, low-traffic areas around the house... try keeping them in a couple of different places as sometimes cats will start "guarding" behaviour and not allow other cat(s) to get to the box...
you might also try using feliway diffusers in the areas that you don't want him pottying...
