My Cat is Crazy...PLEASE HELP!!?

Question

I have a teenage cat named max, he often LOVES to poop or pee on the carpet, in the bathroom, in the bedrooms etc. He does use his litter box but sometimes he just feels the need to "go" other places in the house and covers it up!! Its driving me crazy! What should I do?? Cats are suppose to be clean animals...Right? And is there any suggestions as to how to get rid of the bad smell left behind on the carpet and floors??

Answer 1

First and most important, have him neutered if he is not already. He may be marking his territory. Make sure the litter box is clean and in a private spot where it is easy for him to access and well-lit. Sometimes cats don't like certain kinds of litter. Try getting two boxes and try a different litter in one to see if he uses it. You can buy cleaning solutions made just for neutralizing cat urine. I suggest using one of those for cleaning.

Answer 2

Hi Sue...because there are many reasons as to why a cat would inappropriately be soiling it's important to evaluate if it's either first a medical problem and/or if it's behavioural secondly. First I'd consider the medical aspect. If he has a urinary tract infection (UTI) or crystals in the urine (more common symptom in male cats) or upset bowels this would cause inappropriate soiling. The only way to diagnose this is to have a vet conduct a fecal exam as well as a urinalysis. The second medical concern...if the cat hasn't been neutered he will spray and doodle as a way of marking territory.

Anyhow, if he is medically fine then one would need to consider the behavioural aspect. This is best to be approached with retraining litter box habits by confining the cat to a small room (e.g. bathroom) with the litterbox, food and water. The goal is to try to help him relearn potty habits by having it nearby it's box for approximately 2/3 weeks or a little longer if necessary.

However, I would consider the following as to why his potty habits has worsened. Is there an extra litter box available? Some cats need two. Has the the litter recently been changed to a different brand as some cats will tend to eliminate outside the box to let you know they are uncomfortable with the new product. Additionally, if the box has been moved from a previous location where it didn't have problems that should be considered as well. Sometimes cats don't like their box in a public/busy place as privacy is preferred. Moreover, some cats also will not like a box that has a lid whereas others would not like a box that has no lid. Consider trying to experiment with these ideas to see what helps (if this is behavioural related).

Furthermore, you will need to retrain the cat (with confinement to a room) if there was a medical problem as they will have learned to inappropriately soil your home in various areas and will return out of habit. Use a product called Feliway (found at most pet stores). It may or may not work. It's a pheromone that supposedly can be calming to stressed cats.

Finally as a last resort your cat can take anti-depressants prescribed by your vet. This sometimes works so please consider discussing this with your vet. It really should be a last resort as it makes cats sleepy a bit more.

To clean your home's pet stains consider using an enzymatic cleaning solution called Nature's Miracle. This can be found worldwide and on the Internet. Cats will always repeatedly mark areas that have been soiled so it's important to remove it thoroughly as they can small the odours better than the human can detect. The enzymatic neutralizer is quite effective if used as instructed by thoroughly soaking contaminated items repeatedly and then letting them air dry.

Answer 3

Has he had his distemper shots? That helps sometimes. Also, if he hasn't been neutered yet, he will try to mark his territory by doing what you described. There are some products out that are supposed to remove the odors and at the same time chemically tell the cat or dog not to use that spot as a toilet, but I've had cats who were able to ignore that and make a mess anyways. So, if the first couple of suggestions don't work, you'll either have to just do your best to keep cleaning up after him, or make him an outside cat, if possible.

Answer 4

Cats are suppose to be clean animals... The guy who said that in the first time didn't have a cat of his own, I'm sure of that !!

My kitten is like you cat... I hope for you it's not too late to educate him. The vet told me to close my kitten in the kitchen, so he'll have to use his litter box and no other thing. That's how he learnt, 10 days after.

But from time to time, when he's angry, he still pee on the couch...

About the smell, try vinegar, cats hate that smell so he won't go back and poop on the carpet, and it'll cover the poop smell.
Do not use amoniac or javel, cats like it very much, and often pee when they smell that.

Good luck with yours !

Answer 5

I have had the same problem with my cat. It was so aggravating. She kept going on the same spot in my kitchen floor over and over. Punishment did no good. The only thing that worked for me was to restrict her to one room. None of the cleaners I tried removed the scent. Now, finally, after a month, she goes only in her litter box. I clean the litter box more often than I used to, and that seems to have helped a lot. Actually, you should clean it every day. Also, have your cat checked out by a veterinarian. The problem with my cat started with a minor urinary tract infection.

Answer 6

Once a cat is litter trained, going in OTHER places is often a sign of a urinary tract infection. You need to have the vet check for that.

As far as the smells, we haven't found anything that we can do at home to get rid of the smells. Try having the rugs professionally cleaned.

Answer 7

Cats are very emotional and territorial creatures - moving them, adding a new creature / person into the home, feeling abandoned, moving the litter box / a dirty litter box will cause them to "strike back". Simple Solution is a good stain / odor remover that you can get at petsmart:

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441775847&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302033673&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1156776598803&itemNo=3&Ntt=odor+remover&In=Cat&previousText=odor+remover&N=2023690

Cats usually go for things that smell like you so that you get the point they are angry at you - I would suggest keeping personal things off the floor (clothes, towles, purses, etc). If all else fails it could always be an outdoor cat?!
Good luck!

Answer 8

Check this out:

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/resources/brochure/Housesoiling.html

As for cleaning, enzyme based cleaners work best. Use one without amonia - cat waste contains amonia, and an amonia cleaner will make the spot smell like an appropriate place to go. There are also specialty products available in pet shops. If you have some white vinegar on hand, you can use that until you get something better.

Answer 9

He could have a urinary infection. Ask your Vet for advice on this. You say he is teenaged--is this in cat years or actual age? A cat that is 13 yrs old or more is really more like a senior citizen and it could be a health problem. Also--is he neutered? A cat is less likely to do this sort of thing if he is. Try aproduct called Zero Oder for thr smell--that is what works for us when our cats have accidents. I think they have a website 0Oder.com or something close to that.

Answer 10

i know what you mean i have a older cat as well he don't poop or pee in places but he is picky about things we have a few cats and this one cat will toss his cookies in food tray or water dish so the others won't be able to eat or drink from those areas so your kitty i believe is just trying to see if you are still noticing him to get rid of smell you may have to shampoo and get fabreeze this is what we do when one of our cats spray about the place if that don't work go to your nearest pet store and ask them for something good luck