Cat troubles?

Question

I have two cats; Jabba (male) and Tippy (female). The cats like each other, but every now and then one of them, my husband and I are really sure it is Tippy, goes to the bathroom on the floor. We keep their litter boxes (we have 2 of them) in the bath room. The boxes can be clean and one of them will decide to use the floor. Its not like they are using the floor somewhere else int he house, they have only had 'accidents' in the bathroom, no more than a foot from their box. And we have no idea how to stop this and I'm getting completely fed up with it. They have the best of everything and they get non-stop attention and are spoiled rotten. But about every other week for a few days, sometimes more often, they will poop on the floor. Have had to get rid of all rugs in the bathroom and have cleaned the floor with everything imaginable, including bleach. I would hate to get rid of her, but I think it might end up being that way, unless I can get some uselful advice. PLEASE HELP!!

Jabba, the male is 4 and Tippy is 2 and they are both fixed. We don't punish them for using the bathroom, but they have been punished for using the floor as their bathroom. They have no disease, they were just recently at the vet and have a clean bill of heath. And we have tried to re-train her to use the potty, and she will she and he will do fine with the potty for a few weeks and then their will be an accident. We have bought new boxes(without a lid, they wont use them if they have the top) and we have tried tons of different litters, and it doesn't matter which one we use, it sitll happens. And to imply that I don't love my cats because i thought about getting rid of her is horrible. I love my cats, but we have a baby on the way (have had accidents before i was pregnant as well as after) and can't be having a cat pooping all over the place with a little one.

Answer 1

Hi Jessica...I hope I can provide some helpful suggestions to get your little guys improve their potty habits. Because the questions can limit the ability the learn as well as share all the necessary details to determine the problematic causes and to provide solutions I will try to assume any possibilities to consider likely reasons as well as some helpful retraining ideas.

My first concern would be to determine if there's a likely chance that a medical reason is the cause for the inappropriate soiling. A veterinarian can take a urine sample to see which cat could have a urinary tract infection (UTI)/bladder infection, which isn't uncommon. I strongly encourage by having this test done soon because if left untreated it could develop into a kidney infection which is very painful and at times could cause lifetime problems with inappropriate soiling habits. Therefore, the sooner she's treated it may stop the inappropriate soiling habit as well.

But for now in order to determine which cat for certain is inappropriately soiling your home it is best to continue isolating them into a small room with their litter boxes (food and water as well) until they consistently use the boxes. Please don't fret by keeping both in this small room awhile longer (such as a bathroom). As long as you provide them food, water, fun toys and attention they will not become bored or neglected. The reason it's best to confine cats sometimes they may need a liter box re-training time. Furthermore, with another cat who does use the box consistently it may teach the other with weak potty habits good litter skills as well.

While they are confined to the small room it's imperative to remove the urine/feces odour stains with a neutralizer product such as Nature's Miracle (PetSmart or Petco). If any hint of the odour remains cats will continue to mark this area to cover it up repeatedly especially male cats. Ideally these areas will need to be soaked deeply and thoroughly in order to remove all of the odours as animals can smell even the slightest lingering odours which humans cannot detect. This product is considered to be environmentally friendly and effective if used as instructed.

Some cats do not like certain type of litter brands. Perhaps, try experimenting with different ones to see if this helps alleviate the accidents. Another possibility is that some cats don’t like boxes that are covered whereas others don’t like it openly exposed. Again, it doesn’t hurt to experiment. Be sure to take up the floor rugs/mats in the bathroom (e.g. Hang the bath mat over the edge of the tub after you've cleaned it with the odour neutralizer) to remove the familiar triggers to the bad habits.

As a feline trainer I have found that any time a cat has an accident it is best to not scold or punish a cat in any manner—not to imply that you are doing this. The reason is that they will associate that whenever they need to go potty they will be punished for the act that nature intended rather than understanding it is WHERE they are going potty that is bad. Cats are unable to separate these two ideas so it's best to quietly clean up the accident and reward the kitty with favourite food treats whenever you catch them using their litter box. This way they learn that the box is a fun place because they'll be rewarded with yummy treats. This method can also be applied to train cats to scratch appropriate places versus bad places...whenever they scratch somewhere you do not want touched pick them up quietly and place them to the scratch post/toy and reward with food treats. It's a guaranteed method if done repeatedly while they are young.

Are the cats young/old?...have they been spayed/neutered? At the earliest (average being much later) cats can begin feeling the hormonal urge to mark with urine or feces at 5/6 months.

Aside from the above suggestions there are also products such as Feliaway to help calm stressed felines, which sometimes may or may not work. Diet can also play a role. These additional ideas however don't control the inappropriate soiling effectively as well as isolation into a small space and having a UTI exam. They are only supplemental in nature.

It's wonderful that you are trying to learn how to best resolve the inappropriate soiling early. I hope you will take into consideration some of the above suggestions.

Answer 2

Ignatia is the homeopathic remedy for grief. You can purchase a vial of pellets (30C) from a health foods store. Get an amber bottle with dropper at the same time. You put four or five pellets in the bottle and fill it with filtered water. When the pellets are dissolved tap the bottle about ten times and put a teaspoon of the liquid into 1/4 cup of filtered water. Give your cat a dropperful of that liquid then discard it. Give another dropperful the next day - taking a teaspoon from the amber bottle again and mixing it with another 1/4 cup of filtered water. You should have enough still in the amber bottle to use the third day. Misty needs to eat something in the next day. Try some baby food from the grocery store - chicken or turkey are best. The baby food must have NO ONION or garlic powder so read the labels carefully. See if Misty will eat something from your finger and feed her a fingerful every several hours till she will eat on her own.

Answer 3

Any change in litterbox behavior can mean illness - a cat's way of getting your attention along the lines of "Ma - I don't feel good!"

Adding a second box might help but you absolutely do need to get a full checkup, blood, and urine analysis for both your cats.

When your baby starts crawling, be sure to keep her behind a kitty gate to keep her away from the cat box area.

Answer 4

It's really unusual that they would use the floor instead of the box. Since they obviously go to the boxes when they need a poop, there must be something that actually turns them away. You mentioned that you have two boxes; maybe one of the cats is using both of them. Or maybe they are too close together. Also it sounds like you ought to put down some newspapers in the bathroom till you get it resolved.

Answer 5

Cats tend to exhibit this behavior when they have an infection or worms. Time to take the cats to the vet. Good luck!


Also: If you suspect worms, don't buy the crap at Walmart... it doesn't work! Go to the vet and get the right medicine (it's usually like $13...)

Answer 6

Ask the vet for advice.
Also-how would you feel if people used your faults as a reason to "get rid of you"? You can't care for the kitty very much if a little pee/poop leads to that.

Answer 7

they could possibly have a infection or are stressed or sometimes they just deside that they dont like the litter especially ones with purfume like fresh step try natures miracle full strength if it happensagain then call your vet it could be a territory thing if they arent fixed

Answer 8

Put 2 kitty boxes beside each other, in the bathroom... it is just a domineering thing... also try newspaper around the boxes - this will save your floor and carpets...

Answer 9

Take them both to the vet but it sounds like one of your sweeties is marking territory. Could be the male. A vet will know.

Answer 10

we used to have a cat that would sometimes 'over-shoot' his litterbox.....he thought he was doing fine, but his butt hung over the edge during business-time.....we got a litterbox with taller sides, and that solved the problem