Do you have any tips to dicourage my cat from using my living room carpet as a litterbox?

Question

she's been doing #1 and #2 on the carpet. it smells disgusting. i can't take it!!! i rarely catch her in the act though. i've tried many ways to deter her. and i've tried many ways to encourage her to use her litter box. she used to use it. the vet thinks she just likes the feel of the carpet better. any ideas?

you guys are great! you all have such great suggestions. I've already done much of what you've suggested in the past. she is due for a checkup, so i'll see if she has any physical problems. now, which do i try first???

Answer 1

This is such a tough problem that so many cat owners have. There are a lot of things that can cause litter box aversion, but to start with, you need to confine the cat to a room that easy to clean up just to avoid the problem while you are working on the fix. Clean any areas she pottied with an enzyme cleaner from the pet store.

If the vet has taken a look and hasn't found a urinary tract infection or anything of that sort, then you are good to start looking toward behavioral problems.

Some cats are VERY picky about their litter box. Some cats potty in public areas to get your attention or due to stress so ruling out any changes to environment, lifestyle, schedule, company, etc. are very important. Some cats really don't like change.

For the litter box issue, changes in the type of litter (clumping, clay, pine, etc.), fragrance, texture, using or not using a litter box liner, a covered or uncovered box, changes in where the box is, etc. can all be causes of a problem, depending on the cat. If you have made a change, go back to the way it was. If you haven't made a change, maybe you need to. Some cats don't like pottying in a litter box that is even in the slightest bit dirty, so you may have to provide more boxes or clean it more often. More cats like a sandy litter with no fragrance, an uncovered box and no liner, but there are some that like other litter boxes. Also, make sure the litter box is really easy to reach. The cat shouldn't have to run an obstacle course or find the farthest corner of the house to take a leak. She might just decide it's easier to go in the living room. But the box shouldn't be in a place that is too public. Cats like a little privacy, too.

Another thing you should try is either a litter additive or specialty cat litter called Cat Attract. It is supposed to lure cats to the litter box.

Last thing to remember, be patient. it may take a while to figure out what the issue is and get your cat back in the habit if it's a behavioral problem.

Answer 2

I think Lauren_M really has the best approach - you need to experiment with things to find what the reason is for you cat _stopping to use the litterbox_. (As it's abundantly clear why she likes the carpet).

Closing the cat away from that carpet is the first step. She needs to learn that carpet is not an option. But you don't need to be rough about it...

Try to put your cat on scheduled meals (so you will sort of know when she will produce stool, at least), and closet yourself with cat and litter in a bathroom at such times - until he uses the litter. Whenever she does, praise her and pet her, so she knows that's what she should do. Vary the litter type to see which one is more inviting...

Check out some more info at www.perfectpaws.com and www.catsinternational.org (articles), there is some pretty good advice.

Answer 3

Did the vet do any blood work or a urine analysis? She may have an infection.
Try Nature's Miracle (at pet stores) for the stains. Also, Urine-off, Urine Gone work great.
Clean the area with something that will remove all the smells. Cover the area and a large perimeter with aluminum foil, they don't like to walk on it and will deter her.
Try moving the litter box to where the accidents show up. Leave it there a week or so, then move it gradually (over another week or two) back to where you want it. If the accidents recur, start over.
Be patient. Cats respond slowly to anything that is not their own idea.
Good Luck

Answer 4

Id switch her litter to Easy scoop by Arm and hammer its very soft for cats. Id also do what answer 3 has done was to lock her up in the bathroom with litter box and or a place that is small that you can leave her litter box and food,water in. Also you need to find when she does it and rub the stuff in her face, Push her face into it and say No. Put her up into that special place and lock the door. Clean the mess up with a warm rag soap and water. Make sure you have her litter cleaned out everyday. Also my cat uses tidy cat which makes her aware that its clean when it smells clean and looks clean. Our cat is not fixed so we have had a few accidents and she knows If she does pee she is back into what I want to say is the hole. I give the hole that special place that I put her in when she is bad and at night so I don't step on her by accident. Ive heard spraying febreeze or powders that are for the carpet will make a cat less likely to pee there. So make sure the house is clean too so she doesn't smell her litter in the carpet and try to make her rounds around the house. Easy scoop get it and see what she does. Make sure she knows shes done wrong when you make her rub the stuff in her face and lock her up for a day. See the difference. Its just like raising kids except the punishment for disobeying is less.

Answer 5

I HAVE POSTED THE SAME QUESTION! What I have done with by brat cat (never had one like him) is every night, I put him in the bathroom, close the door, and wait for about half an hour. He always uses the bathroom. Now, I have just learned to accept that he will never compete for the box with my other cat! He is on special food and shouldn't have this problem. The carpet is enticing because of the texture, and it is hard as anything to get that smell out, isn't it?! Well, try doing what I have done. It's better than getting rid of her, and my hopes are that eventually your cat, as well as my own, will just "go" where they should!

Answer 6

Get 2 litterboxes, they like to pee in one and poop in the other, try unscented cat litter. Some cats hate the smell of cat litter. Tidy cat has a new scoopable one out, it has on the carton, new, TidyLock on the right upper side as you are looking at it and it don't smell. Give it a try. And steam clean that carpet with cleaner and vinegar and then again with cleaner to rid the vinegar, it will go away then. Good Luck.

Answer 7

To deter the cat sprinkle the carpet liberally with ground black pepper, this doesn't harm them. It DEFIANTLY teaches them to not sniff around there, and if they don't sniff they don't go.

Now to get rid of the smell that is left. Ammonia and water (1cup per gallon of water) let it sit for a couple of hours and suck it up with a steam cleaner. If the smell persists let the solution soak longer, I've had to leave it on for a whole day once, but it was the only thing that took away the smell, not just covered it. REMEMBER do not smell the fumes.

Answer 8

Maybe your cat doesn't like the litter. Try putting the litter box in the living room and moving it out a little at a time.

Answer 9

use vinager all over the carpet (test it in a small area first) then let the vinager soak in. it will remove the amonnia smell from the carpet. then you have to use a carpet cleaner (rug doctor etc.) to remove the vinager. it will remove the smell from even the cats detection. the cat keeps going in there because it smells like a litter box. if you clean it right it won't smell like a litter box at all.

Answer 10

I've never owned a cat that didn't use the litter box!
Is your cat spayed? If not, perhaps she is in season and this is her way of marking her territory so that the tom cats can find her? And if that isn't the problem, I'd confine her to an area of the house with her litter box and not let her out of that area until she did learn to use it!