How do I keep my cats from peeing or pooping in bedrooms or wrong corners?

Question

The cats were using the litter boxes in the one spare bedroom for 2-3 years, then after the basement was finished, I moved the box to behind the basement, in front of the heater and they kept peeing & pooping in the one finished & carpeted corner of the basement. We now yanked the carpet & refinished the basement, again, with vinyl flooring and they still pooped & maybe peed on it. How do I keep them from doing that, or on carpeted floors upstairs in the bedroom? Second question, how do I prevent the cats from peeing in between the liner & the box?

Answer 1

Hi Jenny...When cats eliminate outside of the litter box it usually could be indicative of a urinary tract infection. Here's more on inappropriate house soiling problems by Cornell University Colelge of Veterinary Medicine of Feline Health: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html

House soiling is the most common behavior problem reported by cat owners. It includes urination and/or defecation outside the litter box, as well as urine spraying.

Why do cats eliminate outside of the litter box?
One common misconception is that cats soil in inappropriate places for revenge. It is tempting to conclude, "He defecated on the living room carpet to punish me for leaving him for the weekend." But this kind of calculation requires sophisticated cognitive abilities that cats aren't believed to possess. Furthermore, this conclusion assumes that cats view their urine and feces as distasteful, when in fact they do not. It is only we humans who view it that way.

Medical Problems
So why do cats urinate or defecate on your bed or carpet? Medical problems are one possibility. Inflammation of the urinary tract may cause painful or frequent urination, inability to urinate, bloody urine, and crying during urination. An affected cat is likely to eliminate outside the litter box if he comes to associate the box with painful urination, or if he has an increased urgency to urinate. In addition, kidney, liver, and thyroid diseases often lead to increased drinking and urination. Inflammation of the colon or rectum, intestinal tract tumors, intestinal parasites, and other gastrointestinal conditions may cause painful defecation, increased frequency or urgency to defecate, and decreased control of defecation. Age-related diseases that interfere with a cat's mobility (for example, arthritis, nervous system disorders, or muscular diseases), or with his cognitive functions can also influence his ability to get to the litter box in time. In short, any medical condition that interferes with a cat's normal elimination behavior can lead to house soiling.

Litter Box Aversions
Behavioral problems, such as litter box aversions, inappropriate site preferences, or urine spraying can also lead to house soiling. An aversion implies that there is something about the litter box that your cat finds unsavory. It could be the box, the litter, the location of the box, or all three.

... please see website for further details.

Consider Nature's Miracle Just for Cats found worldwide at any pet store. It is an enzymatic neutralizer which breaks down urine proteins and eliminates odours after soaking the affected areas thoroughly and then allowing it to air dry. Repeated applications are necessary for heavily soiled areas. This works effectively at cleaning odours and stains deep underneath the carpeting when poured. After the solution is dry you could also steam clean the area, but be sure to pour more Nature's Miracle to pick break down the remain urine proteins.

Here's more on the product itself: http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441775019&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302025596&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023690&bmUID=1164698270251&itemNo=0&Ntt=nature%27s+miracle+for+cts&In=All&previousText=nature%27s+miracle+for+cts&N=2

Citronella spray for pets is an effective deterrent to keep cats away from undesired areas as well.

Answer 2

Make sure you clean up with BIOLOGICAL cleaner ie; the same as you would do your washing with or Biotex mixed with water. A biological cleaner is the only thing that will actually digest the prioteins that are present in the pee. Don't be tempted to use any disinfectants, bleaches or deodorisers as the cart will often be drawn to cover the smell with their own smell!

Citronella oil, available from health food shops etc is very useful as a deterrent. Cats don't like citrus smells and it has the added bonus of freshening up the area. Use only a tiny drop at a time as it is strong smelling and goes a long way. I suggest one drop on a wet cloth or tissue and rubbed onto the soiled area of floor or carpet after cleaning.

Never shout or punish the cat as they don't know what they have done and it serves to make them more anxious which makes them more likely to pee.

You are sure they have not got a health problem such as cystisis? They will often pee in inappropriate places if they have this. One sign is if they scrabble about in the tray a lot and don't pass much urine.

I don't bother with liners-they always seem to get them in a tangle-more trouble I think!

Answer 3

Last year my beautiful Manx cat Theodore went out for the evening and never came back. I love cats and the house didn't feel the same without one, so I picked up Lola from a rescue centre. She was very frightened and would pee all over the house. I found Cat Spraying No More� on the internet and the techniques worked almost immediately. I haven't had a problem with Lola since. Amazing!

Can't stop your cat peeing in the house? Then worry no more...

Answer 4

You need to keep the bedroom doors closed. I know my cats always hated it when I moved the litter box. They dont seem to like it when you change things in their environment. For the cat box liner issue, you may need to get a larger liner that you can have it fold over the edges of the box. Maybe when they are digging in the box they are pulling it away from the edge?

Answer 5

You can put a cookie sheet or flat box with a little dry cat food there, cats dont use the bathroom where they eat. Or try aluminum foil slighty crumpled or something else uncomfortable like pine cones (not pine needles). I also use cheap kitchen bags in my litter boxes..i put the whole bottom part in the bag, put the litter in and put the cover on. this is quick change and cheaper then liners.(im too lazy to scoop i just change whole thing everyday or in summer when needed. good luck

Answer 6

Keep the doors closed, for now, and go to your local pet store and buy this litter, Cat Attract, it smells strongly of a place where the cat wants to go...the stuff is guaranteed to work. I just mix it with the regular litter and my cat no longer goes anywhere else, but in his litter box!

Answer 7

I know you said you don't want the litter box out of the basement because of the smell, but it seems like you're getting a smell anyway! I'd move the litter box upstairs and just keep it very clean. He might just be lazy??

Answer 8

One thing I did, was to get one of those self cleaning litter boxes. They are fantastically easy to maintain, and my cats love it, because their box is always clean. This pretty much solved the problem for me. But, I am sure that they make sprays that repel cats from certain areas that you don't want them to go, and there are also enzyme sprays, that get rid of the bacteria and odor, by consuming it.

Answer 9

try putting the litter boxes where they are going if you haven't already tried that and scoop the poop after they go every time if you can. I have cats too and they won't go in it if there is poo already in it. (are they fixed?)

Answer 10

make sure the litter box is clean and make sure the litter your are using the cat likes and keep the door closed so the cats can't get in
thank you