Cat Advice/Hints HELP?

Question

I have two cats and when I first got them they were so good about going to their litter box and using it.
Now they have stopped using it all the time, they tend to go on my carpet and only in the same room as the litter box, they will also pee in front of my hallway door.
I can't take it anymore and I don't want to get rid of them.
Is there a reason why they started this when they got older (they are only 1 and a half) How can I get them to stop!!!!!! ANY SUGGESTIONS?????????

I moved into a new apartment when they were about 9 months old, and it started up about 3 weeks to a month afterwards, I can't just move, I am concerned they smell it from other cats before we moved in. I moving out at the end of March do you think it may stop then. i also got a new litter box when i moved but this one looks like the old one and same cat litter only a much larger litter box now.

Answer 1

Hi Brock...if this is something that recently developed, first consider all the possibilities such as:
- changes with litter brands
- location of the litter box isn't private enough
- some cats like to have one box to defecate and another to urinate
- cleanliness (some cats are very finicky and prefer a super clean box)
- as a general rule there should be one litter box for each cat plus one extra as a back up

* kittens who are over 5-7 months can become sexually mature and urine spray as well as defecate inappropriately to mark territory. Spaying/neutering will resolve this if they are not fixed.


If all these have been ruled out, there's a chance that your cat may have developed another underlying medical problem such as something as simple as a lower urinary tract disorder: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_feline_lower_urinary_tract_dis.html which can contribute to accidents outside of the box. Cats will associate pain while using box and change their habits as a result.

Here's an article about why cats inappropriately soil outside their litter box by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: 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 consider visiting the website for further details

Answer 2

Have you changed the type of kitty litter you use? if so change back ... at 1 and 1/5 years old, cats just don't become dirty, you have changed something, are you using any sprays close to the litter box? if so stop - have you added a new pet to the household? try and think of what you changed, just before they started peeing on the floor... what ever it is unchange it....as for needing 1 cat box per cat - thats just rubbish...!

Answer 3

Cats don't like a dirty - or a crowded - litter box. So I'd suggest getting a bigger one, and clean it out at least once a day.
As to peeing on the carpet - whatever you do, DON'T use ammonia based cleaning stuff to clean it up. Ammonia smells like pee, so it'll only encourage them to keep going there. Spray a pet repellant in that area. Also, just to be on the safe side, get them checked out by the Vet for urinary tract infections.

Answer 4

Check this out with a vet as their may be a slight problem, otherwise try and retrain those cats. Lock them up in the the litter
box room and give em treats when their doo doo! hope this helps :)

Answer 5

Clean the carpet, if they go in one spot, they think its ok, smell it again, and go again in or near the same spot. Clean the carpet GOOD!!!! We had this problem with my cats in our old apartment. It got really bad, and stinky! Try a bigger littler box, and try to clean it every day or every other day. Try putting it in a room with no carpet in case they accidentally go next to it then it's easier to clean.

Answer 6

I defiantly agree with Seattle. Having as many liter boxes as cats plus one is a great suggestions as well as his other advice.

Answer 7

your cats are mad at you for some reason you have to figure out why. perhaps they need more attention from you.