Why is my cat poopoing and peeing where ever she feels like lately?

Question

She is a 7 yr old spayed himalayan that I have had since she was a kitten. She used to pee every once in a while on the carpet but now she is doing it on a regular basis. She also never used to poop outside the litter box but she is doing that now too. I have caught her peeing on the counters, on my bed and on the floor!! And she poops where ever she wants too. I dont want to get rid of her but I dont want a cat destroying my home or my furniture!! I made a vet appt but was just wondering if anyone had any ideas or suggestions.

Answer 1

Your cat may be sick - inappropriate elimination can be a sign of illness. The vet checkup is definitely a good idea.

If the vet says she's OK, you'll need to consider several possible causes. I know it's a terribly frustrating problem (I know, I've been there too!), but with patience and some detective work it can be fixed.

The litterbox may not be clean enough for her. Cats have extremely sensitive noses, and stepping into a box that's the least bit dirty for them is like us having to use a heavily soiled port-a-potty in the middle of a hot summer day. She can't just hold it in and drive to another restroom, so she chooses to go somewhere else in your house. Use a scoopable litter and scoop out any waste twice daily, and wash the box out thoroughly every couple of weeks. Even if you keep her box clean, if it's been in use for a while the plastic may have absorbed odors over time and need to be replaced. Providing her with additional boxes may help too, because it will provide a clean back-up in between cleanings. The ideal number is at least one box for each cat +1, so if you have one cat she'll need at least two boxes, and it wouldn't hurt to provide her with 3, if she's extremely picky about her box.

She may dislike the type of litter you're using, or something else about the box. Some cats have sensitive feet and don't like anything but a soft, sandy litter. Pelleted litters are great if your cats will use them, but some cats don't like them. Some litters are too strongly scented for some cats - make sure to choose an unscented litter, and don't use air fresheners or strongly scented cleaners near her box. Cat Attract litter is great for picky cats - you can find it at most pet supply stores. Is she a large cat? Many litterboxes are too small for a full-sized cat to turn around and go comfortably in - try a jumbo-sized box, or try removing the cover if you're using a covered box. My cats use 18-gallon plastic storage bins with a big hole cut in the side to step in & out.

Are you using a litter mat? Some litter mats have a texture that is uncomfortable for a cat's paws. Try not using a mat and just sweeping up frequently, or if you must use a mat, try a plain carpet one instead of the bumpy or Astroturf-grass style - those are hard on a cat's paws.

Is the box located in an area that is convenient for the cat to use, but private? If the box is very far away from where a cat spends her days, she may not use it. If it's near a noisy appliance, or a high-traffic area where children or other pets may bother her, she may choose to go somewhere else.

Has anything in your household routine changed recently? Sometimes stress can cause a cat to stop using the box. Try to keep to a regular routine for her, and be sure to set aside time every day for play therapy: http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=playtherapyforcats
A Feliway Comfort Zone diffuser may help if the issue is stress: http://www.petcomfortzone.com/czcats.htm

An important note: No matter how frustrated you are, DO NOT yell at your cat, rub her nose in it, spray her with water, or punish her in any other way for this behavior - she's just a cat, and won't understand why she's being punished, and it will just stress her out more and make the housesoiling problem worse. Whenever you find a mess, just clean it up with an enzyme solution from the pet store designed for cat messes, and just keep trying to figure out what's motivating her to go there. You can try placing a citrus-scented air freshener or putting some aluminum foil on that spot to deter her from going there again.

The linked articles below have lots of good info about housesoiling, and how to keep a litterbox so the cat will use it.

If you can't seem to figure it out and find what works for your cat, I recommend contacting a behaviorist:
http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABSAppliedBehavior/caab-directory

Best Wishes!

Answer 2

Your cat could very likely have a urinary tract infection or something similar causing her to avoid the litter box. I'm glad you have made a vet appointment to have the appropriate tests run to rule that out.

Other issues could be that she doesn't like the litter. Give her a few different boxes with differnt types of litter and let HER chose what she likes.

If she was declawed she could also easily associate the litterbox with pain because it hurt her to scratch in there when she was declawed.

She may not like tha placement or the sizze of the box. It could be to small or in a place where she is disturbed while trying to use the box.

Is the box dirty? It should be cleaned twice a day. Cats are loath to use a dirty box and will eliminate elsewhere.

Is the litter scented? Some cats have aversion to scented litter.

Does she share with another cat? The rule is one litterbox per cat plus one.

That should help get you started. Ask you vet for more suggestions.

And PS... spraying the cat with water isn't the answer... it's a bandaid to the issue. There is a reason she's avoiding the box. Spraying her will only make her go do it elsewhere out of site. Find the problem and fix it.

Answer 3

Have you changed the type or brand of cat litter that you are using? Some cats are really picky about litter and changing it will make them go outside of the litter box. Making the appointment at the vet was a good idea. Maybe board her while you get the carpets cleaned. Is it a new house or is there another animal or person in the house. I hope you don't have to get rid of her that would be sad. Himalayans are beautiful.

Answer 4

1. It is imperative to evaluate and rule out a medical cause for the problem. Have your cat checked thoroughly by your veterinarian first.
2. Remove covers from litter boxes.
3. Give the cat a choice of litter types. Cats generally prefer unscented clumping litter with a medium to fine texture.
4. Scoop at least once a day. Once a week, clean the entire box with warm water (no soap) and completely replace litter.
5. Clean “accidents” thoroughly with an enzymatic cleanser designed to neutralize the odor.
6. If the cat is soiling around just a few spots in the home, place litter boxes there. If it is not possible put a box in one of these spots, place the cat’s food bowl, water bowl, bed, and/or toys in the area to discourage elimination.
7. Offer different types of litter in boxes placed side-by-side to allow the cat to demonstrate his preferences for litter type.

Answer 5

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 6

First: Has anything happened in the home that would upset her? Anyone move in or out? Did you introduce a new animal into the house? If nothing has changed you can rule out stress.
Second: Maybe she has a urinary tract infection..Have you taken her to the vet?
Third: If its not stress or health,maybe its time for a brand new cat box and litter. After years of use sometimes a cat will refuse to use the old one any more.

If none of these...Your cat has decided she just wants to go anywhere....

Answer 7

This sounds weird...but maybe she's upset with you? did you move her litter box? change her diet? Get another pet or have a baby? Cat's get easily upset with things like this and retaliate by leaving their gifts all over the place!

Answer 8

Every time your cat does that, spray her with water or tap her firmly on the head. Not much you can do with a pooping cat. You can also reintroduce her back to her litter box by placing her in it and moving her paws in the sand and then place her butt on the dent/hole, you just dug with her paws. That'll work. Do that several times. Good luck!