I've had MacGyver (male, persian/sphynx) for about a year and 2 months, and he is not much older than that. He is the most well behaved cat I have ever seen or heard of. He pretty muc acts like a dog, ie...comes on command, fetches, etc...
Well here lies the problem. In the past three days he hasn't been using his litter box. He pees and poops on couches and chairs. (pooped on 1 couch and peed on 2 chairs) He doesn't seem sick or anything and he hasn't been through any unusual stress or changes. Is this a common problem and how can it be solved.
Thank you for your help.
2007-06-14 08:39:09 · 35 answers · asked by billgutsky 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
Thank you all for your help. I took him to the vet and he is ok physically. I out his litter box in spot that is easier for him to access and put him in every hour and after he ate/drank. So far so good. Thanks again everyone for the help!!!! So much help, actually, it wouldnt be fair to pick a best answer myself. I'll leave it up to te vote.
2007-06-15 08:45:02 · update #1
He probably feels neglected and is trying to get your attention.
2007-06-14 08:42:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some cats do not like certain litters. Do you clean his box enough? We clean ours once a day. But it sounds like he could be having urinary tract problems. Does he howl when he pees or does he go a lot or very little?
We have a cat who went through having urinary tract issues. They tested his urine and there were crystals in it which isn't good so he was put on a prescription diet (it's expensive). We eventually weaned him off of that and onto Purina One Urinary Tract Formula. He gets other foods here & there too but has had no problems since he's started the special food.
Good luck!
2007-06-14 09:55:36 · answer #2 · answered by Malia 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think the wide variety of answers you have here is a clear indication that you should take the cat to a vet, or at least give a vet a call. How else are you going to know which is the correct advice to follow?
This problem could have a behavioural cause, but before you start to work on this you need to rule out a medical problem e.g. urinary tract infection. Go to a vet to do this!
Chalice
2007-06-14 10:36:44 · answer #3 · answered by Chalice 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Solve Problems with a Positive Attitude!
Posted Tue, Jun 12, 2007, 10:00 am PDT
Cats don't willfully misbehave out of spite, anger, or stupidity. Many owners assume their cats are deliberately scratching the furniture or eliminating outside of the box just to be spiteful, but the reality is that those cats are trying their best to come up with a solution on their own.
Many behaviors that we label "bad" are really just natural cat behaviors. The problem occurs when we don't understand or provide appropriate outlets for the cat. Take furniture scratching for instance. Your cat doesn't claw at the sofa because he wants to cause damage that will, in turn, evoke anger in you. He scratches the sofa because scratching is a natural and necessary behavior. The cat looks for the most convenient, appealing, and sturdy place to accomplish that goal. If the scratching post you bought isn't effective, then kitty looks for the next best location.
The same theory applies to other behavior issues. A cat who eliminates outside of the litter box may be doing so because the litter box is too dirty, too small, filled with an unappealing litter substrate, or the box itself may be located in an undesirable place. And kitty doesn't wake up and decide to urinate on the carpet just so he can get you mad. He urinates there because he feels he has no other choice. The cause may be due to a medical condition that is making him experience pain, or it may be due to unpleasant litter box conditions, or the result of a stressful change in the household.
Before assuming your cat is merely misbehaving, carefully examine the conditions surrounding him in his environment and what you might be able to do to reduce his stress and entice him back toward a behavior more acceptable to you.
2007-06-14 08:42:45 · answer #4 · answered by Jon C 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It's a very common problem; housesoiling is the number one reason people get rid of their cats. The usual procedure is to see a vet to rule out any physical problems first, and then try to figure out what might be going on psychologically.
Like a lot of pet problems, this is almost impossible to diagnose via computer. Good luck, but be sure to take all the answers you get with a grain of salt (including this one!).
2007-06-14 08:44:00 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have 2 cats and neither have had this problem. Is the litter box in a comfortable place for him to access. Is the cat litter you use causing a bad reaction for the cat to be around? I hope nothing bad is wrong. Good Luck.
2007-06-14 08:44:01 · answer #6 · answered by Bo Did 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hmm... Well something with the cat has changed. Whether you rearranged something in the house, changed to a different type of litter, used a new cleaning product..... Its got to be something. There is a reason he has all of the sudden decided to use the chairs and couches as his toilet. Think about it thoroughly, and also check the stool to make sure he isn't sick at all.
2007-06-14 08:43:29 · answer #7 · answered by LifeIsPeachy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is your cat fixed? We have a cat whom did the same thing 9 had a favorite spot on one of our love seats we had to get cleaned) and finally we got the cat fixed and now we have not had any problems with out of the litter box . Our cat is a year and a half old.
2007-06-14 08:44:26 · answer #8 · answered by Shyly 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Make sure the litterbox has clean litter in it, the kind he's used to. I don't think this is uncommon, I had a cat who did this. If the problem goes on for a week, I would call the vet.
2007-06-14 08:44:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
one, get a litter box, that has a top over it and can be closed. Ten minutes after he eats or drinks anything, put him in his litter box, and close it so he cant get out. When MaxGyver goes to the bathroom in his litter box, take him out and give him affection, and maybe a treat. When he goes on the carpet, etc, punish him, by hitting him on the bottom, and yell at him in an angry voice, so he knows it does not please you. I studied dog psychology, and to animals
a high pitched sound means your happy
a low pitched sound means your angry
so use those sounds for when he's good and bad, he'll eventually catch on. thats how i potty trained my bichon frise/toy poodle~ Bichon poo. it works.
2007-06-14 08:47:58 · answer #10 · answered by natalie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
How to take care of that is i have a cat of my own. Her name is Sheba and when we got her over 13 years ago when she was a kitten she used to do the same thing as your cat. Then we kept putting her in the litter box so she would get the feeling of keep going in there. After a while she started using it and from now on she uses it. So when you get this keep putting your cat in the litter box and keep petting it in there to get the feeling of using it over and over again. And talk to it in a swet voice also.
2007-06-14 08:44:31 · answer #11 · answered by colleen t 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋