Cat poops on the floor, and I`m going insane!

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katf

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LDG

Feliway spray,  I looked this up,

What should I do with it to encourage proper usage of the box?

Its interesting, because I think the female may have an over-grooming thing which the site suggests is a sign of stress, though shes very well behaved I'm wondering if it might double to get her to stop coughing up so many hairballs because of grooming too much.
 

ldg

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Spray it at cat head height every few feet around the place, especially where the cats hang out the most, and in the areas he poops outside the box. But avoid spraying it near the litter boxes. If it works, it makes more sense to get the plug-ins. They're just expensive up front if it's not going to work, so best to test it with the spray (which needs to be sprayed every 2-3 days).

It's synthetic pheremones that mimic the "friendly" markers in cats' cheeks. It doesn't help all cats, but when it works, it works. :nod: Given your level of frustration, it's certainly worth trying it.
 
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katf

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I asked, its a different vet, and he seems fine otherwise

Strongest thing I've used is dishsoap
 

ldg

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Sorry, should have said, basically, it's the scent that helps create a calming environment. But it is also a scent that is associated with "this is my space, this is my home, this is a good place" kind of scent - NOT a territory scent, which is what pee and poop are. So it makes the smell "wrong" for territory marking (which is exactly why you don't want to use it near a litter box).

In combination with the Dr. Elsley Cat Attract litter or litter additive - which is a scent that draws cats TO the box - you might have a solution. (We had a cat pee outside the box. Took her to the vet, she got the all clear for any kind of bladder/urinary problems, so we treated it behaviorally. The cat attract REALLY helped!!! In the end, we figured out it wasn't behavioral though. :rolleyes: Her teeth hurt - she was in pain, and that was her way of telling us. Now we get her dentals every six months, and there are no more peeing problems).

And yes, the Feliway may help your girl not over-groom, if she responds to the Feliway. :nod:
 
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katf

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Yeah, I totally appreciate it.

I was hoping to get suggestions like these

It seems the consensus is that I should spray the problem area of the floor and above the cats head with Feliway

get clay non clumping litter, and cat attract additive
 

carolina

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I asked, its a different vet, and he seems fine otherwise

Strongest thing I've used is dishsoap
That won't do any good - you need to clean the spots well with a good enzyme cleaner....
I agree with the declawed paws..... You should get different types of litter, maybe even "yesterday news", a litter made of paper that is specially soft on their paws..... She might be avoiding the box due to pain - it happens quite a bit in declawed cats.
Cat attract helps tremendously, and so does feliway.
How old is she? Can she have arthritis? Is she an older kitty?
Are all the boxes UNcovered? Make sure that at least one is uncovered - that they are not in closets, or laundry rooms, noisy places.....
 

ldg

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No need to spray it on the floor where he's been pooping. I mean - you can try that. But cats have really sensitive noses. The idea is to spray it at the height of the cats' head on walls, furniture, etc. (Just test it before spraying it on chairs or a couch. Doesn't stain anything here). The scent will "waft" about. :nod: Again - just steer clear of the litter boxes.

And I'd still consider adding another litter box with either plain clay litter or Yesterday's News. Just to see if it IS his paws being sensitive.

(And use the Cat Attract additive or litter in the other boxes, or use the additive with clay litter).
 
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... having spent many many many hours cleaning up after the animal and catering to it and a supposed preference for a clean box to no avail and having it randomly use it when its not at its cleanest and not use it after I've scrubbed and refilled it. In fact yesterday I did both this and lavished the cat with a ton of praise and attention, (it used the box the day before that so I was trying to reward it) and yet today after the box was scrubbed the cat didn't use it
That might be the problem--it's too clean.

Please watch this video by Jackson Galaxy about:

Why you should NOT...
- toilet train a cat
- use an automated or self-cleaning litter box
- be obsessive about cleaning your cat's litter box



I would also say that you need to totally chill out--I can feel the hate frustration you feel for this poor baby through your words. Believe me, even though you've kind of "held it together," this little guy can feel it too. I know it is frustrating, but these little beings are not an "it" destined to serve us. There is always, always a reason for behavior that some might think is the kitty paying us back for something, or acting out in retribution, which is NEVER the case. He's probably saying, "Oh no! She cleaned the litter box...where did my scent go?! Guess I'll just have to go somewhere else. <sigh>"
 
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ldg

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Carolina, I think she was referring to what she uses for cleaning the boxes, not the floor.

But that's another REALLY good point. If you have not been using an enzyme cleaner to clean up where he's pooped, you need to. I know he's not pooping in the same place over and over, but buy Urine Off and use that to clean up where he poops outside of the box. :nod:
 

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Carolina, I think she was referring to what she uses for cleaning the boxes, not the floor.
But that's another REALLY good point. If you have not been using an enzyme cleaner to clean up where he's pooped, you need to. I know he's not pooping in the same place over and over, but buy Urine Off and use that to clean up where he poops outside of the box. :nod:
oh, ok.... that's what I was referring to..... the spots - Thanks Laurie :wavey:
 

ldg

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I would also say that you need to totally chill out--I can feel the hate you feel for this poor baby through your words.
Jules, I don't think it's hate. We hear that, and I'm SURE kitty feels it, it's been bottled up for so long, but it can be frustration. I didn't overly stress when Spooky was peeing outside the box because I understood there was a problem we hadn't figured out and I didn't take it personally. But Gary got really sick of the bed and couch being peed on. It can be incredibly frustrating. :nod:
 

whollycat

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Jules, I don't think it's hate. We hear that, and I'm SURE kitty feels it, it's been bottled up for so long, but it can be frustration. I didn't overly stress when Spooky was peeing outside the box because I understood there was a problem we hadn't figured out and I didn't take it personally. But Gary got really sick of the bed and couch being peed on. It can be incredibly frustrating.
I hear ya, Laurie. I crossed out the word hate because it is more frustration, as you say. I was just a tad upset by all the negativity in the posts. Plus, one of my pet peeves is calling kitties "it." So that kinda put me over the edge. Oy...
I should have waited before posting. Thanks for pointing this out, hon.
 

ldg

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Yes, there is an overwhelming vibe of anger that just pours out.

And KatF? You may think you've been "chill" with your BF's kitty, but they can totally feel that anger and frustration. It becomes a difficult cycle.
 
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On top of all the excellent advice above, I want to talk about food for a sec. You say he's overweight, and that his sister tends to overgroom. Those can be indicators that perhaps their diet can be improved, and I'm wondering if maybe he (what's his name, by the way?) is feeling some digestive discomfort, whether constipation or gas or whatever, and that's causing him to poop elsewhere.

So, what do your kitties eat?
 

ldg

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On top of all the excellent advice above, I want to talk about food for a sec. You say he's overweight, and that his sister tends to overgroom. Those can be indicators that perhaps their diet can be improved, and I'm wondering if maybe he (what's his name, by the way?) is feeling some digestive discomfort, whether constipation or gas or whatever, and that's causing him to poop elsewhere.

So, what do your kitties eat?
A REALLY good point - could be causing litter box avoidance. It might also help explain the on-again off-again behavior. :nod: GI pain? Don't use the box. Having a good few days/week, use the box. :nod:
 
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katf

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like i said, i love him, and i certainly wouldn't have him sleeping on my pillow with me if I didn't but hes driving me nuts making me struggle through millions of time consuming solutions, making me think its working than pulling a check mate when i think hes behaving
 
 
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katf

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See like right now, just this very moment I heard the self cleaning box going off, which means that he has used it like 10 min ago, where as he pooped on the floor around 12hours ago

its a bit maddening to try to figure out

perhaps its not my anger that's causing it, since today was the first time i actually yelled at him and expressed my extreme frusteration

they are on vet prescribed diet cat food
 
 

arlo haarsma

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ok another option...I just got back from the vet because my Cher has had issues as well and we have been working to correct them as well.  The vet told me confidence play into a cats willingness to do a lot of things so I am building her a cat tree this afternoon.  Just an idea.  Apparently cats gain confidence from being up high and Cher has no way to get up high right now.
 

ldg

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When were they put on the prescription diet food? When did the pooping problem begin?

Carolina - she mentioned kitty is fat. I think she means one of those high fiber prescription foods.
 
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