My Cat Poops on the couch where I sit only

mandyc

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So i'm hoping someone can help me with this.

We have two cats. One is 4 and one is a year and a half orange Tabby (Nova). One of them has started pooping on the couch while we are at work or out for the night, or while we are sleeping. They always poop in the same spot of the sectional. The corner where I always sit. I'm not sure which one it is. But my guess would be that it is Nova our 1 and a half year old is the culprit.

He has done it three time now. We moved our living room around over a month ago, but it just started this past weekend.

First time it happened we thought it was because we had people staying in our spare room where he liked to sleep and was mad at me.

Second time it happened we thought okay maybe it was the littler box. SO we cleaned it, changed litter all that jazz.

I came home from work yesterday and it happened again. All three times have been in the same spot of the couch in the corner where I sit.

He could be mad at me but i'm not sure why. Nothing else has really changed. We are talking about getting a puppy, but I don't really want to get one if Nova is acting out and upset about something.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Any suggestions/advice would be great.

Thanks!
 

lamiatron

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So i'm hoping someone can help me with this.

We have two cats. One is 4 and one is a year and a half orange Tabby (Nova). One of them has started pooping on the couch while we are at work or out for the night, or while we are sleeping. They always poop in the same spot of the sectional. The corner where I always sit. I'm not sure which one it is. But my guess would be that it is Nova our 1 and a half year old is the culprit.

He has done it three time now. We moved our living room around over a month ago, but it just started this past weekend.

First time it happened we thought it was because we had people staying in our spare room where he liked to sleep and was mad at me.

Second time it happened we thought okay maybe it was the littler box. SO we cleaned it, changed litter all that jazz.

I came home from work yesterday and it happened again. All three times have been in the same spot of the couch in the corner where I sit.

He could be mad at me but i'm not sure why. Nothing else has really changed. We are talking about getting a puppy, but I don't really want to get one if Nova is acting out and upset about something.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Any suggestions/advice would be great.

Thanks!
HI @MandyC

Sorry you're having issues with one of your cats pooping on the couch.

i have a few theories on this, and some suggestions and some questions!

1) when presumably Nova pooped on the couch, was an enzyme cleaner, or the proper cleaner to remove animal waste used to clean that couch?? if not, Nova still might smell his waste, and decide to go back there and poop again.

2) what makes you think it was Nova and not the 4 year old cat you have? does Nova have a history of having accidents or going outside of the litter box??

3) I don't think he is pooping because he's mad at you, I think he, if it is Nova, might be pooping on your couch to try and tell you something...cats have such a weird way of communicating. when was the last time he went to the vet and got a check up? that would be the number one thing to do...he maybe be pooping outside the litter box, because He's in pain when he tries to expel in the litter box. He may have now associated the litter box, with pain, and may have begun to avoid it. You might want to see if there are any pee spots any where in the house as well...and those spots would also need to be cleaned with the proper cleaner

4) I suggest taking both your cats to the vet, and having them both checked out. You don't know which cat is doing it, and it may just be the 4 year old. its best to rule out any medical causes in both of your cats.

5) having guests stay over can be stressful for a cat, also moving around furniture could be stressful for a cat. i think both may have stressed one of your cats out...stress can lead to illness, and then eliminating outside of the litter box. maybe after all the furniture has been moved, he's having a hard time recognizing the living room? he could be eliminating to leave his scent behind, and to show that particular territory belongs to him. again, before we assume this behavior is territorial, its best to rule out whether or not this behavior is due to a medical reason/illness.

i hope others can chime in with more tips and advise.  
 

fhicat

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When was their last vet visit? The first step to inappropriate elimination is to bring them in for a vet visit in order to rule out any medical concerns. 

Otherwise, all signs seem to point to separation anxiety. This happens when an insecure cat wants to feel "safe". Some cats are confident, some are a little more insecure. Something has changed in your household -- we may not realize it, but an insecure cat picks it up very quickly. Could even be the guests you had over. Cats don't get mad at us or do things to be spiteful.

One way that they deal with their insecurity is to mingle their scents with their owners the only way they know how -- pee and poop. As you know, cats live in a world of scents. When an insecure cat is feeling stressed, they seek out familiarity and assurance. They may look for objects or places where the scent of their owner is strongest, such as the couch, laundry basket or bed, and they mingle their own scent (via pee or poop) with their owners. This is an extreme method of grooming or licking their owners -- they both serve the same purpose.

Try to be certain who is doing it, because we are dealing with a behavioral issue and thus we want to be specific. Has there been a change in your work schedule? Longer hours? How much playtime are they getting?

The key here is to spend more time with them until the behavior goes away. They will need lots of interaction, love and play while we work on this issue. You want to reassure them that, whatever is stressing them out, you are there for them. Get an old shirt and work out in it until you're sweaty all over. Don't wash it, but present it to the cats. Line their bed with it, or put it near a place they like to hang out. The shirt is saturated with your scent, which should calm them, even when you're not around. 

Play, play, play with them. Talk to them. Read books to them. If you can afford it, invest in an answering machine. Call home and leave voice messages when you are out. Cats recognize their owners' voices on the phone. 

Let us know how it goes!
 

artem

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How many litter boxes do you have? Some cats dislike peeing and pooping in the same box
 
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