My dad is threatening to get rid of our cats if nothing changes.

So, we live in a 5 person household- sister, brother, parents, and me.

About 6 years ago, a few years after our old cat died, we got a cat from a shelter. She was a domestic longhair, who was in a cage (most cats roam free in the shelter, and only a few were in cages).

Everything was fine, although she was bitey at times. However, as she got older, she got calmer, and now she really doesn't bite much- if at all.

Cue two years ago, when my parents agree to get my sister a cat for her birthday. We ended up getting another female kitten, a domestic shorthair.

It was bad pretty much from the start. The new kitten quickly became an introvert, hiding in crawl spaces and tunnels we never knew existed. They would get into huge fights quite often, but after a year the fighting was minimal.

Soon, however, the cats started urinating and defecating on floors, beds, you name it. We're still very sure it's only the younger one doing this. We contacted our vets, who suggested we get Feel-Away.

Didn't work.

They suggested getting a second litter box.

Didn't work.

Then they said to get a third litter box.

Didn't work.

We kept all the litter boxes in one room, in our basement, where we have our washer-dryer and keep our tools and such. The vets suggested we move one of the litter boxes, so we did, to my sister's upstairs bedroom.

Things finally got better there, until my dad decided she shouldn't be living with a litter box in her room and moved it back down to that same room. This was two days ago. They pooped on their bed last night.

Now, my dad's threatening to get rid of one of the cats. I think the problem is territorial in some way, and moving the litter box gave the little cat a safe haven of sorts, but my dad says that "they just don't like each other. It can't be fixed."

I figured that since you all know much more about cats than I do, that you all might have a suggestion that my dad would work with. As long as it means the litter boxes stay in the basement, and it isn't expensive, he'll be willing to go with it (I hope).

Thank you so much in advance. I really don't want to have to get rid of any of the cats, but at this rate, it seems like that's the only thing that's going to happen.

Thanks again! :lol3:

Are the litter boxes readily and easily accessible 24/7 to the cats? Maybe closed doors are preventing your cats from going to the boxes.

Are they in perfect health? A health problem can cause improper toilet behavior.

One cat has been with your family for more than 6 years, the other one was a "gift" 2 years ago. Did you explain to your dad that the kitties are valued as part of the family?

How were the cats introduced to each other? Even this late you can try re introducing them http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats  which might lessen the friction between them and become happier cats.

Animals of any variety reflect the energy of the household in which they live. If a household is stressed or chaotic, the animal will behave similarly. Cats, more so then even dogs, may develop behaviors that -- to humans -- seem puzzling and/or frustrating. Certainly, eliminating anywhere but a box is one such behavior. So, one thing you may want to look at is how the folks in your household feel about having pets and whether the cats feel comfortable and secure. This isn't meant as a slap at anything in your household. What is normal and even healthy for humans, may be different for a cat. Many times when a cat feels uneasy or insecure, she will begin eliminating in inappropriate places. Since you report the cat always being somewhat insecure and her biting behavior, perhaps the eliminating is part of a similar cause. 

In my house we have three permanent resident cats and two resident dogs. Because we also do some rescue work, we often have additional animals. My dogs grew up with cats and behave well around our residents. But some new cats find the dogs intimidating and become upset when the dogs approach. Once a new cat has passed the quarantine phase, (for safety reasons) s/he is integrated into the household. To keep everyone happy and secure, we make sure the cats always have a place to go that is closed to the dogs. My resident cats don't often go away from the dogs, but sometimes the new cats feel better when they learn the dogs can't come near. I know this isn't your issue, but the approach and primary issue are the same: your cats aren't feeling comfortable or secure, for some reason. The marking, inappropriate elimination and the biting are often signs of stress. 

Is there a reason why the cats are kept in the basement away from the family? Cats are social creatures and don't do well shut away from the family. At the same time, they like having their own safe space away from any chaos or upheaval. If the improper elimination is the main issue and occurs primarily when the cats are locked in the basement and then released, have you considered giving the cats a less removed spot? One possible thing to try is a cat cage where the cat(s) can be in with the family, but not given access to eliminate in unsuitable places. This may help the cat adjust and learn to use the litter box while feeling secure. Cats reflect the energy around them: if the energy is stressful or insecure, the cat is probably going to feel this and behave accordingly.  

When a new cat arrives here, we introduce her/him to the litter box [Again, after they are released from the health watch stage] and feeding station. But when a cat shows signs of insecurity or unease, I usually place a second or third litter box in an area where the cat tends to hide. In our case, the space is always the dog safe room. If the new cat begins eliminating outside the box, s/he goes back into the cat condo (cage) for a week or so. The condo is in the family room, by a large window and made very comfortable. This isn't isolation, merely a chance for the cat to adjust to the household. This has worked very well for us. Of-course, the beauty of the condo is the cat cannot go anywhere but the litter box. We find the cats quickly adjust to the household energy and when released, no longer show signs of stress or confusion. The key is not to treat this adjustment period as punishment and to make sure the condo is placed where the cat can see people and any other pets.