Intentional Accidents...

Hello to cat-people everywhere!

Got a real puzzler of a question for you. My 80+-year-old mother has, at this late stage in her life, learned the joy of living with a cat. She has fallen madly in love with a "gift cat" that at first she didn't want. Now, they're inseparable.

That's the good part. The cat in question is about 8 years old and, according to Mom, completely in charge. (It's been my experience that most cat owners feel this way). The little darling (I' m still referring to the cat, here) has one behavioral problem that nothing seems to resolve. At least once a day, she poops on the floor right next to her litterbox.

Usually this occurs first thing in the morning. However, it may or may not also take place later in the day. Otherwise, she does her business in the box without any difficulty.

Mom keeps the litterbox clean, so the cat isn't protesting using one that's filthy or overflowing. The animal's actions are baffling. Has anybody had to deal with this or similar problem behavior? If so, what did you do about it? All serious thoughts and suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

Has the cat been to the vet? Have you seen this posting?


http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=22301

It could also be possible that the cat has really bad aim. It might not like to poo where it pee's either. Having two litter boxs in diffrent locations would be a good idea. Going to the bathroom outside of the box can also be a sign of health concerns so a check up at the vet might be in order. Good luck with her, she sounds like a sweet cat.

Many thanks to both Cirque and Hissy for the words of advice. I''ve forwarded a couple of the suggested links to my mother, so hopefully something good comes of it.

From what Mom says, this is definitely a planned act on the part of Muffin, the cat. She has no problem using the litterbox whenever she so chooses. Her "accidents" are deliberate actions. The vet gave her a clean bill of health a few months ago, so it doesn't seem likely that we're looking at a medical situation. From all appearances, it seems to be behavioral; the question of why this is so has yet to be answered.

FWIW, this is a very loving cat when it comes to Mom and older women in general. However, when younger folks come into the house, they are treated to a less-than-welcome display. Lots of hissing, and Lord help the one who tries to pet or otherwise mollify her. Such reports convinces me that something happened to the animal when it was a kitten or young cat that traumatized her. I think most would agree that this is abnormal behavior. Without any evidence to back me up, I suspect there's some sort of connection between her hostile stance with young people and her pooping problems. Maybe, maybe not.

In any event, I appreciate your efforts and will post an update if and when the situation changes. With a little luck, I'll be reporting that not only is she using the litterbox each and every time, she's reached the point where she's cleaning it out herself!

Cats have a long memory, and if they have been abused or traumatized by males, they will be fearful in their lives of males, the same goes if small children have hurt them.they will go and hide.

I would add another litter pan to the area. If the pooping is being done right after a visitor has left, it is quite possible that the cat is stressed and marking his territory by leaving his waste out. It is so ingrained in them to bury their waste, but when they do leave it out, it is either due to illness or territory marking. Is he spraying as well?

Originally Posted by hissy

Cats have a long memory, and if they have been abused or traumatized by males, they will be fearful in their lives of males, the same goes if small children have hurt them.they will go and hide.

I would add another litter pan to the area. If the pooping is being done right after a visitor has left, it is quite possible that the cat is stressed and marking his territory by leaving his waste out. It is so ingrained in them to bury their waste, but when they do leave it out, it is either due to illness or territory marking. Is he spraying as well?

Click to expand...

I appreciate the further thoughts, Hissy. I'm going to make a point of suggesting a second litterbox to be placed in the general vicinity of the first.

To clarify, Muffin the cat is an 8-year-old female. So, there's no spraying, and I've not heard of females marking territory. Assuming this is true, then I think we can safely rule those possibilities out. For the record, she seems to react badly to most people who are youthful. When my 40+-year-old sister, a confirmed cat lover if ever there was one, goes to visit Mom, Muffin hisses and spits at the sight of her. Yet, she cozies up to older women. (When Mom travels, Muffin stays with a neighbor woman who is near my mother's age. They get along beautifully, although Muffin still has displayed her bad litterbox habits at the neighbor's residence, too).

Most of the time, Mom will discover Muffin's "little gift" when she first arises in the morning. The "package" will be on the floor a couple of feet from the litterbox. Sometimes, the cat gives a repeat performance during the day or evening. Other times, she goes exactly where she should ... in the box. Mom has told me that a few times when Muffin has used the box, she kept an eye on the cat (without being intrusive). Muffin does her business without any strange behavior being evident. In other words, she'll poop in her box, cover it up in a cat-like fashion and that will be that.

I wish there was a simple answer that precisely defines the message Muffin is sending. At this point, it's all guesswork with a very elusive solution.

Females can and do spray, if there are other cats in the vicinity, they will mark their territory just as males do. Even if they are spayed. If Muffin hasn't been to a vet in over a month, I wouldn't rule out a health issue, because litter pan accidents can be related to health.It is one way the cats get out attention quickly.

Adding a second pan or even a third, or just going to a larger pan (not a litter pan) but more of a larger plastic tray may work. You can also go and get a computer mat- the type that goes under your computer chair, and set the pans on this mat (just to make cleanup easier for the hits and misses).

Might there be a noise that spooks your mums cat? Just Today, for example, Molly was in the box, and the trash collecter came and scared her... this cause her to scramble out of the box, leaving a present just in front of her box.

I would definitely try a second box. Some cats will not urinate and defecate in the same box. I have one who is so fussy about a clean box that if there is just a tiny particle of soiled clumped litter from a previous use left, he won't use it. Thankfully, though, he informs me in his very loud voice that there is a problem, rather than going outside the box.

Please let us know if your mother is able to find a solution.

Once again, I want to thank those who took the time and made the effort to generously offer solutions to the ongoing problem. I'm forwarding your comments and suggestions to the mother in question, with the hopes that one or more of them makes a difference. You can bet I'll be posting a full report if and when Muffin clues in to what most of us would consider "proper pooping behavior."

The community-at-large here has made me feel very welcome, and I appreciate the friendliness and sincerity I've encountered from the very start. When time permits, I may post a story or two about my now-deceased "little guy" called Ajax. Like every other cat owner in the world, I'll state for the record that he was one-of-a-kind and very special. I maintain he actually had a sense of humor that kept me in stitches for as long as he lived.

Again, I thank you one and all.