Help with longtime "potty" problem

Hi--I'm new here, and I noted that some folks have posted similar questions to mine....so please bear with me....I have two male cats (one 8, one 7) who were feral kittens in our neighborhood. Pumpkin and Jack are both big toms now, essentially, which (I believe) is where our issue lies. When my husband moved in, they initially started pooping in his shoes, and on his pillow in the middle of the night. Thankfully, he stayed . I guess they realized he wasn't going anywhere, so now they've just elected to poop in the back rooms, and peeing on ANY throw rug I have down. This (again) is building resentment between the "men" in my household, and like other folks on this board, I've relented to letting them be outside a lot of the day, but back inside during the evening. They do seem much happier, and I have finally let my guard down a little (they stay on the porch and in the yard). We are attempting to remodel our back 2 rooms (new floors, drywall, painting, etc...). I even thought that by removing the old sub-floor and installing a new one, that it would fix the issue. Simply put, their potty issues have really put a damper on my husband's willingness to work on the project (and spend any money on it) because he just feels like they are going to ruin it....I have to say, I'm a little disappointed in them, too...it's a frustrating behavior, especially when all avenues have been looked at (medical, litter box numbers, litter, etc...). What has ACTUALLY worked for anyone on this board? And for a long term.....it just seems like it should be SO simple, and it just isn't. Please don't tell me to get rid of my husband, because I think he's been more than patient.... Thanks for any suggestions you can give.

Are your cats fixed?.. It definately seems like a male territorial thing going on there. They seem to be doing the whole 'marking there territory.'.. If they havn't gotten fixed, then fixing them should cure this whole problem :3

Originally Posted by Zorey

Are your cats fixed?.. It definately seems like a male territorial thing going on there. They seem to be doing the whole 'marking there territory.'.. If they havn't gotten fixed, then fixing them should cure this whole problem :3

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Thanks for responding--
They've both been fixed since 6 mos. of age. Like I said, they're both old boys, now, and this has gone on for about 5 years now...

My friend just started using Cat Attract litter, have you ever used it?

It's been working with her kitten who was also having behavioral issues and repeatedly using her bed and couch as a litter box. Since she got it he hasn't used them once.

Originally Posted by eatrawfish

My friend just started using Cat Attract litter, have you ever used it?

It's been working with her kitten who was also having behavioral issues and repeatedly using her bed and couch as a litter box. Since she got it he hasn't used them once.

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I have never used it--where do you find it? At this point, I'd be willing to try anything. It makes a real point of contention in our house!

I'll second the Cat Attract litter, which can usually be found in pet stores - it's good stuff. Also, I'd strongly recommend trying Feliway, which can be found in pet stores, through some vets, or online. www.feliway.com has info about it.

My oldest cat used to pee on my bed (very frustrating to come home to after a long day at work!) due to anxiety issues, and the combination of the Feliway room diffuser, Feliway spray on the bed (over a tarp at first, then on the comforter when I felt it was safe to remove the tarp), and Cat Attract litter finally solved the problem.

I don't know if you've already tried it, but it doesn't hurt to provide a couple of extra boxes, too - I used to have a foster cat who had been allowed by previous owners to poop all over the house (she'd never been given a litterbox). For her, I put a box or two in every room of the apartment, so she never had to look far for a box - there was always one right nearby, so she knew she had a box & didn't need to poop in the corner. It was a bit of a pain, but it worked - she used the boxes instead of the carpet. I was able to gradually reduce the number of boxes by moving one box at a time (very slowly!) closer to the box I wanted to keep permanently in use, then removing it once it was next to the main box.

And of course make sure you're using an enzyme cleaner to remove all traces of odor from spots the cats have used.

Have you seen the poop problems thread? (click here)

Hope this helps