I know there's been many threads on this and I've posted about this before but I've tried everything and I'm at a loss. I have two 6-year old female cats (sisters), Pansy and Tulip. My bf and I moved into a new house at the beginning of August. Tulip has always occassionally pooped outside the box (for probably the last 3 years), any health problems have been ruled out. She seemed to do it before when I was away overnight. When we moved, she was doing every morning on the concrete right outside her box. Other than that, she seems to love the house (so much more space than my one-bedroom condo).
I cleaned the spots with an enzyme cleaner, I tried using Cat Attract litter. Using that litter seemed to help for a day or two. They have two litter boxes, I scoop them every morning. It doesn't seem to matter how dirty the boxes are, she always does it in the morning. I thought we had figured out the problem because she seemed to stop doing it for a while.
We recently adopted a puppy. We put up a baby gate at the top of the stairs so our cats have the entire basement and the next level up (we have a 4-level split), which is the family room, to go without being harrassed by the dog. Since then, Tulip has been pooping outside the box again. I've been working on introducing them to the puppy slowly but everytime the dog goes near them, they hiss (even through the gate). The puppy just wants to play so if the gate isn't up, she chases the cats.
Anyway, I bought a feliway difuser for the basement (near their boxes) and some more Cat Attract litter. This helped for a day or two but she's still doing it. I'm at a loss. I don't know what's left to do. I feel guilty if I have to go away and ask someone to come feed them because they will, no doubt, have to clean up poop off the floor...and no one wants to do that.
Any suggestions? I know she's probably stressed with all the changes this year. Maybe I need another box, or to try and spend more time with them? Pansy seems fine, no changes in her behavior at all.
Thanks.
I cleaned the spots with an enzyme cleaner, I tried using Cat Attract litter. Using that litter seemed to help for a day or two. They have two litter boxes, I scoop them every morning. It doesn't seem to matter how dirty the boxes are, she always does it in the morning. I thought we had figured out the problem because she seemed to stop doing it for a while.
We recently adopted a puppy. We put up a baby gate at the top of the stairs so our cats have the entire basement and the next level up (we have a 4-level split), which is the family room, to go without being harrassed by the dog. Since then, Tulip has been pooping outside the box again. I've been working on introducing them to the puppy slowly but everytime the dog goes near them, they hiss (even through the gate). The puppy just wants to play so if the gate isn't up, she chases the cats.
Anyway, I bought a feliway difuser for the basement (near their boxes) and some more Cat Attract litter. This helped for a day or two but she's still doing it. I'm at a loss. I don't know what's left to do. I feel guilty if I have to go away and ask someone to come feed them because they will, no doubt, have to clean up poop off the floor...and no one wants to do that.
Any suggestions? I know she's probably stressed with all the changes this year. Maybe I need another box, or to try and spend more time with them? Pansy seems fine, no changes in her behavior at all.
Thanks.
