I need help

[Samantha Puppy]

Some of you may remember my problems with my cats that began last July with them pooping just outside of their litter boxes. (Actually, I say "them" because there are four total and I'm not sure who's doing it. NOT all 4.) Nothing we did stopped it - we removed the covers. Still went outside. We tried scooping 3 times a day. Still went outside. We changed litter. Still went outside. It also became not just poop but pee outside too (on carpet, so that area of the carpet is RUINED). It FINALLY stopped after Aidan was about 6 weeks old and lasted about 6 weeks before it started back up again... this time in earnest.

Only now they're not going *just* outside the litter boxes (which are in the basement). At least one of them (I've only caught Kimi red-handed, so I'm not sure if it's just her or if someone else is doing it too) has now started peeing in our kitchen. NOTHING keeps her from doing so. Not Feliway, not bleaching the area, nothing.

I don't know what else to do. I'm at my wit's end. It was bad enough when it was just contained to the basement but it's spreading now. Aidan is 5 1/2 months old and will be crawling within the next few months. I can't have him crawling in cat waste! And who knows where they'll start going next!

I LOVE MY CATS. I love all my animals. But I can't deal with this problem with a newborn in the house, and more children to come in the near future! I could never take them to the shelter any time, but especially during kitten season! I burst into tears at the thoughtof letting them go, even if I knew they'd be going to a good family, but I really don't know what else to do. We've followed advice here, we've followed advice from their vet. NOTHING WORKS. I work from 8am-2pm and when I come home, Aidan takes up a majority of my time. If no preventative measures we've taken have worked so far, I can't just follow them around all evening to stop whoever is doing this stuff in the act!

What do I do? Can anyone help me? What would you do in my predicament (new baby, ongoing cat problem with NO solutions and it's getting worse)? This has been going on for the best part of a year and it's just getting worse. I'm so upset and frustrated, I don't know what to do. I love my cats (I think it's the girls) but I just can't deal with this anymore. Help!!!!

[catfamily]

And the vet's ruled out sickness?Gosh that's so horrible if it's behavior habits.If they were sick it would be easier.Medicine and then all better.But behavior problems I wouldn't know how to deal with it.Their are some great people on pettalk that know a lot about it.I hope they can help.How about some stress meds from the vets?

[allmypets615]

Have you tried cat attract? It's a litter box aid. Maybe a bigger enclosed box? I haven't read your former posts, so please forgive any repeat suggestions!
Maybe crate or put the offender into a spare room until they can prove they can have run of the house.
Missy

[catmandu]

Thats Very Sad As That Is The Number One Reason That Cats And Dogs Are Brought To Shelters.
And Because They Have To Inform Potential Adopters These Pets Are Often Pts.
I Wish I Had A Solution, But All I Have Are Prayers.

[Samantha Puppy]

Thats Very Sad As That Is The Number One Reason That Cats And Dogs Are Brought To Shelters.
And Because They Have To Inform Potential Adopters These Pets Are Often Pts.

I know... that's why I absolutely cannot do that. I've tried everything I can, sickness has been ruled out, but I just can't have them peeing and pooping wherever they please and having my child(ren) crawling around in it. I am not throwing in the towel yet, I don't think, but if anyone here would be willing to possibly take 2 of my 4 if it just doesn't end, that's about the only situation I'd be comfortable with... And even the thought of that brings me to tears. I just don't know what else to do.

[Cataholic]

First, I would keep in mind that you are probably at the most hormonal, tiring, exhaustive phase of motherhood. Not to minimize any of your problems, but, "this too shall pass".

Next, it does sound behavioral. Not medical, assuming the ruling out of anything medical was fairly recent. How many boxes, how are they situated, what kind of litter, ect. While maybe 1 year ago your cats didn't care what/when/why/how, maybe they do now.

There is a book out that talks about cat's bathroom behaviours. I can't recall the name of it, but, I read it and it was insightful. Maybe you can google for it?

As for Aiden crawling...well, you have dogs, cats, and I presume you wear your shoes in your house? Cat poop is probably the least of his worrys. Not saying it is pleasant, and certainly not desirable, but, I think working up to an artifical deadline (Aiden crawling) is just putting more stress on you. Who knows, maybe he will be like Jonah, and not crawl, just walk?

[Samantha Puppy]

Okay, so I covered over the area she had been peeing in so she couldn't any more. I thought, for some reason that if it were behavioral, she wouldn't want to pee anywhere, just in that one specific spot. Not 5 minutes ago, I caught her peeing in another location in the kitchen. Would this be an indication of anything to you cat experts? I caught while she was peeing, yelled "KIMI!!!!" and stamped my feet, but she didn't stop until I swatted her with a brochure I was holding.

Any thoughts?

[Catty1]

Well, there's the unscented litter mentioned recently. Give her an unscented box as an option while covering up the usual place. Also, Moosmom (I think it's her) SWEARS by a really good and inexpensive pet psychic. Maybe PM her and see if she has the info.

Maybe she does it for the attention?

hugs
Catty1

[catfamily]

My Vet told me about a woman who specializes in problem Behavior in pets Diagnosis and treatments.
She's here in Maine.She charged me 30.00 for every half hour on the phone.(I only needed 1 half hour...we talked fast)She's very good.You call her,make an appointment,then send her a check or whatever how you pay and then she sets a time for you to call and the half hour begins.You tell her everything and she talks quick to answer so no money is wasted.She helped my cats in the past for different things.She talks to people all over the world she said.
Tell her Carla O'Donnell of Casco Maine sent you from Pettalk.Or petoftheday.com

Here's her info:

Karen K. Cambell
43 Cumberland Ave.
Portland,ME 04101
tel(207)761-4785
tel(207)773-9594
fax(207)773-4452

I'm sorry I didn't mention it before.I have so many things going on here that I forgot about her.She's very nice.

[Killer Kitten]

I made myself a cat room. I took a spare bedroom, ripped out the carpeting and installed a laminate flooring and those rubberized institutinal type baseboards.

Then I made sure the screens in the windows were very secure. I ripped out the closet and installed shelves they could climb from one to another to easily, with a ramp leading from an opening in the lower shelf to the floor. I painted the walls with a high-gloss and very washable paint.

I removed all of the furniture. The only furniture in there is a pair of cat trees, a washable cat cubby that holds 4 cat beds and 5 litter pans. I bought a bunch of washable cat beds and I change them out and wash them when they become soiled. Lastly, I replaced the bedroom door with a screen door so the cats can see and interact with us. I put a latch on the door at 'adult height', so children can only get into that room while supervised.

I bought a 'dining station' to hold their water bowls and one of those large metal 'puppy dish' feeders for their dry food. We put down canned food twice a day in disposable dishes, and just throw the dishes away when the cats are finished with their canned food.

The cats feel very secure in their room, and I no longer worry about accidental escapes when I have a party or any work being done on the house. I also have the marvelous benefit of being able to enjoy my (way too many) cats without constantly finding unpleasant 'surprises' all over my house and trying to figure out who did it.

Don't discount the notion of a special 'cat room' out of hand. It's been a life saver for our household and our cats actually seem healthier and happier since acquiring their own territory.

[Samantha Puppy]

Appreciate the thought, but we have no place for a cat room. We have a two bedroom house, both of which are occupied by humans, a living room, a kitchen, an office, and storage space in the basement that is filled.

Update: Kimi hasn't peed in the kitchen since Wednesday. We upped the amount of attention she was getting and since then, no pee. We had an appointment for her this morning so we even put out little receptacles in the kitchen that she'd peed in before... and nothing. If she does it again, I'll take the sample in immediately and get her an appointment... 'til then, maybe extra attention is all she wanted! (Which makes me mad - it's not like we ignored her before!!