Thanks, Deirdre! You are the first person that really seems to agree with me that this is an emotional "acting out" type of behavior! I honestly think that Oliver is doing this as a way of saying "Poop on you!" When ever he gets caught on the counter, in the plants, etc., and scolded --(he hates my finger point, mean face and scolding voice) he tends to poo on the rug in front of the box. One thing I can say I am thankful for, is that he does it consistently in the same spot! I don't have to search for it! But I would like to replace the rug in here. I feel like it is just crawling with germs even though I have spot cleaned it and will use my friends carpet cleaner on it soon. I will wait until after his neuter and check up to make sure he doesn't have anything "wrong" and then hopefully if he can go a month without pooing on the rug, I will try to replace it.