Help! Kitty misbehaving!

[adamjai]

Hello everyone! You've all helped me before when I've needed advice, and I need some now.

Our one and a half year old spayed female Poomba has recently started using our basement as a litter box. We have seven indoor cats, the last three joining us in April, and only this week she has started occasionally going down there. She gets along with all of our cats but one, and she's lived with that one since she was a kitten. All of our cats have always been VERY good about using the litterbox, we've never had even one kitty go somewhere else even one time. We have three litter boxes, all of which get cleaned in the morning and again after work, and this was working up until about five days ago.

Does anyone have any ideas as to why she's doing this now? My husband thinks it may have something to do with the houseplants I've brought in that were outside all summer, but they've been in for a couple of weeks now and last year she didn't do this after I brought them in.

ANY ideas would be helpful? Is it the plants? Does she just want another litter box down there? Help!

[KittyLuver21]

My cats are doing the same, they are sisters and they pee on everything!!! This has been going on for like 2 months. The vets says it is misbehaveor *sorry*

[Medusa]

Boy, I can sympathize w/ya. I was ready to toss Specs out the door! Dr. LeBeau did tell me, however, that normally a cat won't spray where it eats. So he said to put food dishes, even if they're empty but just have the scent of food on them, in front of where he's been spraying, which is my new dining room sideboard. I did that and I've been down all on fours sniffing and feeling around and it appears that he hasn't sprayed there. He was also spraying on my new entertainment center but I don't think he's sprayed there lately. So what am I supposed to do? Put food dishes all over the flippin' house? Anyhow, he also gave me a couple of weeks worth of a medication called Domicalm, at least that's what it looks like it says. The handwriting is difficult to decipher and they're gone for the day, so I can't ask anyone there. I just started him on it yesterday, so I can't honestly report anything one way or the other but I'll definitely keep you posted. Oh, he also said that most cats hate aluminum foil so to put aluminum foil where the cat would walk, even under his food dish if you're putting one there to stop him from spraying. So much for having a house decorated the way we want, eh? Food dishes and aluminum foil. Lovely. Very feng shui.

I hope this helps you somewhat.

Blessings,
Mary

[barncat]

If another animal marked any of the plants you brought in, your husband may have a point. She might be making her statement in answer. I have a large cat family and some do want more privacy... Is there a possibility of putting a box for her in the basement? (Sometimes it is easier to accomodate than to change...)

You should also rule out any health issues. While it is mostly toms that get crystals, it can happen to females and there are other infections that can occur.

Good luck.

[carterscutie85]

Did you change the type of litter lately? That could be why. I know my cat Thomas absolutely refuses to use Tidy Cats. He used to pee on alot of things when I bought some cheaper cat litter but then I started buying Scoop Away and I haven't had a problem since.

[mruffruff]

I have seven indoor cats -----and 8 indoor litter boxes. I understand that the rule is one box per cat, at least.

I'd definitely put one in the basement if I were you. I know it's a hassle to go down to scoop, but the cat may stop using it after a while so you wouldn't have to do it for long.

JMHO

[enienay]

Hello everyone!
I'm brand spanking new to this forum and I just had to reply to this post. My 2 year old cat Maya has developed the bad habit of peeing ON MY BED! Now I know she's trying to tell me something by this but I can't figure out what it is! I've been giving her all sorts of attention and love but that doesn't seem to fix it. The litter and the litter box location haven't changed for 1 year and I didn't add any new family members (people or pets) to my household. I now have a plastic shower curtain over my bed when I'm gone but that can't be a permanent solution!
Please, if ANYBODY can help... I don't want to have to give her away!
Thank you,
Nina

[Jessika]

Hello everyone!
I'm brand spanking new to this forum and I just had to reply to this post. My 2 year old cat Maya has developed the bad habit of peeing ON MY BED! Now I know she's trying to tell me something by this but I can't figure out what it is! I've been giving her all sorts of attention and love but that doesn't seem to fix it. The litter and the litter box location haven't changed for 1 year and I didn't add any new family members (people or pets) to my household. I now have a plastic shower curtain over my bed when I'm gone but that can't be a permanent solution!
Please, if ANYBODY can help... I don't want to have to give her away!
Thank you,
Nina

Has she been to the vet??? Cats can't talk and tell us when something is wrong with them or if they're sick, so this is their only way of alerting to us that they may be something else wrong. If a trip to the vet rules out any possibility of sickness, then it could be more behavioral issues.