WTF to do about this cat?? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Sue · 01-07-2008, 05:37 PM

I'm getting super pissed off at my cat. Ever since I bought a new bathroom rug, which has been, oh, about more than a month ago, my cat Noelle has taken it upon her to SHIT directly on my rug.

I don't know WTF her deal is. She has a perfectly clean litterbox right in front of the damn thing. She GOES IN THE LITTERBOX. But what the hell? Do I need to clean her box after she only goes ONE time?

I've gone about 2 weeks tops without her leaving her dookie on there. I'm afraid that if I put the rug up somewhere she'll choose to shit on my BEDROOM carpet instead, or worse, ON my BED.

I'm getting so f'ing frustratred about this, and I don't know WTF to do short of giving her up for adoption, which I REALLY would not like to do, since I've had her for 9 and a half years.

Should I take her to the vet and see if this could be a physical issue? I don't see why it would be though, seeing as how she DOES go in her litterbox.

ARRGHHHH.

Shauk · 01-07-2008, 05:42 PM

Sue · 01-07-2008, 05:48 PM

They sure as hell aren't rainbows.

maleficent · 01-07-2008, 06:03 PM

some cats are picky about how clean their litter box is - try scooping it more often -and make sure that the rug yhas been cleaned and sanitized sothat it doesn't smell like a place she's gone before...

surferlove007 · 01-07-2008, 06:29 PM

Wow my parents personal hell as well.
My cat Lady Michelle Lump-A-Lot, yes that's her name. Also the thing that tipped me off was her age. Michelle is 11 years old which your cat is in the same range...they're veterans in the cat world. Anyways...

My parents have some very expensive hand-woven oriental rugs, probably several thousand a piece and when they got 3 younger cats (her juniors by 9 years) Michelle just started peeing on these rugs. Oh and then when they took the rugs away she started peeing on the bed, on my dads side since he was the one scolding her...dunno if she was doing that on purpose. My mom pretty much gave up on the idea of having nice rugs until she dies. Fortunately...the vet gave some much needed information which I will share with you!

Last time I went to the vet and asked him why she's been peeing everywhere. He said that there are entire seminars are why cats do this. It typically is a case with older cats. They do it to mark their territory sometimes. Some other options he told me was that her litter box was being guarded by another cat (if you have another cat this might apply to you) and that she needed atleast 2 extra litter boxes for herself that were not being guarded by other cats or animals. Also he said putting citrus smelling things such as certain cleaners around the rugs the cats will stay off them. (Think orange peels, lemon peels, those sorts of things.I believe they make citrus sprays that could work too. My dad ended up putting some of the goo be gone stuff on paper towels and sticking them underneath the rugs and it worked well with the Christmas tree.)
He also said it was because she might be borderline diabetic and with those cases they have less bladder control along with intaking a lot of excess water. So maybe keep and eye on her water intake.

What I did was put two extra litter boxes upstairs in places for her and she has stopped going on the rugs. For the longest times my parents were determined it was her revenge on them for letting me leave to go to school. So...those are just some things to consider.
Also some cats will only go ONCE in the stupid litter box, then it needs to be cleaned out again. If this is the case...get a litter maid auto cleaner. One of my sisters cats was that way and it was weird.

Overall these sort of things are soooo hard and frustrating.

Some questions that would help are....
Is she the only cat there?
Where is the litter box located?
Does she drink a lot of water?
Is she fixed?

Hopefully that will help a little...I just recall my poor parents complaining about the cat crapping on the rugs and destroying them and then ultimately I get the blame.

**Double post**

Willravel · 01-07-2008, 06:32 PM

I have a recipe for cat tartar. It's incredible.

Sue · 01-07-2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghoastgirl1

Some questions that would help are....
Is she the only cat there?
Where is the litter box located?
Does she drink a lot of water?
Is she fixed?

1- yes
2- next to my toilet in my bathroom since my apartment literally has no other place to put it. seriously.
3- Just the norm. amount for cats.
4- yes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by willravel

I have a recipe for cat tartar. It's incredible.

Hm. Does it taste good with chicken??

surferlove007 · 01-07-2008, 06:52 PM

Well..I know it sounds kinda gross but its been working out great is we've been putting the litter box in the bathtub. Although if that's the only bathroom that might not be ideal.
Since she's the only one then I'm not too sure. Perhaps it's the litter? We use tidy cat clumping litter and it works great as well as minimizes the smell. Try the citrus and see if that helps?

Elphaba · 01-07-2008, 07:12 PM

Older cats do not like changes to their routine, large or small. The addition of kittens is huge, whereas the addition of an area rug might only be a big deal because it is located near the cat's potty place. When cats are irritated, they will punish you with bad behavior. I think that if you remove the rug, your cat will return to using the box.

Onery little beasties.

*Nikki* · 01-08-2008, 07:52 PM

I am shocked to think that one would give up a cat for adoption because of pooping on a bathroom rug.

Makes more sense to:

A)Take cat to vet
B)Get different bathroom rug or do without one

ratbastid · 01-08-2008, 08:06 PM

I've got a similar problem. We moved StellaLuna's guy Shadow in with us about six months ago, and he's great and sweet and nice and all... and the little bastard uses my office as a bathroom. There's a particular corner, right next to the piano. If I put ANYTHING in that spot, he pees on it overnight. So far he's peed on:
- A backpack
- A guitar equipment bag
- A sweater
- An authentic Mexican sombrero
- My leather computer bag

We weren't sure which of the four cats it was, so last night I set a towel down in the "bathroom" and aimed my computer camera at it and set it up to record on motion-activation and we BUSTED him!

Stella bought a ($30!) bottle of cat chiller-outer pheremone stuff. I sprayed down another towel and left it in the "bathroom". I'll leave the camera trained on it again tonight, we'll see what happens.

JStrider · 01-08-2008, 08:07 PM

try adding more litter to her litter box?

If my cats dont have at least a few inches of litter one of them will use the tub next to the litter box...

Crack · 01-09-2008, 06:16 AM

Put her litterbox on the rug where she pooped. after a few days of it being there, move it back to the place that it was before. She will take the clue. Very simple solution, 99% degree of success!

ratbastid · 01-09-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratbastid

Stella bought a ($30!) bottle of cat chiller-outer pheromone stuff. I sprayed down another towel and left it in the "bathroom". I'll leave the camera trained on it again tonight, we'll see what happens.

He fucking peed on it. God damn cat.

surferlove007 · 01-09-2008, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratbastid

I've got a similar problem. We moved StellaLuna's guy Shadow in with us about six months ago, and he's great and sweet and nice and all... and the little bastard uses my office as a bathroom. There's a particular corner, right next to the piano. If I put ANYTHING in that spot, he pees on it overnight. So far he's peed on:
- A backpack
- A guitar equipment bag
- A sweater
- An authentic Mexican sombrero
- My leather computer bag

We weren't sure which of the four cats it was, so last night I set a towel down in the "bathroom" and aimed my computer camera at it and set it up to record on motion-activation and we BUSTED him!

Stella bought a ($30!) bottle of cat chiller-outer pheremone stuff. I sprayed down another towel and left it in the "bathroom". I'll leave the camera trained on it again tonight, we'll see what happens.

I have a cat named Shadow too!

Cynthetiq · 01-10-2008, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratbastid

So far he's peed on:
- A backpack
- A guitar equipment bag
- A sweater
- An authentic Mexican sombrero
- My leather computer bag

is it now more authentic?

maybe that particular cat is unhappy in some manner with the situation with 3 other cats. Shadow didn't get consulted when Stella decided to move in with 3 other cats.

ratbastid · 01-10-2008, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cynthetiq

is it now more authentic?

maybe that particular cat is unhappy in some manner with the situation with 3 other cats. Shadow didn't get consulted when Stella decided to move in with 3 other cats.

Well, it's funny. He spent his first couple months holed up in Stella's bedroom. She had a box and food in there for him, and that was his place. In the last couple months he's gotten more and more relaxed with our other animals (somewhat less so with the dog, but he'd never seen one before). He and our littlest guy Jack are best pals--they wrestle and sleep together. It's adorable, one black and one white like a yin-yang.

Our oldest, Nochi, doesn't much care about any of them. She's into outdoor adventure, and mostly ignores the others. The second oldest, Floyd, is just a raving bitch and hates everyone and everything--particularly Jack and Shadow.

These days Shadow will come sit with us on the couch, he's explored the whole house, has no problem getting to the basement where the (four!) litterboxes are. There aren't any boxes on the ground floor (where my office--sorry, Shadow's bathroom--is) or upstairs (where the bedrooms are). And yet if there's anything other than bare floor in that spot next to the piano, he'll piss on it during the night.

surferlove007 · 01-10-2008, 09:29 AM

I also had the idea that perhaps other cats might have left their scent on certain spots before a person has lived there and it never goes away making them feel territorial about it such as extra scratching or pissing.
Yea we have 4 litter boxes, 2 upstairs and 2 down and sometimes they still go on the stupid rug.

01-07-2008, 05:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sue Teufel Hunden's Freundin Location: Westminster, CO	WTF to do about this cat?? I'm getting super pissed off at my cat. Ever since I bought a new bathroom rug, which has been, oh, about more than a month ago, my cat Noelle has taken it upon her to SHIT directly on my rug. I don't know WTF her deal is. She has a perfectly clean litterbox right in front of the damn thing. She GOES IN THE LITTERBOX. But what the hell? Do I need to clean her box after she only goes ONE time? I've gone about 2 weeks tops without her leaving her dookie on there. I'm afraid that if I put the rug up somewhere she'll choose to shit on my BEDROOM carpet instead, or worse, ON my BED. I'm getting so f'ing frustratred about this, and I don't know WTF to do short of giving her up for adoption, which I REALLY would not like to do, since I've had her for 9 and a half years. Should I take her to the vet and see if this could be a physical issue? I don't see why it would be though, seeing as how she DOES go in her litterbox. ARRGHHHH. __________________ Teg yw edrych tuag adref.

01-07-2008, 05:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sue Teufel Hunden's Freundin Location: Westminster, CO	They sure as hell aren't rainbows. __________________ Teg yw edrych tuag adref.

01-07-2008, 06:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	some cats are picky about how clean their litter box is - try scooping it more often -and make sure that the rug yhas been cleaned and sanitized sothat it doesn't smell like a place she's gone before... __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

01-07-2008, 06:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
surferlove007 Junkie	Wow my parents personal hell as well. My cat Lady Michelle Lump-A-Lot, yes that's her name. Also the thing that tipped me off was her age. Michelle is 11 years old which your cat is in the same range...they're veterans in the cat world. Anyways... My parents have some very expensive hand-woven oriental rugs, probably several thousand a piece and when they got 3 younger cats (her juniors by 9 years) Michelle just started peeing on these rugs. Oh and then when they took the rugs away she started peeing on the bed, on my dads side since he was the one scolding her...dunno if she was doing that on purpose. My mom pretty much gave up on the idea of having nice rugs until she dies. Fortunately...the vet gave some much needed information which I will share with you! Last time I went to the vet and asked him why she's been peeing everywhere. He said that there are entire seminars are why cats do this. It typically is a case with older cats. They do it to mark their territory sometimes. Some other options he told me was that her litter box was being guarded by another cat (if you have another cat this might apply to you) and that she needed atleast 2 extra litter boxes for herself that were not being guarded by other cats or animals. Also he said putting citrus smelling things such as certain cleaners around the rugs the cats will stay off them. (Think orange peels, lemon peels, those sorts of things.I believe they make citrus sprays that could work too. My dad ended up putting some of the goo be gone stuff on paper towels and sticking them underneath the rugs and it worked well with the Christmas tree.) He also said it was because she might be borderline diabetic and with those cases they have less bladder control along with intaking a lot of excess water. So maybe keep and eye on her water intake. What I did was put two extra litter boxes upstairs in places for her and she has stopped going on the rugs. For the longest times my parents were determined it was her revenge on them for letting me leave to go to school. So...those are just some things to consider. Also some cats will only go ONCE in the stupid litter box, then it needs to be cleaned out again. If this is the case...get a litter maid auto cleaner. One of my sisters cats was that way and it was weird. Overall these sort of things are soooo hard and frustrating. Some questions that would help are.... Is she the only cat there? Where is the litter box located? Does she drink a lot of water? Is she fixed? Hopefully that will help a little...I just recall my poor parents complaining about the cat crapping on the rugs and destroying them and then ultimately I get the blame. Double post Last edited by surferlove007; 01-07-2008 at 06:35 PM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

01-07-2008, 07:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
Elphaba Deja Moo Location: Olympic Peninsula, WA	Older cats do not like changes to their routine, large or small. The addition of kittens is huge, whereas the addition of an area rug might only be a big deal because it is located near the cat's potty place. When cats are irritated, they will punish you with bad behavior. I think that if you remove the rug, your cat will return to using the box. Onery little beasties. __________________ "You can't ignore politics, no matter how much you'd like to." Molly Ivins - 1944-2007

01-07-2008, 05:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Shauk Confused Adult Location: Spokane, WA

01-07-2008, 06:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I have a recipe for cat tartar. It's incredible.

01-07-2008, 06:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
surferlove007 Junkie	Well..I know it sounds kinda gross but its been working out great is we've been putting the litter box in the bathtub. Although if that's the only bathroom that might not be ideal. Since she's the only one then I'm not too sure. Perhaps it's the litter? We use tidy cat clumping litter and it works great as well as minimizes the smell. Try the citrus and see if that helps?

01-08-2008, 07:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
Nikki ~~~~~~~ Location: Charleston, SC	I am shocked to think that one would give up a cat for adoption because of pooping on a bathroom rug. Makes more sense to: A)Take cat to vet B)Get different bathroom rug or do without one

01-08-2008, 08:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	I've got a similar problem. We moved StellaLuna's guy Shadow in with us about six months ago, and he's great and sweet and nice and all... and the little bastard uses my office as a bathroom. There's a particular corner, right next to the piano. If I put ANYTHING in that spot, he pees on it overnight. So far he's peed on: - A backpack - A guitar equipment bag - A sweater - An authentic Mexican sombrero - My leather computer bag We weren't sure which of the four cats it was, so last night I set a towel down in the "bathroom" and aimed my computer camera at it and set it up to record on motion-activation and we BUSTED him! Stella bought a ($30!) bottle of cat chiller-outer pheremone stuff. I sprayed down another towel and left it in the "bathroom". I'll leave the camera trained on it again tonight, we'll see what happens.

01-08-2008, 08:07 PM	#12 (permalink)
JStrider Poo-tee-weet? Location: The Woodlands, TX	try adding more litter to her litter box? If my cats dont have at least a few inches of litter one of them will use the tub next to the litter box... __________________ -=JStrider=- ~Clatto Verata Nicto

01-09-2008, 06:16 AM	#13 (permalink)
Crack Misanthropic Location: Ohio! yay!	Put her litterbox on the rug where she pooped. after a few days of it being there, move it back to the place that it was before. She will take the clue. Very simple solution, 99% degree of success! __________________ Crack, you and I are long overdue for a vicious bout of mansex. ~Halx

01-10-2008, 09:29 AM	#18 (permalink)
surferlove007 Junkie	I also had the idea that perhaps other cats might have left their scent on certain spots before a person has lived there and it never goes away making them feel territorial about it such as extra scratching or pissing. Yea we have 4 litter boxes, 2 upstairs and 2 down and sometimes they still go on the stupid rug.