My cat has a bit of a problem..
By ABrokenNail
@ABrokenNail (77)
United States
February 19, 2009 7:33pm CST
My cat who is a little older than a year, likes to go to the bathroom in weird places. He sometimes does it on the couch, but he prefers to do it on towels and clothes in the bathroom, on rugs, RIGHT next to the litter box, or anywhere else he can find. No matter how many times I clean the litter box or leave the top off for him he only goes in it 1/10 times. I think it may be that he is a mainecoone and the litter box may be too small for him so he doesn't want to get it stuck to his tail or something. Have any of you experienced any of this with your cats and do you think there is anything I can do to divert the situation? I do not really want to punish him because I will feel bad if I do.
3 people like this
7 responses
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Is this something he has just started doing? If yes, have you changed his food or cat litter recently? If its recent maybe he needs to be taken in to the vet for a check up. Cats can get urinary tract infections which can often lead to them urinating in odd places. I recently had to have one of my cats put to sleep because of this. No amount of meds seemed to cure her. If he has always done this then it may be hard to get him to use one now.
@ABrokenNail (77)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I usually get different cat food so my cats have different variety but I usually get the same littler all the time. It has been happening for a while, and I thought it would eventually stop but it hasn't so now I am trying to do something about it. He does not make noises like he is in pain, so I did not think anything was wrong internally.
@TessWhite (3146)
• United States
20 Feb 09
Unlike dogs, cats won't usually make noise when in pain unless its really severe from a car accident or such. Frequently changing your cat's food can cause problems - according to my vet. I'd suggest picking a good quality food, they even have one for urinary tract health and sticking with it. And a check up if things don't improve. I've had alot of cats in my life - have four now - so I've dealt with these issues.
@ABrokenNail (77)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I will try that out, hopefully it will change his behavior. If he is in pain I want to stop it immediately.
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I would suspect a urinary tract infection as well. My cat will sometimes go on the bathroom rug or a pile of laundry if I leave some out, but that is usually an indication she wants me to clean the litter box. However, it doesn't sound like that is the case with your cat. If you have many cats do you have a litterbox for each cat? Could be a territory problem, could be that one cat that is going in the box is encouraging that cat to go elsewhere. You fix could be as easy as setting up another litterbox in one of the "other" places this cat has found to go.
@ABrokenNail (77)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I have 2 other cats. I wonder why it does not affect them. They do share a litter box. I do not get why he chooses to go in it sometimes. I will try this out if not changing their food does not help him.
@nancyrowina (3850)
•
21 Feb 09
My cat was doing the same thing and it turned out she had a urinary tract infection it is main cause of this kind of thing, it's not that expensive to treat either I changed her food to one that contains ingredients "for optimum urinary tract health" and it's all better. She only does it now if the litter box is too dirty for her liking, fussy little madam.
@fifileigh (3615)
• United States
21 Feb 09
my cats, current and late, automatically knew how to use the litter box naturally.
i think maybe after he eats his food. wait for him when he finishes and place him in the litter box to get him used to it. most cats go to the bathroom after they eat. do it a couple of times, consecutive days, so he gets the picture. and see if he improves.
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
21 Feb 09
I have a female mainecoone, and she sometimes does the same thing. She hasn't done it in a while now, which I am glad.
I have two cats, and if there is something in the box she won't go. My husband is constantly scooping poop because she won't go if something is already in there.
She used to go on the rug in the living room, I would clean it up real good, and spray the rug in order to change the scent, she would then find another place.
Like I said she has not done it in a long time.
Maybe it is something with the mainecoone breed, my other cat doesn't do it, he always uses the box.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
21 Feb 09
have you discussed it with a vet? im not sure. i had one that sometimes did that and i had him fixed and that seemed to help. i think he did have some problem that was taken care of with meds. i hope someone can give you good advice here. i would say clean with vinegar as that stopped my dog. but dont know if it works with cats.
@melanie652 (2524)
• United States
20 Feb 09
My first thought is the same one a couple others have mentioned - a urinary tract problem. Either an infection or cystitis. He should be seen by a vet as soon as possible.
