Older cats careless about using litter

Hi, First of all, NEVER rub their noses in the mess they've made. You should also not scold them some time after they have made the mess, because they won't understand why you are scolding them. What you -can- do, is pick them up when you notice they are about to "go", and put them in the proper place. If you catch them while they are doing their business in a place they shouldn't, scold them lightly (don't alarm them) and as soon as they are finished, With older cats, a common thing I've noticed is that they can develop anxiety, OR infections. Some older cats experience anxiety and start to relieve themselves in places they shouldn't. Similarly, cats who have a urinary blockage or infection will relieve themselves outside the box. To see if it's behavioral, psychological or medical, you have to rule some things out. Have you changed their litter type or box position lately? Have any changes been introduced to the household (moved things around, new people, new pets, people moving out, etc.)? If there has been no change, the next step is to clean the litter box(es) daily. Maybe they have become really picky and don't want to share the box anymore, or want it to always be clean and filled with clean litter so they have lots of room to dig. If that still doesn't work, it may be an infection or anxiety, and your best bet is to call/visit the vet. Cats do not "go" outside the box to spite you or ruin your house. There is usually something wrong, some change, frustration, or other external causes that make them do this. As a result, it's really important that you do not hit them or rub their noses in it. Especially if you come home to see the mess - you don't know when they went, and they won't understand why you're being mean. I hope that helps. We've been in a similar situation before and it turns out that our cat had a urinary infection. My friend's cat was doing the same thing but his problem was anxiety, and the vet put him on a light dosage which fixed the problem. Good luck with figuring things out, and hopefully your kitty can go back to doing business as usual! :)

I'm not sure but seems I read or heard some place that cats (and dogs) suffer the same as humans when they get older they have a difficult time controlling things - wonder if they make depends for cats :( It is also very difficult once even 1 cat makes a mess accident or not it's really hard to keep other cats from marking the same spot or following the same bad habits.

I thought I'd responded to this discussion several days ago so I sincerely apologize for taking so long! One thing I can tell you is that larger male cats, especially when they get older, are more prone to urinary tract infections. For that reason my daughter only gets the kind of cat food specifically for that problem. "Nine Lives" has one and it's reasonably priced. Also, if you have three cats, you probably should have at least two litter boxes. I currently have six cats and four boxes. Also there are cat and dog repellents - "Keep Off" is the one I've used successfully - you can spray wherever you don't want your cat to "go", or scratch or be or whatever. It actually works pretty good but you have to use it consistently for a few days before they get the hint and stay away even after it's worn off. The bottom line is I hope if the problem persists and if you think there may be a medical problem with one or more of your cats that you take them to a vet. You can tell if they're healthy or happy but I'm just saying don't take chances with their urinary health because that's a leading killer of older cats and can usually be easily treated. Good luck and PLEASE let me know how you make out. I'm a big time cat lover so I'm already very worried about your babies! Annie

I have that problem with one of my furry buddies. If I don't clean the box daily and make sure there is plenty of litter in it the one will do number two on the floor. He likes a clean litter box. Of course I agree because he had burned his feet when I first got him, he inadvertently jumped up on the wood burning stove when there was a fire in it. That left his feet very tender and if he has to wade through the clumps of urine it re-burns his feet. I always make sure that there is at least three inches of litter in the box and that the box is larger than the ones made for cats. It gives them more room to do their business and they don't feel so confined. Also, if the cat does do it's business on the floor, don't rub their nose in it. Cats are very sensitive to smell and very clean animals...rubbing their noses in their eliminations is offensive to them and can aggravate the situation. As I always think, would I like that done to me? I gather the cat and take it to the mess, show it to them and chew them out. It seems to work. Also if you catch them in the act, squirt them with a shot of water from a bottle and then put them in the litter box and pet them and praise them. To remove the odor from carpet, use Nature's Miracle. It's available from pet store chains and it is wonderful for eliminating the odors and repulsing the cat or dog from reusing the spot again.

Messes like just outside the box? Or just anywhere in the house? Has anything changed in the house to stress the cat out? We tried sprays, pheromones, all kinds of things. What ultimately helped us was putting another litter box down in a new place, keeping the boxes clean and an electronic device (from planeturine.com) that makes a sound they don't like and keeps them out of certain areas.

I have the same problem with one of my cats. First off, keep the litter boxes clean. Clean out any clumps daily. Wash out the box once a week. Use baking soda to help with the sticking issue. If the box isn't clean enough for their standard they won't want to use it. This is a lot of extra work but it'll be worth it in the long run. When your cat makes a mess on the carpet, scold them right away. Be sure they understand that you won't tolrate that type of behavior. Retraining a cat can be time consuming, but well worth it. After rubbing their nose in it and scolding them put them in the litter box and gently explain that is where they need to go. and leave them alone. Fallow thease steps and the animals should re-adjust to using the box.