Expert: Dear Tabbi - 9/27/2008

Question
Hello...  I know that there was a question similar to this but not quiet the same.  Here it goes.  Me and my husband adopted a kitten back in may, with me being pregnant I was worried that she would have troubles with not getting all the attention once the baby came since she is a very clingy so I got her a friend.  I adopted a 2 year old cat from the human society and everything went great, they hit it off right away.  About a week after I got him he started spraying, this went on till I could get him fixed a couple weeks later.  I just finally rid my house of the nasty smells a month ago.  I was very pleased that he had stopped, he only did it one more time after getting him fixed.  But now...  He is pooping right outside the laundry room where his litter box is rigth where the carpet starts which also just so happens to be right in front of my bedroom door.  I bought a second litter box, and it helped for about 2 days but then he started back up again.  If I am in my room or out of the house he will not use the litter box to poop.  I dont know what to do.  I scoop the litter boxes 3 times a day and even though its the pellets and it says you don't have to, I deep clean the boxes every week.  I thought maybe its a seperation thing but I can't let him in my room since the baby is due next month and its not safe for the baby, so I haven't let them in the rooms at all since I got either of them.  And even if I am doing so much as taking a shower he will do it.  I thought maybe territorial marking but my female has never urinated or anything on the carpet and we are the only people that have ever lived in our house since it was just built.  I need help.  I dont want to have to rehome him but with the baby coming and my husband deployed its only causing more stress.  Please help me.        Mrs.K

Answer
Melissa,

The first thing I would do is get rid of the pellets and get a clumping cat litter like Tidy Cat. Cats do not seem to like to use the pellets, maybe because of the hard feel of them.

The cat probably sprayed one more time because it takes about 30 days for the testerone to leave their body.

I am including some excellent articles about pregnancy and introducing cats and babies that you should find helpful:
(copy and paste, or type the whole links into your address bar)

http://www.sthuberts.org/petpouri/articles/catmeetsbaby.asp

http://westwoodanimalhospital.com/BhvArticles/Infants,%20Children,%20And%20Cats....

http://www.petplace.com/cats/helping-your-cat-and-new-baby-get-along/page1.aspx

I hope this helps.

Tabbi