Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/11/2009

Question
We have a seven year old cat that has always used her litter box, until about a month ago, she has started to poop in the same area on our carpet in the basement, she still uses her litter box, but rarely. I have tried cleaning it almost everyday, yet she still continues to go to the bathroom on the carpet, and we have not moved her litter box, so I have absolutely no clue what to do. Any ideas would be great!

Answer
Alyssa,

At 7 years old your cat is approximately 44 years old in human years and at that age things may start going wrong. She may have intestinal or kidney problems. Or a urinary tract infection. When a cat starts eliminating places other than the litterbox it usually means that the cat has pain when she goes and she associates that pain with the litterbox and she goes elsewhere. You may want to give her an older checkup with a vet that is familiar with geriatric cat care and conditions (not all vets are). She should have the function of her thyroid, kidneys, and liver checked, and also checked for arthritis (which makes it painful to get in and out of a litterbox).

She may also be reacting to a change in the household or something may be upsetting her. Sometimes you need to be a detective to figure out what it could be.

Have you tried a 2nd litterbox in another area of the home? Some cats prefer privacy and don't like to use a litterbox that is out in the open. Try a larger litterbox with deeper litter. Sometimes that will help. Or try using children's play sand that you can get at Home Depot, or other building supply store.

You may want to try putting puppy pee-pads (the ones used for puppy potty training or the human kind they put under older people in their beds when they are incontinent)down next to the litterbox. If she uses that then that tells you it is a problem relating to the litterbox.

There are a number of reasons it could be for her behavior, and since I cannot put all the information into this reply, I am including some links to good articles about improper elimination.  They will have good information that you should find helpful in dealing with your cat's behavior.
(copy and paste or type the whole links into your address bar)

http://cats.about.com/cs/behavioralissues/a/outsidebox_two.htm

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/pointe/9352/litterboxhelp.html

http://www.apbc.org.uk/article10.htm

And also, being prepared and knowledgeable about older cats will make things easier for the cats and for you. For future reference I am including some very good links about elderly cats. (Copy and paste, or type, the whole links into your address bar):

http://www.sniksnak.com/resources/geriatric.html

http://www.messybeast.com/towards-end.htm

http://www.2ndchance.info/oldcat.htm

AND,

here is a 'recipe' for cat odor removal:

1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon of liquid soap

(3% hydrogen peroxide can be bought at most grocery and drug stores in pint and quart bottles).

Gently mix all ingredients in a non-metal container. Do not mix or shake vigorously!

The mixture is best used when fresh but can be stored. Do not keep mixture in an airtight container.  Have a VERY loose lid as baking soda and hydrogen peroxide when mixed together will release oxygen and an airtight container will explode. You can mix and keep it in large spray bottle (Home Depot, etc.) but a plastic liter or 2-liter soda bottle works just a well.

Always test for color-fastness. Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent in stronger concentrations and can lighten materials that are not color-fast.


I hope this answer was helpful.

Tabbi