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Expert: - 9/28/2010


Question
my maine coon is 8years old we have lived in the same place for years.my husband and i go to the lake every other weekend.my cat quit using his litter box and now pees and poops on the couch.he seems healthy and goes outside.is this behavior and what can i do? i put plastic on the cough and he still pees and poops on it

Answer
Connie,

Is your Maine Coon neutered?

It is unclear from your question whether this behavior is only at the lake cabin or all the time, now.  Usually, if there is a sudden change in bathroom behavior, it is either due to a health issue (even if that health issue is not apparent to you) or due to a change in something, like brand or type of litter, an addition to the household, strange cats coming around, etc.

The first thing to do is to get a complete physical by your vet.  Other things you may try is to use a Feliway diffuser in the room where the couch is. You can use "cat Attract" litter mixed with your normal litter. Both of these are available at most pet supermarkets.

In addition, make sure the area of the couch is thoroughly cleaned with an enzyme based product specifically for pet stains and pet odors.

Given all this, it may also be that the couch is beyond hope and a new couch might be warranted. However, I would get it outfitted with plastic slip covers, before brining it into the house.

Please let me know what happens.

Best regards... Norm  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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