Expert: Karen Craft - 1/20/2011

Question
Hey !
So, we have a female cat who is about 6 years old. We jsut got a new cat this may and he is about.... 9 months old. About 3 months ago, the kitten (we suspect)started to poop on my brothers bed. This happened once. about 2 months after that, it started again, only once. Lately, there has been poop in my parents bed! We dont know why! The 2 cats dont really along that well , but they are getting better! The cat all of a sudden just started pooping on the beds about a 2 weeks ago, about 2-3 times a weeek. WE never catch the cat doing this and we want to know what we can do to stop this or else my parents are gona get rid of him :(
Thank you !

Answer
Hi Maddie,

You need to make sure it is the younger cat doing this. Can you set up some type of video surveillance to catch the culprit? Here's a little article that's not too techie on how to do it.

http://www.engadget.com/2005/02/22/how-to-turn-your-laptop-into-a-home-security-...
or
http://www.ehow.com/how_5828255_use-laptop_s-built-camera-surveillance.html

Find out which one is doing this. Take the offending cat to the vet to be checked out. Most times a cat stops using the litter box because of illness. She can sometimes associate the box with her pain. See what the vet says.

Here are some suggestions on the home front you can do to help.

Get a good enzymatic cat urine and odor cleaner and use it in the areas she has been using as a litter box. This will get rid of any odors she can smell but you can't.
You want to remove all temptations for her to come back to the areas she was using.  

Add another litter box in the area she is using. If it is the little one she may also be looking for a safe place to go.

Get a different type of litter pan. I recommend this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Petmate-22040-Giant-Litter-Bleached/dp/B000HHLVA4

Cats love the big size. And they seem to use it even if they have problems like yours.

And if you get the big litter box get this also. It makes scooping it a breeze.

http://www.amazon.com/Duranimals-DuraScoop-Cat-Litter-Scoop/dp/B001DCAAP4/ref=sr...

Try changing to a different type of litter. Use one type in one box and another in the another. See which she likes best. Try this stuff.

http://www.preciouscat.com/

Pet Smart carries it. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. And if it doesn't, it has a money back guarantee.

Try some Feliway Comfort Zone. She might be a little anxious with all the different stuff going on. And if it is the older cat stressing out over the younger this will also help.

The vet visit is the number one thing you need to do. I think that you will find that there is a physical reason for this to be happening. Good luck and take care.

Ciao, Karen