Expert: Becky - 2/24/2006

Question
I have a Cornish Rex, about 16 months old, whom I've had since
age 4 months from a reputable breeder.  I have half-time
custody of our three children - twins age 11, son age 13 - they
spend 3-1/2 days week here.  The cat is affectionate, seems to
get along with all (best with me).  The kids occassionally tease
the cat mildly (nothing cruel; hold the cat, often they want the
cat to sleep with them, and they chase after him and grab him at
night; the cat almost always - by his choice - sleeps on my bed
and on me or between my legs).  No apparent change in the
interactions between thekidsandthe cat.   The cat just started
pooping on the bed of the 13 year old.  His bed is on the bottom
floor, just outside the room where the litter box is. His bed is in
a large finished room in  the basement, which is also where I
have my desk and home-office.   The litter box is well-kept, and
had been used well and regularly.  It's an electronic one - the
kind that cleans itself - I've had it for about a year, no problems.  
No changei n type of cat litter.  The cat urinates in the box, and I
think he's still pooping in the box when he doesn't go on the
bed.  The cat is a neutered male.  No other animals in  the home.  
The cat NEVER leaves the apartment. The cat is affectionate and
playful, but has been acting a bit "jumpy" or odd the last 10 days
or so, and has pooped on the bed 6 or 7 times.  Obviously, I
wash the sheets or whatever is soiled ASAP.  I even saw him do it
once, in the morning, only me and the cat at home, kids at
school.  First, he was sniffing and pawing - I picked him up, put
him in the litter box.  He didn't poop. A few minutes later, he
was back on the bed, and then he pooped.  I saw him do it; I ran
over but was too late to stop him.  I let him know my displeasure
and put him right into the litter box.  The cat doesn't act sick, no
change in food nor eating patterns.  The kids haven't acted any
different to the cat to account for the cat's new behavior.  I'm
tired of cleaning poop and washing sheets.  Do we have to play
cat psychiatrist or is there some product I can use to keep the
cat from the bed? Or would he just find another place to poop?
Thanks.

Answer
Hi Dean,

What a bummer.  I hate when that happens!  Honestly, I have no idea why he is doing it, but the good thing is, he isn't urinating there. It would be much harder to clean up and re-train. The urine odor is so hard to get rid of, and cats are bad about returning to urine mistakes.   Here is the general guidelines I offer when cats don't want to use their litterbox. The main focus is on cats that urinate outside of the box, but you may get some helpful ideas too with your cats' problem.   I hope it helps. I give this advice quite often, and have many people tell me that they did what I advised and it worked.   Good luck!    Becky

It takes time and patience but cats can be re-trained to use a litter box.   If you will follow these instructions, you should have good results.  

1.   You must remove the urine from the area that your cat has been urinating.  If it is carpet, rent a good steam cleaner, buy some good pet odor shampoo and clean the carpet really good.  You can also add white vinegar to the shampoo.  Vinegar is a natural deodorizer and it will help to remove the urine stain so that the cat cannot smell it.  Sometimes you can't smell the urine, but the cat can, so it's very important to use these products when cleaning your carpet or bare floor.  You can get white vinegar at any grocery store and it's cheap.  
2.    After you clean the carpet and it dries completely, put aluminum foil over the area or areas where your cat used to “go”.    Cats hate to walk on it, and will avoid the area.  This will help train your cat not to keep going back to the same place over and over again.  Mistakes happen, and if your kitty does “go” on the carpet or somewhere outside of the box, clean well with the shampoo/vinegar mixture.
3.   This part is the hardest part.  Until your cat is completely re-trained, keep him/her in a small bedroom or bathroom when you are not home.  Put a litter box in there with food and water. This will pretty much force your cat to use the litter box when you are not at home.   When you are home, watch him/her closely.   If you can tell that there is about to be an “accident”, scoop the cat up and take him/her to the litter box.   Please do not hit or spank your cat.  That does NOT work with cats.  It will only scare the cat and you will never get them trained.  
4.   Be sure to lavishly praise your cat when he/she does use the litter box!

If you follow these instructions, you should have good results.  I have had many people tell me that it worked for them and I have a very good friend who did this with great results.  Your kitty should be doing fine in about a week.   Good luck!!