Stupid cat!

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1

We got our cat when he was about 7 months old. He was basically raised by another stray, as they were both rescued by my friend at the same time, and this super sweet male stray just took the kittens under his wing. The cats have their own screened-in porch, and the kittens didn't get too much human interaction.

We got his sister when she was very young, and she was wonderful! Her litter box was in the garage, and she'd meow at the door when she wanted to use it. But to our heartbreak, she disappeared one day.

So we adopted her brother. He's weird! Yes, he spent far longer with the stray than his sister did, and I blame most of his eccentricities on that.

I never trusted him to meow at the door to use the catbox, so it was inside our house for a long time. Then I installed a cat door about 4 months ago. He still freaks out about it and only uses it in dire need. And apparently, having to poop is not a dire need!

He used to poop in my big potted ficus tree dirt, but half the time, he'd poop over the edge and hit the carpet. I put river rock over the dirt, then pine cones to keep him out. I cleaned the carpet and got all the poop out. So gross!

But he has started pooping on the carpet in the corner behind the tree now! it's a wonderful smelly surprise when I come downstairs in the morning and am greeted with the stench.

He also uses the cat box, and I haven't seen any evidence of pee anywhere in the house.

I was ready to try to get rid of the cat, but my kids can't handle another heartbreak right now (abusive dad just got removed from home, going through divorce, not to mention our previous cat disappearing 6 months ago), and, well, he's completely devoted to me. He cuddles up with me all night long, and is my own living, breathing. warm and snuggly teddy bear.

Is there ANYTHING I can do?

2

Most of the time cats take to litter boxes, sometimes they don't. I sounds like you have to actually litter box train him. Good thing the weather is getting nicer so that shouldn't be a huge deal. First you need to take all plants out of the house. Cats are by nature outdoors so if they can find dirt it is their first choice. The second is to get some enzyme solution from the pet store to remove even the scent you cannot smell around where the plant was. That may actually be enough to get him to use the box again if not you may want to google litter box training a cat.

I had to retrain one of my cats but removing his plan Bs were enough to do it.

3

put another kitty litter behind the tree.

4

hhhmmm...I got rid of a cat I had for YEARS because he could not stand living with my mom (me and kids moved in with her after divorce) and he actually backed his butt up to my head when I was laying in bed and PEED on me! Next day...he went to the pound. I told the kids he was not happy living there and that he would be much happier living somewhere else. They said goodbye to him and really asked about him a few times but didn't seem affected by it. I have now turned into a "no pet" person. My new hubby does have a dog and we have some fish but when the dog dies...no more pets for us. they are just too much work and money. So I personally would get rid of the cat. So disgusting to be going to the bathroom in the house, I personally couldn't take it no matter how good it was cleaned up (and I'm not a psycho clean freak by any means!!!), Good luck!

5

Put the litter box behind the tree
Try a different litter
Keep the box super clean - this means basically scooping immediately after he uses it.
Prop open the kitty door - it may scare him

I live with 4 cats right now, have two litter boxes (about to install a third with the addition of the 4th cat). I scoop twice a day or they will sometimes go in other places.

If I catch them in the act, I chastise them and carry them to a litter box.

Your kitty may be a little weird, but he sounds loving. You may just need to make some adjustments until you find the litter box solution that works for him.

Good Luck
God Bless

6

I'm guessing he has no clue he's missing his target. Get a much wider/bigger pot for the tree. Apparently, he's accustomed to pooping in dirt versus sand. Probably because he was an outside kitty instead of a domestic kitty. Since he's chosen that corner, and the dirt in the potted plant, work with it.

You should also know that cats are territorial, and poop and pee piles in the house aren't necessarily them misbehaving. If they feel threatend, or a need to mark their turf, they will leave piles or puddles.

Are the mistakes usually by windows, or doors? If so, they're marking their territory because they are either seeing or hearing other cats outside. Unfortunately, I don't think there is anything you can do about this behavior. Perhaps invest in a steam-cleaner and use it regularly in those spots? :)

7

I'd move the tree before I'd get rid of the cat.

8

Put a litter box behind the tree and hopefully he will use that. Might not be a great spot for a litter box, but better than poop on the carpet.

9

I think the, um, fragrance must still be there, even if you can't smell it.

See if you can buy or borrow a black light. I got mine at the pet supply store. Wait until it's dark, and then turn the room lights off and turn the black light on in the direction of the ficus. See if you see something show up. Look on the plant, and look in the area surrounding the plant.

If it were my house, I'd do two things next: Firstly, I'd remove the ficus. I'd take out all the dirt and repot it, in a different pot if possible. Secondly, when it came back in the house, I'd let it sit somewhere else.

Then I'd attack the carpet with Nature's Miracle. You want to soak the area (it's possible to spray the stuff, but I'd just pour it on!). You need to soak through the carpet AND the pad. It will smell weird for a while, but when it dry, its odor and the cat odor should be gone, if you got all the "catted" places. Try the black light again to check.

It is entirely possible you may have to call in the pros to clean the carpet (using their pet remedy) or to replace at least that section of it.

But it will be worth it to hold on to the kitty that you and your children love!

Oh, also talk to your vet because Mr. Kitty might need a checkup. It can't hurt. And keep his litter box inside for now, and keep it very clean! You might even add an extra cat box for his convenience. Two boxes for one kitty might seem a bit extreme, but... cats like being treated like royalty. Some cats don't like those flapping doors that seem to be coming after them. You might try leaving cat treats or some other special treat near the door on both sides (tell your children to leave them alone). He MIGHT decide that for treats the door is worthwhile.

10

Cats are so weird. Mine is so awesome, sleeps with me all night and I love her to bits BUT if we go away for more than 3 days she always craps right in front of her litter box, I assume out of spite or something. I have numerous rugs for that spot, trash one and pull out a new one.
I know people that havent had a personal relationship with a cat don't get it, this is really the first cat I have actually totally bonded with.
My suggestion would be to use cheap throw rugs around the area that you can dispose of. Seriously, my house does not smell like a cat lives here except for when we go off on vacation and return, but it's easily remedied by tossing the soiled rug if she chooses to leave her prize.

11

Clean with Nature's Miracle Then try a piece of charcoal in the corner behind the tree.

12

Get Cat Attract litter, which is especially for cats who have litter box problems. Put the litter box where he likes to go. You may need to try several types of boxes, some cats won't go if they don't like the box.

You can use a product called Feliway to keep him from going in certain spots. It is a pheremone that reminds cats of their mother and so they don't relieve themselves in that spot. It's expensive, so try the Cat Attract first. I think they have a coupon where you can try your first bag for free!

13

Good for you for trying to solve the problem and not just getting rid of him. Hope you have luck!

14

Put the cat box in the house, where he can get to it easily. We have a cat box under each bathroom sink (we just took off one door of the cupboard so they can get in no problem). It smells a bit, but not too bad if you use a clumping litter and scoop it every few days. A bit inconvenient, but better than cleaning it up off the carpet!
Make sure you show him where it is as soon as you get it. It may take a while to break him of the habit of pooping in that one corner, but PetSmart has a spray that is supposed to deter it. (It may help to get a 2nd box, so one is where he is used to, and another in the house for easy access)

Many cats hate a cat flap, and most won't use the door unless you remove the flap. That may be a viable option for you, too.

15

Is he neutered? Along with the other suggestions that you have recieved, I would suggest that you get him neutered if he is not. Unaltered male cats are more likely to "mark their territory" and their feces smells must worse than unaltered males.

We kept our littler box under the bathroom sink too.