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inappropriate urinating and defecating

Rhys

Our sweet little cat has developed a very un-sweet habit. He has started to urinate and defecate in one area of our living room. We had an older cat in the house a few years ago and he did the same thing is this spot--I thought that I had eliminated the odor but apparently not. I have literally tried everything I can think of: store-bought enzyme sprays, hydrogen-peroxide and dish detergent, vinegar, Oxy-Deep, pulling out and washing the carpet pad, shellacking the wood, aluminum foil, all to no avail. He performs these behaviors right in front of us, and it is not an area I can easily close off. I am afraid that I may be at the negative reinforcement stage. Is there anything you can recommend? I thought about "scat pads" but do not want to traumatize him. But he MUST stop this behavior. Any help?

• Experienced Advisor Rosie Barclay says:

  September 08th, 2008 at 09:42 AM

  Aren't cats great? Well you have tried everything. White pepper might work it goes up the nose and makes them sneeze. The trouble is with stopping them by using negative or punishment techniques is that it often just makes them go elsewhere when you are not looking. We have to try and understand why?

  Does your cat go out to the toilet? Is he happy to go outside? Does he use a tray? Is he doing it because he is a biz lazy and can still smell where the other cat has been? If this is so then nothing but a new floor and carpet will suffice and then you have to make sure it is covered with something so he doesn't use it out of habit.

  If he is ok with going outside you could put a litter tray in the same spot and then gradually over days and weeks begin to move it slowly step by step towards the area where he can go. Use biological washing liquid/powder and an odour eliminator on the area and pop the tray on top.

  If he does not like to go outside you will have to find out why, other cat, fear etc? Then ask advice from your local qualified cat behaviourist as this will be a more complicated problem. Having him castrated should help as well.

   Hope that helps

  Rosie Barclay

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• Sue says:

  September 08th, 2008 at 10:05 AM

  I forgot to mention my other attempt--we did put the litter tray in the spot and gradually move it away. It didn't work; he uses the litter box without difficulty wherever it is--he just uses the carpet as well. So there doesn't appear to be any aversion to the litter box. He is neutered, not at all aggressive, and gets along very well with our other, older cat (they eat and sleep side by side). He is an indoor cat only. The behavior didn't start until the summer after we'd had him for nine months, and I suspect the causative factor is that due to the humidity he suddenly started smelling the odor from the other cat. Since I think it is definitely the smell that is attracting him, I may have to try negative reinforcement to break what I suspect is nothing more than a very bad habit. I am running out of options. I have found a "sofa scram sonic pad" that uses sound as a deterrent, which seems much less punitive than shock. Maybe I will try that. Have you heard of anyone having luck with that type of product?

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• Experienced Advisor Rosie Barclay says:

  September 08th, 2008 at 10:51 AM

  Hi

  Pepper?

  Often these devices work for a while then the cat tends to learn that nothing much happens and they carry on or they move elsewhere. In some cases the cat never goes back to that spot and some won't even go back into the room, others urinate more to help increase their familiarity. It very much depends on why the cat is doing it in the first place. It sounds as if he is just happy to go there the behaviour becomes self-reinforcing. I have used dried food stuck to a square of cardboard. Cats don't tend to go where they eat. This has helped in the past and the use of a Perspex sheet might work. As you said the smell can linger for years. You just have to get rid of the smell which means a total change.

  Hiding behind the sofa with a fog horn may work as long the cat doens't catch on that you are behind the noise.

  Or stick a plant pot on top of the spot.

  Or use sticky sellotape they don't like that much.

  Good luck

   

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