Cat people. I need your help. Badly.

[Ediacara]

We have two cats, both Abyssinians; one is about nine months old, the other three years old. In the last two weeks one (or both) of them has taken up the habit of pooping right square in the middle of the rug in the bathroom almost once daily. This rug is less than two feet from the recently scooped litter box with their regular litter. I've gone through almost an entire bottle of detergent just laundering these rugs.

What could be causing this? We thought it might be an unusual litter I got when I couldn't find their regular stuff. It (very faintly) smelled like lemon. We changed it all back to the regular stuff right away. The rug pooping continued.

And I guess more importantly, how can I get this to stop? And I mean right this fucking second.

I'm at my whit's end.

[Bucky]

1. nasty

nasty kinky

Have you tried moving the litter box to the spot they're using? Then, over the space of a few days, gradly relocate the box, about 12 inches a day, toward the spot whereat they should shit?

I did this with a young cat once who had trouble finding the litter box.

[Ediacara]

11. They've been using the box in the correct spot for months

it's like they've discovered a new trick and no matter how much we try to dissuade them, they won't stop :-(

[MonkeyFunk]

2. take the rug out for a few weeks

[musette_sf]

3. scrub out the box thoroughly

or get a new box. i'll bet they can still smell the offending lemon litter. cats have a phenomenal sense of smell.

[Ediacara]

12. I hadn't thought of that

that's a good idea, thanks!

[LeftyMom]

4. Can you pick the rug up for a while?

It probably still smells a bit to more sensitive feline noses. Also, you could try that cat attractant litter until they get back into their litterbox routine.

[Ediacara]

14. I would, except I don't want to kill myself stepping out of the shower :-(

[Madrone]

17. No problem there -

I have a similar problem, except my is a puke and coated in cat hair rug relationship. Oh, and I suppose a little piss every now and again. :eyes: Anyway, I've resigned myself to hanging the rug over the tub most of the time, and putting it down when taking a shower. Just a thought - at least until it passes as their idea of fun.

[MediaBabe]

5. Here's what I'd try

Wipe down the entire bathroom up to about waist high with an unscented cleaner. Including the floor and the fronts of the cabinets. Just wipe them down not a time consuming scrubbing. Wash out the litter box with same unscented cleaner and put in new litter, the stuff you used to use. Remove the rug. Put the litter box in the middle of the floor (temporarily.)

If it works don't put the rug back in for a while.

Cats are funny and can be really exasperating. Believe it or not this could also be a sign of a urinary tract infection. Maybe a trip to the vet for a check up is in order.

[Ediacara]

15. Hmmmm I'd like that not to be the case

especially because we're not sure which of the kitties is the guilty party. It's always like:

1) I walk past the bathroom with no poop.
2) Both cats hang with me
3) Both cats wander off
4) Both cats come back
5) Poop appears

[Beausoir]

6. Yeah, remove the rug. And perhaps try a different brand of litter. Or even the litter box may be

bumming them out. Maybe they don't like to share. Add another box somewhere in the house. That worked for us.

[badgerpup]

7. Maybe it's the rug itself...

Had this happen too.
At first I thought they were just telling me to CLEAN THE DAMN LITTER BOX!...
and they did have a point; I'd let it go for a couple days more than I should.:blush:

But even after cleaning the litterbox and washing the rug, they kept using the rug to poop on.
:banghead:

Finally just gave up on the nice fluffy expensive bathmat and substituted a rather ratty old bunch of stitched-together towels...
in which they take no interest whatever. It keeps me from slipping when I get out of the shower, and I figure if I've got company staying I can put the nice fluffy rug down. :shrug:

[Ediacara]

16. I'll try that as well

The rug is taking a beating as there's some clawing at it in an attempt to "cover up" the mess, plus the constant laundering.

[marzipanni]

8. I just read that cats detest citrus and chopped lemon peel can be put on gardens to repel cats

Maybe, now that your litter isn't lemony anymore, the rug could be spritzed or rinsed with a very faint lemon scent. (A few drops of lemon oil in water?)

on edit- As some others have said, the poop scent might still be in the rug enough for the cats to smell it and they want to go in the same spot- maybe you need enzyme detergent that breaks it down better.

[mike_c]

9. remember, what you perceive as a "faint smell of lemon..."

...might be a mortal insult and an assault to the senses for a cat. Don't ever make the mistake of interpreting their perceptions through your experiences-- you and your cats do not experience the world the same way. Scents added to litter are for our enjoyment, not cats'.

Lots of good advice already in this thread. Clean the litter box thoroughly-- in fact, if the cats have abandoned it, I'd buy a new one altogether. If the scent is offensive enough (to a cat), some trace might linger and simply changing the litter is probably not enough.

Second, instead of just picking up the rug for a while, I'd start by REPLACING it with a cheap towel first, just in case the offending cat continues to use the spot (or is the floor underneath easy to clean?). In any event, don't put your good rug back down until the offending kitty returns to its usual habits.

[Ediacara]

18. The lemon scent was a mistake

The container said nothing about being lemon scented, and believe you me, my cats have no love for citrus. We had to put the spout up to our noses and inhale like crazy to get even a tiny hint. I know a cat's sense of smell is better than mine, but it really was faint.

And they've not abandoned it completely. They both use it for number one, and at least one of them is pooping in it with some regularity.

As for the rug, it's on the tile floor of the bathroom, so I'd like to have something there so I don't slip and fall when getting out of the shower.

Thanks!

[musette_sf]

20. it's a Glade Potpourri World out there

putting citrus in cat litter surely ain't for the cat's benefit.

and who ARE these people who "need" a fake "apple cinnamon" scent to continually waft through a room, powered by a device that heats AND fans a block of fake nasty scent? (rant off)

[Fredda Weinberg]

10. I would try moving the box. They perceive things we don't n/t

[MichiganVote]

13. If cats don't like their litter spot they'll often choose a rug or rug area.

[Ediacara]

19. Thanks for the advice everyone

I think that for the time being, we're going to put the rug up on the edge of the tub and move it to the floor only when in use. Also, I think we'll get an entirely new litter box, as the lemony smell may still be lingering (it's about time for a new box anyway).

Hopefully this behavior will stop with these changes. Otherwise.... the regular carpet isn't as easy to pick up and throw in the washing machine.

[Whoa_Nelly]

21. Good (and quick) read: The Top 8 Reasons Why Your Kitty Won’t Use the Litter Box

http://www.petplace.com/cats/the-top-8-reasons-why-your-kitty-won-t-use-the-litter-box/page1.aspx

[Skittles]

22. put a few moth balls in that spot for a while

cats hate 'em

[KT2000]

23. Oh please don't do that

mothballs are very toxic - napthalene.
Bad for kitties and humans - I honestly don't know why they haven't been banned.

http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/chemicals/chemicals-detail-print.asp?Main_ID=292