Cat Help (Discouraging them from "going" where they shouldn't)

[perkinsrose]

Cats HATE tin foil. So long as we had it there (we'd cover the couch at night or when we left for long periods of time with sheets of foil we just kept reusing), the couch was safe. ..

My sister had a similar problem with 2 cats. She wrapped a few empty boxes with pretty silver paper and a bow and used those to place on chairs & couches when they were gone for the day. More eye-pleasing & easier to move than laundry baskets/ tin foil, etc... it worked for her though maybe some younger or more creative kitties could manage with the boxes there anyway!

 

[Tasmen]

My sister had a similar problem with 2 cats. She wrapped a few empty boxes with pretty silver paper and a bow and used those to place on chairs & couches when they were gone for the day. More eye-pleasing & easier to move than laundry baskets/ tin foil, etc... it worked for her though maybe some younger or more creative kitties could manage with the boxes there anyway!

Not sure that would have worked for us. If the tin foil left anyone spot you could access without touching other bits of tin foil open, we'd find a puddle of 'haha' waiting for us.

I'd give the cat credit for being extremely devious if he wasn't so stupid I swear, if he was a human child, he'd be the kid that ate paste in class.

 

[3boymthr]

Thanks everyone who responded with your advice and what you've done or are doing to work on this. We're going to take some of these suggestions and try them out over the next few weeks (3rd litter box, sprays to encourage or discourage, closed door ... lastly to confine to a room/area ... I just can't put him outside in Virginia winters...)

We were just at the vet in early December and he got a "healthy" report (including blood tests and urine sample) so I think we are ok on the health end...I think it's just a smelly litter box he doesn't like ... and honestly, I can't really blame him!

Definitely consider the outdoor thing. I grew up on a farm and have had cats both as a child and as an adult and all have been outdoor cats. They love the great outdoors and they are thinner and healthier for it. The only reason to really keep them in is if you live on a busy street or have a lot of wild carnivores in your area. For these two reasons I have to say I like the idea of the collar to keep them in the yard.

Cats are smarter animals than many people give them credit for. They like a clean fresh spot to go and they don't like to smell their business. After many, many cats I've learned that often if nothing else is wrong the pooing on the floor is his way of punishing you for not cleaning his bathroom.

If you decide to put him out and if he's never been out introduce it slowly and stay with him until he's comfortable. Then just open the door when he wants to go out. When the weather is cold as long as they can dig somewhere (even in snow) they will go outside, do their business and be knocking on the door again in a few minutes to come back inside (yes, they will literally knock on the door.) If the snow is diggable they will use that. Just be sure to cover the kid's sandbox so that doesn't become the place they do their business.

The screen door does sound like a good idea, but be aware that if your cats like to climb a screen door may not be the solution. We have had several cats who have destroyed our screen doors as they climb them. The screen is usually strong enough to hold them as they go up, and the holes are just big enough for their claws to go in but as they pull their claws out they make snags and pulls and eventually it tears.