Possible behavior problem brewing with newer cat...any ideas?(long)

[Rock'n Robin]

We got a second cat in November. She was then a 9 month old on the skinny side. She is nice and loves the dog and the other cat (who is almost 17 and doesn't like her much, LOL).
We had one problem before we left for WDW. She was front declawed on 12/22. (please no flames or lectures about declawing, it is over and done with and that is not the problem). The vet put a pain patch on her and told us to take it off the day we left. We took it off that morning and got delayed leaving--I noticed at one point she was holding a paw up in the air and wondered if it was bothering her. That evening I went up to finish packing and smelled something horrible--she had pooped on my bed!!!! She was laying at the other end! I gave her the benefit of the doubt that she was hurting from her paws, threw the comforter in the washer, and for our trip (we were gone a week) moved the cat box from the basement to the laundry room and shut the basement doors and all the upstairs bedroom doors, just in case. My mom came every day while we were gone and there were no problems and no "accidents" (although I don't think it was an accident, I think she was sending me a message).
We got home late Saturday and Sunday we moved the box back down basement. No problems all week. This morning I noticed someone had shut the basement door, although everyone has been told it needs to always be open (the younger kids have been forgetting since we've been home). I opened it, but too late! DS had fallen asleep in the family room, and she had pooped on his bed during the night. His comforter is now in the washer. DH is not a happy camper, although I told him it was only because the basement door was shut.
But I'm wondering if this is a problem starting and what I can do about it. She has been great since we got back, even more affectionate and sleeping by me every night. She is also looking very sleek since she is getting regular meals! But we'll have a problem keeping a cat who poops on the bed at the slightest provocation!
Robin M.

 

[helenabear]

Truthfully, to me, it doesn't sound like that much of a problem. I've heard of cats doing this when they are upset at smaller things. To me, the time due to the pain should be over looked, I guess. And having a little box unavailable all night is a big thing in my eyes for a cat, and I guess I couldn't get upset at the cat at all for doing that. 2 times would not be enough for me to worry about a problem yet. If you are worried though, talk to your vet. I guess I would be happier that she didn't pee if I were you... a lot of cats use *that* as their way of letting you know they are mad at you and that one is much harder to deal with! Good luck

 

[Rock'n Robin]

LOL Elaine you are right! If she was "marking" things would be a lot worse...there is always an upside!
Robin M.

 

[Virgo10]

Cats tend to show behaviors when they go thru stress. After the surgery she went where she wasn't suppose to and then again after your family had been away for a vacation and the access to her bathroom area was closed.

I don't think this will be a long term problem but keeping the doors closed to areas she's not suppose to be in is a good idea.

Roberta

 

[chager]

I know that our cats will go outside the box if it is not clean enough. Or if they are unhappy about something. Our oldest decided she didn't like the litter anymore so she decided to go on the floor in front of our door. To me it sounds like kitty attitude. I would suggest putting a cat hole in the door though. That way you don't have to worry if the door is shut. We are deciding what design we want to put in currently. Our litter robot is in our first floor laundry so we want to shut the door to hise the clothes that are crawling up the wall

 

[sandbar]

Do you have just the one litter box? We brought in a new cat, too, and our other cat started having litter box "issues". My vet told me we should have one more litter box than we have cats. That meant we would have to have 3! I think that may be a bit much, but I bought 2 more anyway and that (at least for now!) has solved the problem. I hope you don't find any more unexpected "surprises"!