NonCompliant w/Litterbox

Hello all:

I have a male MaineCoon Cat that is just over two years of age. He has
recently (past 4 mos) started pooping outside of the litter box. I
have an automatic litterbox that sweeps the clumped litter into a
covered plastic pouch.

I have not been able to figure out why he does it. It is sporatic
behavior, not an everytime event. I did take him to the scene last
time I found one and I pointed his nose to it and voiced my displeasure
"no" "bad-boy." He is very smart and he was not amused with that
exercise, however it has been sometime a month or so since it has
happened.

Any suggestions for curtailing this behavior? Since he's done it in
this room before, will he continue to do it and should I have the
carpet professionally cleaned or place a deterrant on the carpet?

Thanks for any advice.

Try switching to two regular litter boxes. Do not use hoods, use clumping,
unscented litter.
Gail
"PAWZ" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello all:

I have a male MaineCoon Cat that is just over two years of age. He has
recently (past 4 mos) started pooping outside of the litter box. I
have an automatic litterbox that sweeps the clumped litter into a
covered plastic pouch.

I have not been able to figure out why he does it. It is sporatic
behavior, not an everytime event. I did take him to the scene last
time I found one and I pointed his nose to it and voiced my displeasure
"no" "bad-boy." He is very smart and he was not amused with that
exercise, however it has been sometime a month or so since it has
happened.

Any suggestions for curtailing this behavior? Since he's done it in
this room before, will he continue to do it and should I have the
carpet professionally cleaned or place a deterrant on the carpet?

Thanks for any advice.

ps. Many cats do not like the automatic litter boxes (even if he has used it
before). Simplicity is always best. One cat should have two boxes. If this
doesn't work, have him see the vet. It may be a medical problem.
Gail
"Gail" wrote in message
ink.net...
Try switching to two regular litter boxes. Do not use hoods, use clumping,
unscented litter.
Gail
"PAWZ" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello all:

I have a male MaineCoon Cat that is just over two years of age. He has
recently (past 4 mos) started pooping outside of the litter box. I
have an automatic litterbox that sweeps the clumped litter into a
covered plastic pouch.

I have not been able to figure out why he does it. It is sporatic
behavior, not an everytime event. I did take him to the scene last
time I found one and I pointed his nose to it and voiced my displeasure
"no" "bad-boy." He is very smart and he was not amused with that
exercise, however it has been sometime a month or so since it has
happened.

Any suggestions for curtailing this behavior? Since he's done it in
this room before, will he continue to do it and should I have the
carpet professionally cleaned or place a deterrant on the carpet?

Thanks for any advice.

"PAWZ" writes:

I have a male MaineCoon Cat that is just over two years of age. He has
recently (past 4 mos) started pooping outside of the litter box. I
have an automatic litterbox that sweeps the clumped litter into a
covered plastic pouch.

Sounds like your cat is telling you he doesn't like this arrangement. I'd
go back to a regular box. Maybe the mechanism scares him, or the box is too
small.

I have not been able to figure out why he does it. It is sporatic
behavior, not an everytime event. I did take him to the scene last
time I found one and I pointed his nose to it and voiced my displeasure
"no" "bad-boy." He is very smart and he was not amused with that
exercise, however it has been sometime a month or so since it has
happened.

Rubbing your cat's nose in his messes doesn't do anything to teach
him not to do it, and it's not surprising he wasn't amused by it.

Any suggestions for curtailing this behavior?

Aside from experimenting with a different box, I'd take him to the vet
for a check-up. E.g., one of my cats wants to poop outside her box
when she gets constipated or has problems with her anal glands. If
you see him squatting in various places before he finally poops, going
in and out of the box without being able to poop, or dragging his butt
on the floor, that's a pretty sure sign he's having a problem.

Since he's done it in
this room before, will he continue to do it and should I have the
carpet professionally cleaned or place a deterrant on the carpet?

There are enzyme-based cleaners available at pet stores for this purpose.
If he consistently uses the same spot, you might try putting another box
down there.

-Sandra

My Tiger is at least part Maine Coon. The long hair around his butt
sometimes would "hang on" to a poop (Klingon) which would fall off
later. I keep his hair trimmed close to prevent this. Your cat may not
be doing this on purpose.


---MIKE---
In the White Mountains of New Hampshire
(44° 15' N - Elevation 1580')

I have 2 Maine Coon cats. I don't know about yours, but mine 'outgrew'
their litterbox and they are only 9 months old. One of them started
getting hesitant about using the box (not that she ever went
elsewhere). I got them a bigger box - one I actually had to make from
a storage tote - and now they seem happy. I agree with the other
posting that sometimes cats don't like the automatic boxes.

Jewelinsb wrote:
I have 2 Maine Coon cats. I don't know about yours, but mine 'outgrew'
their litterbox and they are only 9 months old. One of them started
getting hesitant about using the box (not that she ever went
elsewhere). I got them a bigger box - one I actually had to make from
a storage tote - and now they seem happy. I agree with the other
posting that sometimes cats don't like the automatic boxes.

Thanks, Jewerlinsb: Mine as grown so quickly - he's a big boy now! I
relocated the box to another room and removed the cover. Once I saw
him in there it was very apparent that the box was too small. He has a
new bigger box now.

Thanks Gail, this was the first I've heard that one cat needs two
boxes. He now has a new "big" box and I'll also be replacing the
automatic box.

Gail wrote:
ps. Many cats do not like the automatic litter boxes (even if he has used it
before). Simplicity is always best. One cat should have two boxes. If this
doesn't work, have him see the vet. It may be a medical problem.
Gail
"Gail" wrote in message
ink.net...
Try switching to two regular litter boxes. Do not use hoods, use clumping,
unscented litter.
Gail
"PAWZ" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello all:

I have a male MaineCoon Cat that is just over two years of age. He has
recently (past 4 mos) started pooping outside of the litter box. I
have an automatic litterbox that sweeps the clumped litter into a
covered plastic pouch.

I have not been able to figure out why he does it. It is sporatic
behavior, not an everytime event. I did take him to the scene last
time I found one and I pointed his nose to it and voiced my displeasure
"no" "bad-boy." He is very smart and he was not amused with that
exercise, however it has been sometime a month or so since it has
happened.

Any suggestions for curtailing this behavior? Since he's done it in
this room before, will he continue to do it and should I have the
carpet professionally cleaned or place a deterrant on the carpet?

Thanks for any advice.

Thanks Sandra, he now has a new large box and he seems to like it -
he's in it alot. He seems to like a good amount of litter in it too
and he didn't have that in the small automatic box.

Thanks for the post.
Sandra Loosemore wrote:
"PAWZ" writes:

I have a male MaineCoon Cat that is just over two years of age. He has
recently (past 4 mos) started pooping outside of the litter box. I
have an automatic litterbox that sweeps the clumped litter into a
covered plastic pouch.

Sounds like your cat is telling you he doesn't like this arrangement. I'd
go back to a regular box. Maybe the mechanism scares him, or the box is too
small.

I have not been able to figure out why he does it. It is sporatic
behavior, not an everytime event. I did take him to the scene last
time I found one and I pointed his nose to it and voiced my displeasure
"no" "bad-boy." He is very smart and he was not amused with that
exercise, however it has been sometime a month or so since it has
happened.

Rubbing your cat's nose in his messes doesn't do anything to teach
him not to do it, and it's not surprising he wasn't amused by it.

Any suggestions for curtailing this behavior?

Aside from experimenting with a different box, I'd take him to the vet
for a check-up. E.g., one of my cats wants to poop outside her box
when she gets constipated or has problems with her anal glands. If
you see him squatting in various places before he finally poops, going
in and out of the box without being able to poop, or dragging his butt
on the floor, that's a pretty sure sign he's having a problem.

Since he's done it in
this room before, will he continue to do it and should I have the
carpet professionally cleaned or place a deterrant on the carpet?

There are enzyme-based cleaners available at pet stores for this purpose.
If he consistently uses the same spot, you might try putting another box
down there.

-Sandra

I'm glad it seems to be working out!!
Gail
"PAWZ" wrote in message
oups.com...
Thanks Gail, this was the first I've heard that one cat needs two
boxes. He now has a new "big" box and I'll also be replacing the
automatic box.

Gail wrote:
ps. Many cats do not like the automatic litter boxes (even if he has used
it
before). Simplicity is always best. One cat should have two boxes. If
this
doesn't work, have him see the vet. It may be a medical problem.
Gail
"Gail" wrote in message
ink.net...
Try switching to two regular litter boxes. Do not use hoods, use
clumping,
unscented litter.
Gail
"PAWZ" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello all:

I have a male MaineCoon Cat that is just over two years of age. He
has
recently (past 4 mos) started pooping outside of the litter box. I
have an automatic litterbox that sweeps the clumped litter into a
covered plastic pouch.

I have not been able to figure out why he does it. It is sporatic
behavior, not an everytime event. I did take him to the scene last
time I found one and I pointed his nose to it and voiced my
displeasure
"no" "bad-boy." He is very smart and he was not amused with that
exercise, however it has been sometime a month or so since it has
happened.

Any suggestions for curtailing this behavior? Since he's done it in
this room before, will he continue to do it and should I have the
carpet professionally cleaned or place a deterrant on the carpet?

Thanks for any advice.