We have two bathrooms, one has the litter box but lately he's been pooping on the carpet of our other bathroom. Outside of an accident or two he has always pooped in his litter box. I removed the cover of our litter box but he hasn't gone yet. Would changing the litter or the box help?

Is there any reason why you could't provide a litter tray in the other bathroom too?

Is the other bathroom where you have the present litter tray used more by the family - it may be that your cat would like the litter tray in a quieter more out of the way place. I would perhaps put an additional tray in the second bathroom - see which one he prefers to use and then do away with the other if he is using the second tray more.

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Kaz

For kittens, joy is for the asking and smiles are for the giving

The other bathroom is too small for a tray. The bathroom the tray is currently in is the less used bathroom. We really do not have a place for another tray outside of the basement where he rarely goes.

It may be worth changing the litter. There is a litter called Cat Attract which is supposed to encourage the cats to use the tray rather than go outside of it but not sure how well it works.

However if changing the litter doesn't work I do think you may need to re site the tray as something may have frightened/upset him whilst using the tray in the bathroom and he associates that experience with using the covered tray. Hence his seeking elsewhere.

I hope you resolve the problem.

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Kaz

For kittens, joy is for the asking and smiles are for the giving

I don't have an answer I'm afraid. The stray cat Panther I took in many years ago would not use a litter tray but would use the bath. I even put the litter tray in the bath. All I can say was that it was easy to clean.

I did find that my cats wouldn't use a litter tray if I added a scented liner or added spray/power to de-odourise and there were certain cat litters they didn't like. Funny little beggers aren't they.

Sue

A great way to deter cats from pooping in places you don't like is spray them with a bit of water when they are about to do the deed. Next time they will try to avoid poopng there, also make sure your litter box stays clean so that the cat will not look for other places.

Possibly, but the main thing that pops to mind is what others have mentioned; a clean litter tray. If its not clean they wont use it!

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Cleaning the litter box hasn't helped. We haven't had a chance to change the litter yet and changing the box is a last resort for us. We noticed that he seems to be afraid of the litter box if we carry him and put him in front of it but if we close the door to the other bathroom he will use the box. He seems to want to poop in the same area over and over again and if thats not available then he will use the litter box. I get the feeling that something happened while he was in the litter box or around that area and wants us to move the box elsewhere.

I would be inclined to move it elsewhere if he is so obviously unhappy using it where it is now - hence his desire to go somewhere else.You can get triangular shaped litter trays specially made to go in corners etc which may allow you to put it in the second bathroom.

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Kaz

For kittens, joy is for the asking and smiles are for the giving