Cat pooped on my bed!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
Cat pooped on my bed!
6
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 11:09am
I've had my cat Merlin for about 6 years. He has never pooped outside the litter box in the entire time I've had him.

He used to be an exclusively indoor cat, but we recently moved to a house where I feel it's a bit safer to let him out, so he occasionally goes outside but only at his request. We've been in this house about six months now, and we moved in with my new DH and his daughter. I also have a son that is 6.

Right before we moved Merlin developed a problem in his digestive system that makes him puke often. I have been monitering his food intake to help with the problem, but he refuses to take the medicine that would keep his system from vomiting so much. So, in order to preserve our carpets, he lives in the basement (with water, litterbox, and bed) while we are at work during the day. This is also to save our furniture, Merlin claws it unmercifully if left alone and DH wanted me to get him declawed, but I just couldn't do it.

Lately his behavior has become very impudent. He gets up on the counters (which he never used to do) and won't get down until you move toward him. He claws the furniture right in front of us, ignores us when we tell him to stop, waits unitl we come after him and then runs away at the last second. Then, last night I sprawled on my bed only to find I had glided through cat poop. He had pooped and bunched it up in an afghan I left lying on the bed.

I know his litter box needs to be changed and DH has been less tha meticulous about cleaning it since I got pregnant, but I was always the same way. If it got too messy for Merlin's taste he would pee in the tub, but that's the only time he ever went to the bathroom outside his box and that was easily cleaned up. He hasn't done that lately either.

I am at my wits end. I am 6 mos pregnant and last night was wondering if he's going to try that in the baby's crib. It was fortunate DH is away on business this weekend becuase I would have had to deal with his griping as well as my own frustration. I don't know what to do. We love Merlin, but lately he is a royal pain in the butt. I had a friend whose cat started using her bed as a litter box and I always said that would be the last straw. What should I do? Letting him have the run of the house during the day is just not an option.

Thanks

Sarah
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 12:23pm

Hi Sarah.


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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-01-2003
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 3:13pm
Les had very good advice and I hope that something works. Just a note,when I was preg. I still did the box as my dr told me if I had been around animals my whole life I had probaly already had the germ from the litter box in me already and just used plastic gloves.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2004
Sun, 10-17-2004 - 8:24pm
cats are very reluctant to change. if you changed from clumping to non clumping litter, moved his box, or changed litter scents he could be pissed. most of the time cats poop, because their order is "disturbed" in one way or another. as far as the vomiting, maybe change to a sensitive stomach or hairball formula, as cats puke mostly because of hair blockages.

i wouldn't kick him to the door just yet, change can be really hard on cats, especially a move like that (house changing)

does he have a scratching post? if not get one and praise him when he uses it.

have a squirt bottle handy filled with water to "reward" him for bad behavior.

Merlin is definitly trying to get your attention for what ever reason.

maybe mention all of these incidents to your veterinarian. if he is reluctant to help its time for a new vet. they should have recources on things of this nature, as this problem is a frequent occurence in cats at that age.

good luck

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 12:31pm
Have you tried Feliway? Its a spray you get from the pet store and it's sort of a mood-alerting pheremone spray for cats. My mom's vet recommended it to her when her cat started shunning the litter box and it worked. You don't spray it "at" them, you spray it on walls or whatever place the cat frequents. I tried it on my cats and they are calmer and friendlier and they scratch less. Iri
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-06-2004
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 1:31pm
As for scratchers...I bought a cat tree with carpet, sisal and cedar type posts. The cats usually run to this when they first get up in the morning. Thought about bringing in a log from the woods. Would be a bit messy but what isn't? donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-24-2004
Mon, 10-18-2004 - 2:02pm

Hi Sarah,


I agree with the advice of the other posters, especially the one suggesting that you take him to your vet for a check up.