My Cat keeps crapping on our floor/clothes...why? HELP!!

[PavlovtheCat]

We have two 8yo cats, 1 male/1 female.

One of them is pooing in the house. Not sure which one it is.

It is mostly in the bathroom. Sometimes one of the children/DH leaves a towel on the floor by the bath, or some clothes get pulled out of the washbasket and onto the floor, or clothes get left by the bin (near the bath) on the floor. As it is near the bath, these clothes are normally slightly damp. And they poo on that. Rather than on the floor itself. Sometimes it is covered, but not always.

They don't appear to be weeing, as so smell at all in the house.

However today I found crap on a damp towel left on the floor in the bedroom. Uncovered.

Started two weeks ago or thereabouts, over last two days, found it every other day.

They have never been dirty in the house before and I accept that one the recent times was due to DD/DS shutting the outgoing catflap option. So they were stuck. But this was not for more than half a day, and not the first time they had done it, so could not have set a precedent for them.

They used to have a litter tray outside. Stopped using it. Got rid a year ago, maybe more.

There is a big fat cat that bullies them, used to come into the house. DH scared it off.

They both appear well. Good fur coats, eating fine But perhaps a bit harrassed by two children?!!

Any ideas? What can I do to sort it out? should we bring the litter tray back?

I would bring the litter tray back in case your cat is just startled. Monitor it over the weekend and if the behaviour continues then get your cat to the vets.

ok, litter tray is back as of today.

you say vets...could they/whichever one is doing it be unwell do you think?

A change in behaviour can often be a sign that something is wrong with them. My eldest is a clean freak - she over-grooms so much that she does herself a detriment. Just over a month ago she urinated on my sofa and then didn't move away from it. Both actions were out of character, I monitored her behaviour and it was different - I took her to the emergency vets, she was hospitalized for 3 weeks she was that poorly.

I'm not saying that your cat is as unwell as mine was but I am saying it isn't worth the risk. The longer you leave an infection or whatever could be effecting it the worse it gets.

To be honest my bet is (s)he got off with it once and now it seen as acceptable behaviour. I'd clean the area completely - disinfect and clean with lemon cleaner. You need no trace of cat poo smell there that the cat can smell not just to your nose. The smell (only has to be faint for the cat to smell it) means that they've established this place to do it. Offer an alternative litter tray and if your cat just goes back to the tray then you know (s)he just wants to go inside instead. If (s)he doesn't and continues this undesirable behaviour he could be being stressed out and maybe just needs a feliway diffuser to calm him/her or there might be something that needs investigating. A conversation with the vets on the phone could be enough to establish if they need to see him if you have a good relationship with your vet that is.

My cat's been doing this for a while too. Admittedly she's 21 and therefore a feline medical miracle, but it turns out she has thyroid problems which basically meant she couldn't control herself. She had unfortunately got used to pooing in one or two specific areas in the house. A friend suggested leaving bowls of food in these places and it completely solved the problem! She won't poo where she eats. Combined with thyroid medication, she seems to be ok. Hurrah!

thanks for your suggestions I have read about those felliway calming things, will look into those.

One of them does overgroom at certain times of the year, think it is when his winter coat comes in? he actually loses fur around his back legs and bottom, and a little of his underbelly. We had thought it was a reaction to change in litter used, and stopped that litter, it went away, but as it returned the following year think it was just coincidence that it went the same time as the litter was changed.

We use an outdoor litter tray, with a cover, under a shelter, right by our back door, but they stopped using it, or so it seemed, which is why we took it away, and has been gone a while, but it is now back, not used it yet, but also not poo'd anywhere in the house.

Funnily enough, over the last 3 days, they have not been naughty and they seem much happier, calmer and wanting more fusses/less fighting between the two of them (had increased).

They have definitely not been happy for a little while but a new cat on the block put their nose out of joint I think. They ruled the roost so to speak for a while.

I like the idea of food there, that might even work, might be some space there for that. Will talk to DH about this.