Not using litter trays

[Focusplease]

I have a lovely rag doll male, we had him when he was around 10 months old and he's now about 18 months. He's an indoor.cat.

He's such a kind, gentle, loving boy. However, he is pooing regularly outside of his litter trays and has been doing so for ages.

I now have 3 trays for him (2x with lids and one open). He occasionally goes in his litter tray, but more often than not it's on the floor and it's really bothering me now.

He sleeps downstairs at night, I shut the door and he has access to the lounge and kitchen.

He seems to poo in a place and then repeatedly does it there, so then I move one of the litter trays to that place, then he goes in another location instead and round it goes.

I'm tempted to get him some more open litter trays as he does seem to favour them, but surely three is enough? I've even taken to leaving the light on downstairs all night so he can find them easily. He does seem to poo at night, mostly.

I'd appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions of things I can try. Am wondering if he's just got into the habit of it now.

Thanks so much in advance

Maybe he doesn't like the litter. Have you tried different ones? What do you currently use?

Has he seen the vet? Cats don’t usually poo outside their litter trays for no reason. The only time one of mine shit outside of his tray is when he had eaten a new brand of dry food that really didn’t agree with him and had the most horrific diarrhoea, although you could see from the trail of horror that he’d still tried (and failed!) to make it to the tray 🤢

I had to change the kind of litter she uses and got a one with a lid that she can push open (door). When they poo on the floor, pick op up in front of them, put it in the tray and cover it.
Maybes she hasn't fully 'learnt' what to do..
I was told to do this by a friend as my 4 mth old kitten want litter trained when I got her.

Are the trays big enough for him?
Even our smallest likes an enormous litter tray, or she will wee outside the tray with her paws inside it. Also hooded but minus door flaps - or a protest pee will happen.
pets at home have several enormous trays. ( yep I just bought one big enough to house an elephant)

Cats generally prefer open trays. As a Ragdoll I'd assume he is a big boy and doesn't like a cramped covered box.

Does he like the litter?

Have you cleaned using pet spray and not household cleaner?

My baby cats went through a phase of this, I had no idea why they basically stood in their litter tray but pood on the carpet. They both did it! I think they were telling each other that's what they should do.

Does your baby cat wee in the litter tray but pop on the carpet? It may be that they think the tray is for liquid waste only, and don't like stepping in it for solid waste?
It'll help to really scrub it clean and clear wet litter out daily.

I use "Catsan" litter.

I'm sorry what I have to say next won't help you as you have an indoor cat but the biggest help for us was the cats pooing outdoors. We still have a litter tray but only as a back up.

Has he been checked over by a vet? Inappropriate toileting is often the first sign of pain in cats so I'd get him a full MOT just to make sure everything is working properly.

Other things to think about:

Does he like the litter?
Does he like the type of tray?
Are his "preferred places" a certain type of surface or location?
Are the trays located somewhere where he has plenty of privacy?
Has he ever had a bad experience in the litter tray?

Ragdolls don't generally like being alone. Maybe the cat is lonely being locked away at night.