I have a very sh***y problem! I need some advice

[WhiteTara]

And don't start with killing the cat, that was my idea. Okay, here goes.

My true love has been in and out of the hospital for about 3 years now!! I know, it's a horror show; but that's not the problem here (it is in another area) but because I have had to be with him as his advocate during each of his hospital stays, friends and professional animal caregivers have been filling in for us, the house has been in a state of chaos during this time.

During the last home stay, we decided that we were so glum, we needed a distraction; sooo, we got 2 brother kittens. It was a perfect answer, they keep us laughing and cuddling, and I'm so happy they're in our life. Other than they exist, they aren't the problem here. It's Picabo, the cat who was raised by raccoons before he came to live with us.

Several years ago, we rescued our older cat, Picabo (he absolutely lives up to that name and most people have no idea he lives here, he hides so well.) So this last incident, Mr. WT had a fall (he has orthostatic hypo tension) that was devastating; he broke his neck and fractured the fibula in his right leg. Fortunately, (he has great karma) he wasn't paralyzed anywhere. It could have been catastrophic with him being paralyzed from the neck down!!! But no! Thank all the goddesses and gods. He had neurosurgery to repair c7/t1, and he could have been discharged the next day, except for his fractured leg. So off to rehab he went.

Now, the problem began during the hospital stay. Our sweet neighbor came and took care of the pet feedings a couple of times a day. During this time, Picabo started pooping on a sofa in the sitting room. I would come home late at night and find poop. I started covering the sofa with puppy pads, which he crunched it up and pooped on the sofa. But now! He is pooping in the tv room sofa (it's only a couple of years old) on the place where I sit. I covered that, and he pooped on the covering and crunched it up to make sure he got the sofa too. This has been going on for the past week. I'm at my wits end.

Other than tying a rock around his neck and dropping him in the pond, what can I do? Any suggestions? I have the carpet cleaners coming in a few days and will have them clean the sofa cushions at the same time, but I'm afraid he will just poop all over the newly cleaned sofa cushions. Help!

[RandomNumbers]

1. Can you start with keeping him out of those rooms?

maybe confined to a room that doesn't have furniture you care about and is easier to clean?

If he goes back to using the litterbox, then gradually give him more and more places in the house where he can hang out.

[LisaM]

2. It sounds as if he is stressed and pooping in your spot to mark it.

Can you leave some smelly old clothes (that smell like you) in the spot to reassure him? Also, is there a litter box in that room?

[WhiteTara]

5. Thanks for the tips. The litter box is in the garage and being exhausted, I left my clothes

from that day on the sofa, but that didn't seem to make a difference from last night.

I'm sure it's stress, and I have been giving him extra love and attention. He sleeps with me and has pushed the kittens off the bed so he can be the center of my attention.

Someone just mentioned gabapentin! I have some in the house, and I'm trying that next.

I can't keep him out of the house without locking the cat door closed but then the other cats are locked out too. It's a conundrum for sure.

[Ocelot II]

3. Sounds like the cat is stressed due to changes in the household routine

and stressed humans, and is pooping where he shouldn't to claim territory which makes him feel more secure. See your vet to be sure there's no illness and maybe ask about a prescription for gabapentin, which is often given to cats to calm them down.

[WhiteTara]

7. Thanks for that tip! I have

gabapentin in the house and I'm giving it to him. I know there is no illness, cold nose, good appetite and drinks water, but doesn't stand over the bowl. I agree it's mental. I'll let you know how the gabapentin works.

[2naSalit]

4. As mentioned above...

He's stressed about your absence and all the strange people handling his care. That's how they let you know there's a problem, they pointedly poop or pee in unusual places so you can't miss the signs. Cats are efficient that way.

So part of it is your absence and the change in how the home functions. He needs more face time with you is the simple answer. How to deal with that is the not so simple part.

[WhiteTara]

8. I am sure you're right. My fear

is that even when the household becomes stable again, he won't stop.

[2naSalit]

9. Chances are pretty good that...

Once he feel stable about a return to his normal home life, or whatever it is when you go home, he'll stop. They usually return to their normal selves when the issue is addressed. It doesn't sound like a willful habit, but a warning gone unheeded.

[WhiteTara]

11. Thank you. I really hope

you're right. Maybe when Mr. WT is released and back home, he will feel safe and not have to tell me he's in distress.

[2naSalit]

12. That would be my guess.

[Karadeniz]

6. Are you spraying the spots with a good enzyme first...no soapy cleaner...that

Would kill the enzymes when that is used. You may have to put kitty in the bathroom.

[WhiteTara]

10. Thanks for the enzyme tip. I've been using Mrs Meyers

but that doesn't have enzymes. I'll go through my cleaning supplies and if I don't have any, off I go to the market.

[consider_this]

13. Feliway or similar pheromone spray or diffuser...

I have read has a calming effect on cats under stress or marking territory. Unfortunately, I have not had the joy of sharing my home with a cat, so I cannot testify firsthand - but it is something I have heard good things about that you might want to check out.

[WhiteTara]

14. Thank you. I'll go look that one up.

This is my first rodeo with this nightmare scenario!

[IbogaProject]

15. Try talking to the cat themselves

In the chaos this cat may feel out of place. Try and ask the cat to undertand this is a difficult time but you are still comitted to caring for him. My wife years ago exclaimed mid vacation " I forgot to say good bye to my cat", I was incredulous but the cat was beside himself. After that ive made a point to explain things to furry companions. We are their whole world.

[sinkingfeeling]

16. First, take him to the vet. It might be expensive, but have him medically checked out. One of my cats stopped using

his litter box and chose my bed after trauma. Stress and/or anxiety can cause this.

[WhiteTara]

19. Thanks for the idea. I probably won't take him

to the vet for this, so I'm going to treat him for anxiety and stress.

[rockbluff botanist]

17. Reinforcement. It works for us.

.
When you are gone, put him in the room with his litter box. Close the door.

[WhiteTara]

18. sadly, he would tear the door down!

[3catwoman3]

20. There is a product called Pooph! that gaurantees neutralizing of pet odors...

...which is supposed to be helpful in discouraging re-use of the same spots. Removes stain, too.

One of our cats managed to pee onto a closed heat vent and the urine dripped down into the duct work. Really stiky when we's turn the heat on. I poured a generous amount of Pooph right into the duct and it solved the problem.

Here's a link:
https://www.pooph.com/?mid=12016823&dttrpx=1&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwxNW2BhAkEiwA24Cm9KORTAQLrlUCGuQlTirJoUMEbEfU84MxOdbDsve4TKajx3YFFGM66hoCxNgQAvD_BwE

[WhiteTara]

21. Thanks for this!

I went on line and bought this. I have to resolve this problem.

[3catwoman3]

22. I hope it helps.

n/t

[HeartsCanHope]

23. I second the enzymatic cleaner. It really helps to neutralize odors.

I would also recommend a calming diffuser. I like Feliway https://www.chewy.com/feliway-optimum-enhanced-calming-30/dp/341463 it really helps. You can also get Feliway spray https://www.chewy.com/feliway-classic-calming-spray-cats/dp/57067 that I would put on the sofa to keep him from marking the sofa again. It tells you how often to renew the spray, I forget the frequency you need to use. It doesn't remove odor, so you have to use it AFTER the enzymatic cleaner, but somehow it keeps them from marking that spot again. Has something to do with pheromones.Your vet might have other ideas to help you. I learned about Feliway products from mine. Good luck! And I'll be thinking of you, Mr. WT, Picabo, and the kittens.