Ok, here is the issue. We have a 10 year old Maine Coon (Sam) who will poop outside of the litterbox. This is something that he's done ever since bringing him home 3 years ago (he's a rescue, and suspect this is why his previous owner dumped him).
Yes, we do/have done the following:
-5 litterboxes for 3 cats
-litterboxes scooped twice daily
-litterboxes in various locations
-non scented scoopable clay litter used; Sam won't go near it if it is scented. Use baking soda to help control any odors.
-gets plenty of attention and play time
-strictly dry food diet; any wet food gives him runny stool, drinks plenty of water
-no treats, no human food
-gets along with the other two cats
-no stress; we have no children and very few visitors enter our home
An odd behaviour I have observed with Sam is that he will use one litterbox to pee then move immediately on to another to poop. He seems to strain when pooping even though his stool is indeed quite soft yet formed. (Vet can't find anything wrong.) Sometimes as I covertly observe he will do both then come out of the cat room walking a bit stiff legged with his tail at an odd (for him) position. Kind of kinked up at the base. When he does this it's an indication that he's not quite done; he'll walk around briefly then squat to poop some more. When I catch him doing this I will gently scold then shoo him back to the cat room where Sam immediately will get into one of the litterboxes to finish his business. Hubby and I both praise Sam when he does use the litterbox to try some positive reinforcement. Yet the problem continues.
There is no one particular spot he poops in every time. It's where ever he happens to be standing at that moment. And Hubby gets upset when it happens to be in the vicinity of his computer desk in the living room.
We don't know what else to do. Our home is clean. The cats are all well taken care of. Regarding the litter, we've tried the "fancy stuff" (non-clay) with no luck. Financially we're in no position to have any extensive testing done by the vet; nothing shows up on examination, xrays, or blood/urine screenings. He's a sweet and laid-back boy, and Hubby doesn't want to take him to the shelter but is getting even more frustrated with this behaviour than I am (which makes me frustrated with my spouse...)
Any ideas??
Yes, we do/have done the following:
-5 litterboxes for 3 cats
-litterboxes scooped twice daily
-litterboxes in various locations
-non scented scoopable clay litter used; Sam won't go near it if it is scented. Use baking soda to help control any odors.
-gets plenty of attention and play time
-strictly dry food diet; any wet food gives him runny stool, drinks plenty of water
-no treats, no human food
-gets along with the other two cats
-no stress; we have no children and very few visitors enter our home
An odd behaviour I have observed with Sam is that he will use one litterbox to pee then move immediately on to another to poop. He seems to strain when pooping even though his stool is indeed quite soft yet formed. (Vet can't find anything wrong.) Sometimes as I covertly observe he will do both then come out of the cat room walking a bit stiff legged with his tail at an odd (for him) position. Kind of kinked up at the base. When he does this it's an indication that he's not quite done; he'll walk around briefly then squat to poop some more. When I catch him doing this I will gently scold then shoo him back to the cat room where Sam immediately will get into one of the litterboxes to finish his business. Hubby and I both praise Sam when he does use the litterbox to try some positive reinforcement. Yet the problem continues.
There is no one particular spot he poops in every time. It's where ever he happens to be standing at that moment. And Hubby gets upset when it happens to be in the vicinity of his computer desk in the living room.
We don't know what else to do. Our home is clean. The cats are all well taken care of. Regarding the litter, we've tried the "fancy stuff" (non-clay) with no luck. Financially we're in no position to have any extensive testing done by the vet; nothing shows up on examination, xrays, or blood/urine screenings. He's a sweet and laid-back boy, and Hubby doesn't want to take him to the shelter but is getting even more frustrated with this behaviour than I am (which makes me frustrated with my spouse...)
Any ideas??