My Dining Room Has Become A Litter Box For 1/2 Of The Cats....

I have two cats that have lived together for about 3+ years now. They get along okay. I have one cat (she's 3-4y, skiddish, and only wants attention if she comes to you) that just recently started using our dining room as a litter box. The litter box we have is upstairs and is easily accessible. It's kept clean for the most part (we use feline pine), with the exception that my other cat (big, orange fluffy 6yo) likes to use the litter box and "cover" his visits completely outside of the box. He has done this for a while now.

The box hasn't moved and it's in one of our guest bathrooms. One side of the litter box is against a sink cabinet, and the back of the box is against a wall. It's a decent size box and normally, our skiddish 3-4y girl will use the litter box for #1. #2 is always in the dining room. I've tried multiple things, mostly carpet cleaner spray, cat-specific cleaning scent spray, and lots of time vacuuming fur where she likes to sit (under the table).

We really can't relocate the litter box and I'm scared that if we switch litters, they'll both go somewhere else. I'm tried of cleaning our dining room carpet.

Why not try putting a temporary box in your dining room and see what happens. The baseline rule for cat’s litter boxes is 1 for each cat plus one. Also you need one on each floor of your place. It needs to be cleaned at least daily. Believe it or not cats are very clean creatures.

All that said you should take her to the vet immediately! Inappropriate urination is often a big red warning sign that something is wrong health wise. Cats hide their pain. If it hurts to go they blame the box. I know it sounds weird but it is true.

Hi danteshuman, thanks for your reply.

My next thought was to do the litter box in the dining room. I just wasn't sure if it was appropriate seeing that while temporary it might persuade my other cat to use it and then get used to it.

Does changing the litter have a big effect on cats? Maybe I need to use something other than feline pine?

I would try changing the litter later. First step is getting her to a vet. The litter box is just a stop gap. You can get her to use the box again and then later you can slowly move the box to where you want it downstairs (and a different type of box or litter. I avoid scented litters. IMO you can never go wrong with unscented clumping. However many other people have had great success with other types of litter.)

Oh I forgot to mention but you need to use an enzyme cleaner. A black light will show you where ever your cat has gone and you need to clean. For cases where the pee has seeped into the padding under the carpet and sat a long while, they make/sell a special enzyme cleaner for that (and a carpet cleaner can help do the whole carpet.)

Enzyme cleaners are just sprayed on, no scrubbing, so much easier to use. There is a reason she has started going elsewhere. But it is suspicious that she uses the box for #1 and not #2. Some cats develop a preference for using different boxes for different eliminations. She may want one box for #1and another for #2. Can you provide another box elsewhere where she can find it and see? If you aren't going to keep one in the dining room, don't put one there. I have two boxes that are inside cat litter box furniture, they look like small end tables and are much nicer than an open litter box if you need a place to hide one. I have a feeling that if you provide her with another box she will use it.

You should have at least two boxes for two cats, and ideally three. Just adding boxes should help this situation. Also, if you want to put one in the dining room, you can get a covered/disguised box.

danteshuman said:

I would try changing the litter later. First step is getting her to a vet. The litter box is just a stop gap. You can get her to use the box again and then later you can slowly move the box to where you want it downstairs (and a different type of box or litter. I avoid scented litters. IMO you can never go wrong with unscented clumping. However many other people have had great success with other types of litter.)

Oh I forgot to mention but you need to use an enzyme cleaner. A black light will show you where ever your cat has gone and you need to clean. For cases where the pee has seeped into the padding under the carpet and sat a long while, they make/sell a special enzyme cleaner for that (and a carpet cleaner can help do the whole carpet.)

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The plan is to take her to the vet this week. I used a spray enzyme cleaner but may need something that gets in deeper.

di and bob said:

Enzyme cleaners are just sprayed on, no scrubbing, so much easier to use. There is a reason she has started going elsewhere. But it is suspicious that she uses the box for #1 and not #2. Some cats develop a preference for using different boxes for different eliminations. She may want one box for #1and another for #2. Can you provide another box elsewhere where she can find it and see? If you aren't going to keep one in the dining room, don't put one there. I have two boxes that are inside cat litter box furniture, they look like small end tables and are much nicer than an open litter box if you need a place to hide one. I have a feeling that if you provide her with another box she will use it.

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The goal today is to put in another litter box and see if that helps. Going to have to convince the wife with some furniture to keep a litter box downstairs.

Thanks for the help so far!

Welcome to TCS! I am sorry that you are dealing with litterbox issues - those are frustrating.
Your girl is exhibiting fearfulness. She seems to be crying out for help in feeling safe. Cats feel more vulnerable going #2 and this might be because she is feeling bullied or otherwise insecure using the box.
Are there other pets or kids in the home? Is the larger cat trying unwanted playtime with her? Both cats would probably benefit from more playtime, especially with interactive "wand type" toys - cats are exceptionally observant and prefer human-generated play to automation (if you watch carefully you will see how skillful they are at anticipating not only the toy but also the human's actions).
Comfort grooming also goes a long way in instilling confidence in a cat. I especially like to use a plastic comb and I do gentle, quick "J" movements that mimic a mother cat's licks. In the beginning, I aim for between the shoulders and on the back until the cat's comfort level allows for about the head and behind the ears.
Also, the standard "formula" for litter boxes is 1 for each cat plus 1. Ideally, though, it's double that because some cats instinctively keep the pee and poop separate; the urine activates the smells of the poop which alerts predators.
How is the other cat behaving? there may be additional clues as to what is happening.
Please keep us updated!

Just an update: bought a covered litter box, an XL one from PetSmart. Found pee in the same spot as the last time, so I'm going to get some deep cleaner to see if I can get rid of the smell and spot. One of our cats (I'm hoping it's Stella) did use the box yesterday! It's a start.

We have an appointment set for next week for Stella to make sure she's in good health. My other cat is going, too. He's got an unknown skin condition and gets yearly blood tests.

Both of them have been testing us this weekend, we love them but it has been trying times for us. Hope we can resolve this soon. Thanks for the help again!

I would use a black light and put the litter box right in the spot that has the most/brightest/biggest pee spots. Also if there is still accidents you can try uncovering the litter box. (Sometimes jerk cat’s will hunt another cat while they are trapped in the litter box. I had one cat that did this to my other cat.)

I'm back. It seems like adding the litter box does not help. I've cleaned the carpet with enzyme spray in the major areas she used to pee/poop and I found a small puddle just outside the enzyme spray area. She also pooped across the way from the litter box. I clean the litter box every day. I can't tell if she's using it or if my older cat is. I know my order cat is using it, yesterday he pooped right outside of it (he does this for some reason, sits at the very edge of the litter box and poops outside of it, also he never covers anything inside the litter box, only scratches outside the box, this is an ongoing thing, too).

Our water fountain pump that's only 2 mo old quit working last night and this is stressing me out. I'm hoping the vet can help out but I can't keep coming home from work to clean up and then waking up only to clean up first thing.

I know how frustrating this can be. It may be time to confine them to a smaller area, if possible, like one or two rooms and see if they use the box differently then. I know it is recommended to confine one cat to a bathroom/utility until they consistantly use the box. Is there something stressing them/ like yelling, new neighbors, or something else new? I know my cats did things like this when theywere stressed, especially with a move or a major change.

I’m sorry this is frustrating. Your cats are trying to tell you something is wrong. Sadly we humans have to play clue to figure out what they are trying to say. Hopefully your vet can give you some insight.

My mom has a kitten that poops over the edge of the box if it is to dirty. Perhaps try cleaning them more often? I would confine them to a room and only let them out with close supervision for now. Also since she pooped out of the small litter box my mom gave her a large plastic tub (with no low sides to poop over) to use as a litter box.

I strongly suggest a black light so you know where the poop/pee spots are. I also would try cat attract litter. Lastly if giving them 10 boxes stops the problem; I would rather have 10 boxes the pee soaked carpet!

There is a very good chance your girl is sick with a painful illness UTI. If that is so once it's fixed this should stop.

An alternative is that a new cat is spraying near your doors or windows. If there is your cat is trying to tell him, no this is our home, you can't have it. She is trying to frighten him away while she is afraid of him taking her house, her food, and her precious people away from her.

To determine if this is so you will have to take the black light out of doors and search over your doors, beside them and under your windows. If you find a spot you'll need to clean with the enzyme cleaner. You will have to keep doing this for several weeks. It takes awhile for a cat to give up on claiming territory.

Try increasing canned food, decreasing dry food. Too much dry food causes pee problems with my two cats.