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Junior Member
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Last Login: 7/27/2008 7:15:49 PM
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I have a female petite tuxedo cat. She is about 3 years old and spayed. We had have no problems with her using the litter when we first got her and have been using 2 litter boxes. I have a second older neutered male cat, and they do get along. However, about 6months ago she started to BM just outside of the box. She will still use the boxes for urination, but every single BM is just outside of the box. They are clearly not a “near miss” either. Luckily, they are never anywhere else, just in the room that we keep the boxes. . This room has a concrete floor. We have been using the same litter she was introduced to and had no previous problem with. It almost seems to be a conscious choice on her part. I have taken her to the vet, and nothing obvious was discovered, although he did say something about impacted or swollen anal sacs and emptied them for me. But I have never seen anything dripping or hanging from here, and she doesn’t seem to do an unusual amount of licking in that area. Her behavior has not changed at all either and acts like a normal and happy cat. Although she has to be the most skittish cat I have ever owned. I have changed the litter thinking she might like something new, but to no avail. I have gone to cleaning the boxes twice a day, but still BMs show up on the floor even if there is nothing in either box. I have recently added a third covered box thinking maybe she wanted more privacy, but that also had no effect. I have considered splitting the boxes into different rooms, but don’t really want to open the possibility of her going BM in a new place that isn’t as easy to clean. If it was unhappy with us, I would think she would BM in our bedroom or other more obvious places. It would almost be easier to understand if she was doing everything all over, but the specific behavior just baffles me more. I am open to ANY suggestions as I am at my wits end.
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Today @ 5:33:26 AM
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| It sounds like you've done everything possible and just right too. I have 4 cats who all BM in one box and urinate in the other. I have 2 boxes and I never "trained" them that way. Once a cat takes it in their mind to do something in a certain way, it's very hard to change them. Have you tried picking up the BM and putting it into the correct box and burying it? Leave it there for next time? You might have to resort to using "puppy pee pads" putting one under the litter box or use newspaper. Try spraying cat repellant (sold in pet stores) directly on the spot where she leaves her mess. You have to somehow get it to "click" in her brain to use the box again. Cats are funny... just when I think my cat might be human, he acts like an animal! LOL 
SuperCat
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Supreme Being
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Okay for my first stupid question of the day: What are you using to clean it up with? perhaps what you're using isn't strong enough to remove her scent from the spot, and she's going back to it because she can smell that she's been there before.
My cats own my house they just permit me to live there. Only cat lovers know the luxury of fur-coated, musical hot water bottles that never go cold."
- Susanne Millen 
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 7/27/2008 7:15:49 PM
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| Every so often, i use a water and bleach mix to completely sterilze the area. The area really doesnt smell bad, but would you recommend something that does a better job? And through all of this, my older cat hasnt been phased at all with all the changes. I have also been considering using mother cat scents or something else to put her at ease. Do you think catching her in the act would help matters at all? or does that only work with dogs? ;-)
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Senior Member
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Have you seen her going outside the box? I mean, does she actually squat outside the box or does she squat in the box but with her butt over the side? That will make a difference in how to handle the situation. How big are the litterboxes? For now, you'll probably want to put newspaper or puppy pads in the places she goes, so that at least the cleanup will be easier until you can get this problem solved.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------Educate, don't amputate! Don't de-claw your cat! http://www.declawing.com/ http://www.pawsneedclaws.com/
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 7/27/2008 7:15:49 PM
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| Unfortunately i have not actually seen her going outside the box, but i have found some BMs up to 2 meters away from the box, so it cant be a near miss everytime she goes. I have a vet appointment next week again to make sure its nothing physically wrong. I might try scents maybe to get her interested in the box again. But then, she is already peeing inside the box, so it cant be the smell that is doing it alone.
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Junior Member
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Last Login: 7/27/2008 7:15:49 PM
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| Ahh yes. The litter boxes are HUGE, they are actually Sterilite under-the-bed storage boxes. So the rims are low to the ground and big enough that even my larger cat has no problems with not peeing over the sides in an accident. I also have a smaller covered box that i recently got for her in case she was wanting more privacy.
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Supreme Being
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Last Login: Today @ 5:33:26 AM
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| Have you tried moving the BM into the litterbox and burying it? Then after you clean the spot where she went, put vinegar on the spot or some other deterant -- they sell bitter apple spray at the petshop. This might sound crazy, but try talking to your cat by visualizing what you want her to do. Put the BM in the box, bury it and let her see what you are doing all the while visualize her going BM in the box. My cat had to take oral antibiodics for an infected head wound, and I visualized him taking his medicine like a "good boy" and it worked! He actually began "asking" for his medicine twice a day when it was time. Maybe I am a little crazy, but I think stuff like that works. 
SuperCat
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