I don't want to lose my cat

Hi! Please forgive me if this is a long post, but I am highly stressed. I need help/advice so very badly.

I have a 7yr old, male cat who, as of the past few weeks, has been peeing and pooing all over our house. He has always been exceptionally clean. He would normally never pee anywhere but his litterbox.

We do not think it is medical, because they are normal sized pee's (smells like normal cat pee and looks normal) and well formed poo's.

We do think it is behavioural, but cannot, for the life of us, figure out what prompted this to come about or how to fix it.

I am extremely upset. We have a one year old son and I cannot have Fidel doing this. He keeps going pee behind our TV (he has already ruined some expensive equipment), we have closed off our entire upstairs as he will pee/poo on the mats, in the tub, in the laundry hamper, you name it... Today he was caught pooping in our suitcase. I keep finding his "presents" in various, hidden, areas on our main level. It is not healthy for my son and I cannot keep doing this. I feel like I am going to lose it. I am broken. I love my cats so much (I have 3 rescues) and I couldn't imagine giving him to another home. But I don't know what to do.... This cannot keep happening.

We thought maybe he wasn't getting enough attention (even though he gets loads), so we upped that to an abnormal level. Nothing changed. We are scooping and cleaning litter all day (maybe he got pickier). Nothing changed.

I don't know what to do. If anyone can help me, please, I would be so greatful. I want to figure this out. I don't want to lose my cat.

First thing I'd suggest is a vet visit--even if everything looks normal, his behavior has changed and that may signal a medical problem. If he gets a clean bill of health at least you'll have eliminated one cause.

One thing--you mentioned that you caught him pooping in your suitcase? Has someone in the household been traveling more than normal?

I would also suggest a vet visit, have a complete blood panel done as well as a urinalysis. Male cats especially 5 years and older are at greater risk of urinary infections, crystals and blockages. Often this presents at first as urinating/defecating outside the litterbox.

You mention you have 3 cats, how many litterboxes do you have? General rule of thumb is 1 box per cat plus 1 extra, so 3 cats = minimum 4 litterboxes or more. Some cats are quite particular about their boxes, peeing in 1 & pooping in another or wanting a box to themselves.

Has anything new happened in the last few weeks? New animal, new person in the house, moved, as Hazel mentioned someone traveling often or been away for week(s) and just got back?

Have you changed food, litter recently?

We went through this years ago with our male tabby. He started this years after we got him (was a rescue from the street in winter-was just a tiny kitten) Thinking back now after reading your story, Tabby was probably jealous of another cat we aquired. He would pee in the burner of the stove, on top of the fridge, never in the litter box, beside it (was in the basement) etc etc. We tried everything to stop that bad behavior but to no avail. Imagine putting toast down in the toaster.... turning on the burner to cook something.... the smell....I don't know what the answer is, as I said, he'd poo in his box but that's all. You are not alone with this problem I'm sure. Maybe in his mind it has something to do with your 1 year old son.

Oh I love people who rescue kitties :lovestruck: :angel:


Yes, a full checkup at the vet is a must to eliminate any possibility of health issues. Cats are notorious for hiding pain.


If it turns out not being health related there are several reasons why a cat won't use the litter box:

1. Cat has experienced pain while going to the bathroom in the litterbox and now associates the litter box with pain. Try a new litter box, with different litter in a different part of the house. If you were using covered, get uncovered or vice versa.

2. Cat was scared while using the litter box, either by another cat, or a person. It could even be as simple as a loud unexpected noise. Were there strangers in your house at the time or just prior to this starting?

3. A new cat joining the house and picking on your kitty while going to the bathroom.

Do you have a quiet room that you can lock your kitty up in with the different litter box and no other kitties with him for a day or two to see if he starts using it again?

Good luck and keep us posted.