Cats and pooping on the carpet

eesome

What is the best way to permanently stop cats from pooping on the carpet?
I have a cat that has been doing it on and off for years now, and it's starting to really upset me. First I would just pick it up and wash the area with carpet cleaner, but now, I am getting really aggrevated.

I recently tried putting foil down on the carpet because I heard that scares them away, but he pooped around it.

I then tried to use rubbing alcohol on the carpet because I heard that makes them stop, and it did nothing.

Please help! TIA. 

Chasing Emmii

If he's been checked out at the vet and gotten a clean bill of health, it's a behavioral thing at this point, which is usually caused by stress. New people in the household can trigger the stress, did it start when you had one of your kids?

First thing, regular carpet cleaners won't work. You have to clean with an enzymatic cleaner. If he's been doing it for a while now, your carpet may even be too far gone to get clean enough to get him to stop. 

Next, go to PetSmart and get a Feliway diffuser (or several, if you can afford it). Put them near where he goes. They're supposed to have a calming effect on kitties. 

Then, get Cat Attract litter. It's expensive, but it (usually) works well. 

You can also see if your vet will give kitty a prescription for an anti-anxiety med, if it's determined that he's just skittish. 

You'll have to confine him to a small space in order to retrain him to use the box once you put the Cat Attract litter in it. Something about the size of a large dog crate, just big enough for kitty, food and water, and litter box. Leave him in there when you can't supervise him. This may take some time (even a week). 

There are a lot of things you can try to help kitty with his anxiety, if you can't find the exact cause. One more litter box than the number of kitties, an uncovered box, a new box, a cleaner box, a box located in a more private area that kids or dogs can't get to. 

These are just the things I can think of right off the top of my head. If you google "feline inappropriate elimination", you'll find a bunch of articles about it.

Good luck! I know firsthand that this is one of the most miserable issues you can have with a cat! 

BackseatDriver

PP had a lot of good suggestions. Other types of things to consider: Is your cat ever being disturbed when going in the box? Is it in a high traffic area, or a quite place away from kids and dogs? Does your cat have a preference of covered vs uncovered? Are you cleaning your box enough?  Do you have enough boxes?

mainerocks

BackseatDriver:

PP had a lot of good suggestions. Other types of things to consider: Is your cat ever being disturbed when going in the box? Is it in a high traffic area, or a quite place away from kids and dogs? Does your cat have a preference of covered vs uncovered? Are you cleaning your box enough?  Do you have enough boxes?

Both PPs had good stuff. My first thought from your post was that this may be related to the kids - judging by your siggy and that it's been going on for years, on and off.  

Cats hide stress REALLY well, so you may not even realize that when teh baby becomes mobile, it freaks your cat out (for example).  I would definitely be sure the cat has plenty of space away from the kids for when he needs it. You may want to try a Feliway diffuser, or even the spray so  you can put it where he's pooping (they are supposed to not want to go where they smell the friendly phermones).

 Make sure kitty is getting lots of play time and snuggle time. Get one of those fishing pole toys and let your older kid play with him so he associates kids with good things. Let the older one help with feeding and treats too.

Good luck! 

LuckyAngel07

A few elaborations on this poster's great suggestions:

Chasing Emmii:

If he's been checked out at the vet and gotten a clean bill of health, it's a behavioral thing at this point, which is usually caused by stress. New people in the household can trigger the stress, did it start when you had one of your kids?

First thing, regular carpet cleaners won't work. You have to clean with an enzymatic cleaner. If he's been doing it for a while now, your carpet may even be too far gone to get clean enough to get him to stop. 

Next, go to PetSmart and get a Feliway diffuser (or several, if you can afford it). Put them near where he goes. They're supposed to have a calming effect on kitties. 
The Feliway diffusers are cheaper ordered online, like on Amazon. You can get way more bang for your buck going that route; it's a considerable discount over PetSmart (I've compared, but don't remember off the top of my head). Also, they take up to a month to take full effect on your cat, so in the meantime, try using the Feliway Spray; you have to reapply more often, but you can apply it in the areas he's been pooping and places he hangs out most often to help calm him.

Then, get Cat Attract litter. It's expensive, but it (usually) works well. 
We got this for our cat who started routinely pooping (like on a daily basis) outside her litter box. It worked immediately. You only need to apply it as a top layer over whatever litter you currently use. That way, you're not filling the whole box with it and you can stretch your bucks a bit.

You can also see if your vet will give kitty a prescription for an anti-anxiety med, if it's determined that he's just skittish. (CE: THANK YOU for spelling "skittish" right!! Hahaha)

You'll have to confine him to a small space in order to retrain him to use the box once you put the Cat Attract litter in it. Something about the size of a large dog crate, just big enough for kitty, food and water, and litter box. Leave him in there when you can't supervise him. This may take some time (even a week). 

There are a lot of things you can try to help kitty with his anxiety, if you can't find the exact cause. One more litter box than the number of kitties, an uncovered box, a new box, a cleaner box, a box located in a more private area that kids or dogs can't get to. 
Getting a cat tree/tower might help, too. It will give him verticle space to get up and away from things (kids) that might be causing him stress.

These are just the things I can think of right off the top of my head. If you google "feline inappropriate elimination", you'll find a bunch of articles about it.

Good luck! I know firsthand that this is one of the most miserable issues you can have with a cat! 

kellbell1919

Emmi kind of rocked that one out.  I would note that adding more litterboxes could help.  You need 1 per cat +1 extra.  A lot of cats won't go if it isn't clean enough for their standards.  Make sure you're scooping every day.

I would onyl use anti anxiety meds as a last resort b.c. they can have some serious medical side effects.  My cats love Feliway, when it runs out they're devil monsters and as soon as I plug it in everyone is singing kitty kumbayah again.

eesome

Thank you so much, ladies! 

We have two cats, and the cat that is doing is is our older cat. He is healthy and has been to the vet recently, so I know it isn't that. The litter boxes are cleaned every other day, but even when they are very clean he still poops on the carpet.

The location of the litter boxes is in it's own room that is designated for the cats. There is play stuff, litter boxes, and scratch posts.

We have noticed this only happens late at night when no one is in the area and when everyone is asleep. Odd, right?

It has gotten worse since my baby girl arrived. I never considered stress before! Thank you so much. I will share this info with my husband and will will try all you mentioned above.