This beast is driving me insane!

Alex's cat won't use the litter box!  She goes everywhere BUT the damned litter box.  We had this issue at the apartment and spent money we didn't have on the litter she likes so she'd use the damned thing, and even then she only went about 50% of the time.  We ended up shelling out a few hundred in damages to the apartment because of her.

We excused it then because there were other pets in the apartment before we moved in and figured it was beyond our control even with gallons of Nature's Miracle being used weekly. 

For the first six months we had no issue being here.  There was the occasional jelly bean sized droplet here and there but we figured it fell off of her ass because she's too fat to clean the dingle berries off.  Then we found tinkle spots and full on monster turds everywhere.  She particularly likes to go in my work room, where I keep my slippers in the living room, and where I toss my tissues in the bathroom.

This is the same cat, mind you, that a year ago pissed in my favorite hat and eats the buttons off of my clothes if they're in a basket, but never touches anything of Alex's who leaves his stuff on the  floor.

We're renting our house, there were two dogs here before us, but we've torn up all carpetting, half of the floors have been refinished, and I'm convinced the beast is just jealous because Vodka gets spoiled rotten with specialty food and special attention because of her diagnosis.  If she weren't so fat, old, and untrained I'd give her up in a heart beat, and I know at this point Alex would, too.  Believe me, we've had this conversation many times.  We're pretty sure though nobody would want her and I'm not going to kill her because she's annoying.

Rargh, do I have any options or am I really stuck suffering through this? 

Can you keep her in one room in the house? Delegate that room 'fat cat's room' ?

Here is a link to a litter that is designed to attract cats who don't use their littler box.

http://www.preciouscat.com/

I don't know if it works, but I'm sure that there are probably plenty of consumer reviews on it.

Good luck!

they tend to do it where they can smell themselves even after you have cleaned it up their scent is still there you need to get a cat pee deodoriser can't remember what it is called but it does work. you would get it at any good pet store.

Nature's Miracle?

I'm probably going to get flamed for this, but some cats just WON'T use the litter box (I've owned 3 of at least 30 since I was a kid who were this way).  After ruling out UTIs and worms on all of them, last resort we had with all of them is to kick their a**es out of the house.   I know you said she's old, so I know that's not an option for you.  Like a prior poster said, she may just have to be locked up in one room (preferably with non-carpeted floors!) 99% of the time.  If she's as lazy as you say, she probably won't even mind, as long as she gets a fair share of attention. 

Also to add - you do have at least 2 litter boxes don't you?  Some cats refuse to share...

We have different litter boxes, food dishes, water dishes, and designated toys for each of the cats.  Vodka gets special treatment 'cause she's Vodka and fatty gets treated like a house plant because I can't stand her and am anxiously awaiting the day a squirrel breaks in and destroys her.

Like I said, we've been through gallons of Nature's Miracle and bottom line is this cat is just a bad cat.  She misbehaves, knows she's misbehaving, but doesn't stop misbehaving.  She's only 7, but she's about twenty-five pounds, is so fat she can't even purr without choking herself, and can't walk more than a yard without needing to sit down for a break.

I'm waiting for nature to take it's course on this cat but the only damned thing nature seems to be doing lately is calling her to piddle on my white walls.

Are you certain she's been completely spayed? Sometimes a female can be partially spayed and still display bad behavior.

Maybe she's doing it for the attention?

Double Post oops!

Original Post by cellulitedelight:

  Vodka gets special treatment 'cause she's Vodka and fatty gets treated like a house plant because I can't stand her and am anxiously awaiting the day a squirrel breaks in and destroys her.

I'd probably pee on your favorite hat too if you never gave me any attention.  Her little feelings are probably sooo hurt because mommy hates her.

poor kitty.... if we lived closer, I would take her in.

what if you start paying attention to her?  see if that helps.  something as simple as affection can help her.  it might be hard at first, because vodka may get jealous (especially because she's favored).... but sometimes you gotta do whatcha gotta do.  just love her and treat her good. all animals deserve that

try it :)

I would say with the jealousy issue of the other cat, this cat is probably marking it's *territory* so the other cat knows "this is my spot." It could also be doing it for attention because it knows you'll yell at it and hey yelling attention is better then no attention at all.

I don't mean to be Grimm either, but have you taken this cat to the vet lately? My cat at home was making messes all over the house much to my parent's complaints. We had no idea why she was doing it. So my mother took my cat to the vets for a check up and it turns out she was full of cancer. :( All in her hind area mostly and her messing on the floor she couldn't help. They said she probably didn't even realize she was doing it.....So we sadly had to put her to sleep which was about a month ago.

Hopefully this isn't the case, but it would be worth a shot if you have not had her checked.

I'd rather not take her to the vet so whatever ailments she possibly has won't be diagnosed and she'll croak.

I know, I'm horrible.

Original Post by cellulitedelight:

I'd rather not take her to the vet so whatever ailments she possibly has won't be diagnosed and she'll croak.

I know, I'm horrible.

 wow... i knew there were people out there like that, but i never thought i'd ever come across one, though  :(

seriously.... you should try giving her away.  i know that she's 'older' than the average cat that people prefer to adopt, but believe it or not.... someone WILL want her.  especially if they know that she is neglected/isn't loved at her current home.

you can list her on craigslist (and it's free, so 'fat-cat' isn't incnveniencing you by having you spend money one her... since you've made it clear that you don't like to) and explain how much you don't like her in the ad and how you don't take her to the vet because you'd rather that she 'croak' (or what you've already said here)... then i'm SURE that someone will totally take her.  i know i would! 

Rargh, do I have any options or am I really stuck suffering through this? 

listed a couple of options above.   honestly, i don't think you're the one that's suffering.  i think that SHE is.  there is a possibility that she's sick but you'd rather ignore it so that she dies faster

We're pretty sure though nobody would want her and I'm not going to kill her because she's annoying.

somebody WILL take her.  you just haven't asked or tried.
you wont kill her because she's annoying, but you'll just leave here there to die of (if she has one) a potential illness?

ah well.... i guess not everyone loves or does the right thing for their animals.

poor kitty

Why have cat you don't like and can't treat well? 

Dr.Temple Grandin discusses marking behaviors in cats in her latest book, Animals Make Us Human.  The repetitive behavior is due to emotional distress, likely. 

You'd be doing cat a big favor by giving her away.

My fat cat has done the same thing! But my grandma told me what to do and IT WORKED! I bought those "potty pads" they make for training dogs and put it on top of the carpet where I knew she liked to use the bathroom. She still went to the bathroom there but atleast it was on something I could pick up and throw away (this happened when we had just built our new house!)......anyways, I eventually put her catbox there in the corder of the study, on top of the potty pad, and she actually started using her catbox again! Slowly, after about a month or so I moved her catbox to the edge of the room, where she proceeded to use it. Now about 1 year later it is in the laundry room tucked away and as long as I clean it every morning she uses it!

Since your cat goes in two place, decide where you want to put her potty pad/catbox for a while and put tin foil laid out in the spot you don't want her to go on (they dont like the feel or sound).

Oh and one more suggestion, I bought the potty pads until I discovered adult bed pads (like they put under people in the hospital) and they are way cheaper and just as absorbant! Just a little more embarassing buying those, lol!

Original Post by sweetigem:

Maybe she's doing it for the attention?

 Yeah. And also cats will do things out of spite. I have 2 crazy cats that I love but sometimes they drive me nuts. They will definitely act out if they feel they have a lack of love and attention.

Cats know when you don't like them. And they will not react kindly or behave just to get you to like them. They are not like dogs at all in that respect. Cats have a sense of entitlement and think they deserve your love and affection no matter what. Whereas dogs more try to earn your praise with being "good." Cats don't care about good vs. bad.

I think she'd do a lot better with some love from you... if you just pretend in earnest for a while, she will probably improve her behavior and you will end up loving her.

And if not, I agree with the person who suggested that you adopt her out to a more loving home... that is willing to put up with and older cat's ailments.

Original Post by moodymomma1977:

what if you start paying attention to her?  see if that helps.  something as simple as affection can help her.  it might be hard at first, because vodka may get jealous (especially because she's favored).... but sometimes you gotta do whatcha gotta do.  just love her and treat her good. all animals deserve that

try it :)

Yeah, I agree with this. I've successfully had my cats living with other cats, twice, this way. And the cat that my 2 cats now share a home with, previously had been unable to make peace with 2 separate cats that she tried to cohabitate with. Make sure they all have attention, love and affection. From ALL of the people in the home. Not just your husband, but from you too.

It will only get worse and worse if you don't show this cat some love.

If she was really old (over 12) I'd say she was probably entering kitty senility and there isn't anything to do about it except humour her because she can't help it... but she's only seven. That is NOT OLD for an indoor cat at all! She's in the prime of her life, and to be honest, I'd say that she knows that you hate her guts and she's returning the favour. It sounds like she is totally miserable in her current living environment. If you aren't prepared to give her all the time and attention that she needs, then please give her to somebody else who can! It sounds like you basically ignore her until she makes a mess somewhere, while lavishing attention on the other cat. Post a message on your local freecycle group explaining kitty's problems and I bet there'll be somebody out there who is more experienced with problem kitties and who will be happy to take her off your hands to rehabilitate her.

Agree on tin foil. Or just dealing with it and going with the piddle pads.  My male cat hasn't peed on or near my riding boots since we put foil in the closet.  He comes fleeing out of there shaking his paws like he's got something on them so I guess the sensation of the foil or the sound creeps him out.  Tried natures miracle and some other pet odor stuff that didn't work.  Covered the smell but he'd be right back in there going.  Since he's only 1 it's not an age factor... just a smelling the barn cat factor.

Original Post by amy_blue:

Original Post by sweetigem:

Maybe she's doing it for the attention?

 Yeah. And also cats will do things out of spite. I have 2 crazy cats that I love but sometimes they drive me nuts. They will definitely act out if they feel they have a lack of love and attention.

Cats know when you don't like them. And they will not react kindly or behave just to get you to like them. They are not like dogs at all in that respect. Cats have a sense of entitlement and think they deserve your love and affection no matter what. Whereas dogs more try to earn your praise with being "good." Cats don't care about good vs. bad.

I think she'd do a lot better with some love from you... if you just pretend in earnest for a while, she will probably improve her behavior and you will end up loving her.

And if not, I agree with the person who suggested that you adopt her out to a more loving home... that is willing to put up with and older cat's ailments.

Heh, yeah, cat's are programmed in their genetics to be vindictive. Case in point: I have a kitten, Dante. Very well behaved aside from a few problems with scratching, which he is in training for apparently. Anyway, my room mate forgot to check her room one morning before she left and she locked him up in there.  I was out cold asleep and didn't wake up for a few hours. When I woke up I noticed he wasn't in my room (he sleeps in there when I leave my door open) so I started calling him.. never showed up, but I could hear faint meowing. So I went to search him out... opened her door... my face was hit with the most rotten odor.

Not only had Jessica left milk in a milk bowl (that he had lapped up like ambrosia), but she had locked him up.

Now, class. Tell me what milk does for the digestive track.

So, he drinks the milk. Gets an upset tummy. Gets PISSED that she locked him up.. and he doesn't have access to his litterbox.

I should have took a picture of the damage. He took this one massive dump right in the middle of the bed, and then I swear to god I think he got creative after that and made various squiggles going out from the epicenter. It was impressive, nasty, and she's left for a week and a half for vacation.

Sucks that I had to clean it up, but I find his method of retribution to be hilarious.

I will say this though, I think Fatty's problem is probably a combination of diet problems, feline depression, and just being ignored in general.

You either need to put him down or give him away if you just can't find it in your heart to be nice to him. Locking him up in a designated room isn't going to help, my mom used to do that with cats and that just adds to the problems. Once a cat has established territory and you cut that in half of a half you're going to have a kamikaze kitty on your hands.