Conference misery::feline_v1

    Andy, how about adding a few extra litterboxes?  I am going through
    a similiar situation now with an obstinate kitten (8 months) who
    suddenly decided to break training several weeks ago.
    
    As far as repllents are concerned, I've been told that cats hate
    the smell of citrus (orange peels?) and also can't stand aluminum
    foil.
    
    Kittens are usually the first to break training.  Confinement to
    a small area with a litter box usually helps to retrain them.
    

    I use vinegar & warm soapy water.  My husband uses amonia & water. 
    They both seem to help for us.  Our accidents are only occassional w/
    our new cat and we use both of these methods on concrete.  If anyone
    knows of a better home remedy let me know.  Maybe this isn't working,
    but it stops the smell, stain & from happening again in that same
    place.
    
    Sonia

  I had that problem with my cat when she was about 6 months old. Confining
both her and the older cat to a small area near the litter helped (I think
in part, she learned from the older cat). I sent the rug (same one kept getting
hit) to the cleaners and sprayed around with viniger and/or windex. 

  I never clean out the litter by hand, but I change it completely twice
a week (that way I don't have to look, just dump it into the trash bag).
During the problem times I would physically place the offending cat into
the litter after it was changed. Much digging resulted.

  Also, I've read that when there are too many cats for a given area,
their litter habits are not as good. Maybe a 4th litter might help. Also,
maybe placing the litters in 2 different areas may help. One of the cats may
be afraid of something near the litters.

  George

    I'm not sure adding more boxes will "cure" the problem.  I have three
    cats and 2 boxes.  No matter how clean the boxes are, one of them (I
    think Benjamin) will poop in a corner somewhere.  I added the second
    box when this problem started, but he never stopped.  I actually think
    he poops elsewhere to spite me because I didn't let him outside enough,
    or because the ground is frozen and he's blaming me.  Who knows.  I
    have been thinking about adding another box or trying that new litter
    (can't think of the name.. mentioned in a recent note) that costs a lot
    but you only change monthly.  It sounds like all the kitties love it.
    
    Anyway, more boxes certainly can't hurt and it might be the answer to
    your problem.  I'm sorry to say that it wasn't to mine.
    
    Mary
    

    I too have been having a problem similar to yours, but not quite the
    same.  I agree with 3 of the suggestions I have seen.  Add a litter
    box, 2 if affordable.  Scoop often and change often.  I know the
    changing part is expensive, but cats like clean places.  If you don't
    add new litter boxes, you really should change and wash out every day.
    
    When cleaning messes on the floor, my vet told me to use vinegar. 
    Amonia is no good, neither is bleach when covering up smells.  Amonia
    can actually work against you.
    
    Put tinfoil every where - it should repel the cats, especially from
    'marking' if you have that problem.
    
    I recently learned that having too many cats in a small space can cause
    behavioral problems..... unfortunately for us who are softies.
    
    Tracey & Family (down to 3)
                               

    I had the same problem with 2 kittens.  Try sprinkling
    moth ball crystals (not too much!).  Mine hated the smell
    and stopped going in those no-no places.
    
    
    Lynne (Casey, B.K.,Rusty, Pepper)

    
    
      RE: All
    
      Thanks for all the suggestions (and please... keep them coming!)
    I tried ammonia and it didn't seem to help. Thanks for steering
    me to the vinegar, I'll try that... also the aluminum foil. I do
    have some moth crystals but was afraid that they might eat them.
    The package scared me by saying.... "if taken internally, flush,
    gush.... etc."
    
      I added another box in the area that is most frequented and it
    seems to be helping... we'll see.
    
    
                                                 Thanks again,
    
                                                     Andy
    

    DON'T USE THE MOTH CRYSTALS....They're poisonous.
    
    cin
    

    if you decide to try mothballs, put them in a cat proof container
    which would allow the smell to come out, but keep the babies safe.

    I'm not sure if you are the noter who doesn't scoop, but just dumps
    the old litter twice a week.  Most cats don't like to have to use
    a litter box that already has "lumps" in it.  Why not try scooping
    once a day for a few weeks, and see if there is any noticeable
    difference in the accidents.  
    
    If you are not the noter who doesn't scoop, please disregard.
    
    Jo
    

    
    
     Hi All!!
    
    
      As of today, the only "fix" I made was to add a fourth litter-box.
    Miraculously, it looks like that did the trick. No problems so far....
    but then of course I haven't run into Murphy for quite a while now
    :) :) :)
    
    
                                                The daily scooper,
    
                                                        Andy
    

    I'm not at all surprised that the extra litter tray made all the
    difference - cats are very fastidious creatures and *hate* litter trays
    that are full of lumps.  My Henrietta will hang around and *wait* until
    you've emptied it before she will use it - which she does as soon as
    it's emptied.
    
    When my mum was looking after the cats for a while, shw didn't realise
    how often the tray had to be emptied and as a consequence they used
    cusions/duvets/other soft furnishings - anything that they could dig at.  I
    thought it was quite curious the way they considered these things a
    substitute for their litter tray.