Conference misery::feline_v1

    Have you cleaned the areas in question with an enzyme product, like
    Nature's Miracle?  
    
    The cat will mark an area, and return to the same spots to to it's
    thing.  Nature's Miracle eliminates (neutralizes) the spot/odor and
    the cat will go in the box - where it's marked.
    
    There are many notes (some recent) about litter box problems which 
    may  have other suggestions.
    
    	Michele

    I have seven cats and most of them use the litterbox...and we very
    seldom have any accidents.  We use two litterboxes and scoop twice
    a day and fully clean them twice a week.   They have trained us well
    and I would prefer to do that then clean up a mess on the floor.!
    
    I also have one cat that does not cover.....and I also have one cat
    that is indoor/outdoor...but yet he comes in to do his thing.....
    atleast he is using the box!  I find each cat has their own Box
    behaviors!!!  My Abby does her thing and stays in the litter box
    for over 10 minutes covering it and wiping her paws on the side
    to get the litter off.   She even goes and covers someone else stuff
    if they didn't do a good job!
    
    Just some thoughts...... Have you tried different litter?  How about 
    separating the boxes a little more?   Do you use the liners...maybe 
    they don't like them? How about a jumbo box?  Could there be health 
    reasons?   Are they just brats?   
    
    Sandy
    

    Like in .2, each one of my cats has different box behaviour: one
    doesn't cover (most of the time), one diggs for ever and covers for
    longer, the other stays in the box cleaning paws on the side and making
    sure that everyone elses's stuff is burried - whewwww.
    
    This is just a thought here but mine will poop in one and pee in the
    other - maybe adding another box might help - Gino will definitely not
    put his butt down in the pee box (heaven forbid) and I noticed that one
    day while the other box was "occupied" he had to use the pee box - he
    tried this position(s) and it ended up on the floor. Could be you need
    a wet and dry litter situation????
    
    Giudi +3

    Many cats don't cover.  It sounds like you're moved fairly
    recently;  this might be causing the problem as the cats and you get
    used to what arrangements they need now.  i second the clean thoroughly
    with Nature's Miracle or they'll go back to the places they've
    gone before.
    

    
    
       When my (large) Sylvester was alive, he would NEVER burry what
     he did in the cat box, and yet my little Tykey will spend minutes
    upon minutes upon minutes burrying what she just did...They certainly
    do have different habits (just like us humans)....
    Soooo I do find myself cleaning the cat box OFTEN to rid of those
    unwanted odors...
    
    Good luck
    Diana 

    I've been told by my vet that cats don't use stool to mark.  They
    use pee.  Don't know how true that is - maybe some other folks in
    this file can comment.
    
    If you're having trouble with someone "missing" get covered boxes.
    There's a catshow in Cranston RI this weekend and Haddeleigh House
    has VERY reasonable prices for catboxes.  
    
    Bob and Halie do not cover in my house.  I just have to scoop
    frequently.  
    
    You sound as if you feel the cats are doing this deliberately to
    annoy you.  I doubt that is the case and approaching the problem
    with that mindset will only result in you getting more and more 
    angry with the cats.  Rather try to figure out what is causing
    the behavior.  Perhaps you need to put the boxes in two separate
    locations, get another box, clean the area's thoroughly with a
    product designed to get rid of urine/stool odors, use covered boxes,
    scoop religiously etc.  If that's what it takes to eliminate the
    offensive behavior then all I can say is "Get used to it".   :^)
    That's the way it is with cats sometimes.  
    
    I have at least one who is VERY finicky about the box and with 11
    adults and 7 kittens currently it is critical that I stay on top
    of the box situation.  My only other options are to put up with
    cat pee on my rugs etc or get rid of the cats.  (BTW - mine are all
    indoor only)
    
    Finally, do what you can to minimize the damage.  Get plastic runners
    or a piece of linoleum to put under the boxes so that when they miss
    its easily cleanable.  
    
    These types of problems are a REAL PAIN!  Believe me you are not alone
    and we all understand your exasperation.  Try to approach the situation
    in a methodical manner.  
    
    Good luck.
      Nancy DC
    

    What type of litter are you using?  My Nymets refused to use the box
    when I was using the perfumed litters such as Fresh Step.  I switched
    to plain clay litter and the problem was solved.
    
    T