Cat experts:

[CanuckAmok]

My older female cat has begun peeing and shitting on the bed. She's seven, and she's been doing it sporadically for about a year.

There's been lots of upset in the last year--losing my wife, moving twice, etc. The easiest way to stop the accidents on the bed has been to keep the bedroom door closed. She doesn't seem to 'go' anywhere else.

But now I live in a loft, and there's no way to keep her away from the bed. I've been covering the bet with a waterproof plastic tarp, but so far she's used it as a litterbox twice in the last week, the last incident being tonight, right in front of me.

She doesn't seem to want to use the litterbox anymore, and I don't know what to do--any ideas?

At present, I have her locked in the bathroom with the litterboxes. But I can't do that indefinitely.

[alittlelark]

1. Have you tried putting a litterbox next to the bed?

Are there catnip toys scattered about?

Does she crave your attn.? Is she a 'needy' cat?

It sounds as though you have others....any issues regarding them?

I'm going to sleep now, but I would love to hear your responses. I'll be back here in the AM.

[CanuckAmok]

2. There is a younger female cat...

around 2 1/2 years old. I've had her for two years now. They seem to get along well...seldom fight, they sleep together, clean each other, etc.

No catnip in the house...neither of them seem to enjoy it.

They both used to have the run of a couple of wild acres, but now they're both indoor cats, and have been for about three months.

The older cat isn't particularly 'needy', and they both get lots of attention and love, although they're spending more time on their own now that I'm single and working.

The younger one is pretty needy, but she doesn't seem to have any litterbox issues; it's only the older one who does.

They've been living here about a week; I hope this is just an adjustment thing, but Millie (the older one) has been peeing on beds for about a year now, and it's getting more frequent. Crapping on them is brand new--since moving here to the loft. She never goes on the sofa or floor...just the bed.

[Must_B_Free]

3. she fucking hates you

that is obvious

[Robeson]

4. Nothing like a nice, sensitive response....

....:eyes:

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

5. has she ever been "fixed"-(spayed)?

and what kind of food do you give her?
I'd buy top quality (but boycott Iams)

I had a female 8 yr old cat (had been fixed" later in life) & she started using the bathtub as the litter box.
Then it was under the bed.
She was a little stressed from us moving twice.
Don't know if this had anything to do with that but we found out the poor girl had diabetes...she had some sort of kidney failure common with diabetes and she didn't live too much longer after she started the weird behavior.

I would have gotten her checked out at the Vet early had I known to.
She always seemed fine until then.

[CanuckAmok]

10. both are fixed.

...

[GingerSnaps]

6. Have you recently adopted a new pet?

She might have something wrong with her urinary tract or a kidney stone or something else that needs to be checked by the vet.

Have you changed your work hours or brought a new friend in?

[Pooka Fey]

7. You need to take her to the vet to rule out any medical problems.

When my 1st cat got feline leukemia, she became incontinent; and she was on the bed all the time because she had no energy to do anything but sleep.

You write that you've had a lot of change this year. Cats HATE change. When I had my 2nd cat, he got a urinary tract infection after I broke up with my boyfriend. Cats really do have big hearts, like lions - when someone they love isn't around anymore it can make them sick. And cats hate moving, too.

PLEASE PLEASE take your cat out of the bathroom. She is becoming even more traumatized by being separated from you - especially locked in with the litter boxes. Cats are extremely fastidious - they do their business and then leave - they never hang out by the litter by choice.

Whether or not there is a medical problem to be treated by your vet - your cat needs lots of affection, attention, playtime, and company right now. Don't punish her if you see her starting to squat on the bed, just scoop her up and put her in the litterbox. If there is not a medical problem - she is letting you know she is upset by all the changes that YOU'VE subjected her to. (I know it's not your fault, but she doesn't) Punishing her will make the problem worse.

Try to be around as much as you can until you've figured out and resolved this. Have your friends visit you at your place instead of going out for a while. Your cat needs you around right now. If it is a possibility at all, as long as your cat isn't sick - you might want to get a kitten for company. My gut feeling is that your cat is lonely and angry - maybe a kitten at home would help sooth her when you are away at work. It might be a difficult adjustment period at first, but most animals prefer to have some company - just like humans.

I hope this helps. I have two cats. One of them throws up on my carpets at least every couple of days - it's not his fault. Long story. I love them, but OH BOY. Mostly I love 'em. Can you tell?

[Must_B_Free]

8. my cat used to chuck his lickins

moreso with the wet beef chunks. And they made his poos reek!

[Robeson]

9. Post #7 has some good advice...

...thats the course I would follow.

[REP]

11. See Post #7!

It's full of great advice. She needs to go to the vet to make sure that's she's not sick - that's the most common reason for cats crapping outside the litterbox. If she's not sick, then try all the behavorial advice (especially about not punishing her - it really doesn't work with cats, and will make things worse).

Another thing to consider - are you using another brand of cat litter? Cleaning the area where the litterboxes are with something different? Cats are very sensitive to odors, and a new scent could be enough to scare her out of the litterbox.

Keep in mind that cats almost never want to make us miserable (after all, they're "snack-size" to us) - when they do things we'd rather they didn't, it means something is making *them* miserable. It's hard to keep this in perspective when there's a fresh turd on your bed, but she's not doing it to make you mad.

[aWaKeNoW]

12. I agree...

I would definitely take her to the vet as soon as you are able to. It could be something medically wrong with her she is trying to "tell" you about by going on the bed.