Hi all,

I haven't been here in awhile, but I am back to request some thoughts or
advice.  My 3 year old kitty has in recent weeks (maybe 8 or 10 weeks?) been
pooping outside the litter box on occasion.

I am certain this is a behavioral thing, but will tell you the details so as
to circumvent other assumptions.  I have 3 cats who seem to get along well
in general.  I had (when this started) 2 boxes upstairs in a spare bedroom
and 1 box in my basement in a back room.  She started to poop in the back
room, on the cement floor, near the litter box but not IN it, and clearly
not an accidental miss.  At first I was not sure which cat it was (though my
guess was correct), but have since caught her right after the act, so I know
it's her.

My first ploy was to put another box downstairs, thinking maybe they need
more.  Within a week or so, she just started leaving her outside the box
stuff between the 2 boxes.  I tried leaving the doors open to the back room,
thinking that was too closed and quiet and open air might.....  no good.

A couple weeks ago, I decided to move all litter to the upstairs room and
close the doors on the basement back room.  I was thinking maybe the secret
outside the box pooping was still something she was doing in a dark quiet
room....I added a litter box upstairs so there are now 3 there (4 had not
helped, so decided to go back to 3).  Things went quietly for awhile, then,
sure enough....  Since changing the situation, she has pooped 2X on the rug
in the spare bedroom.  Again, somewhat near the litter boxes, but...

I am now trying to decide if I again move litter downstairs, so at least she
will poop in the cement floored back room and not on the rug.  Or now will
she go outside the box in BOTH places?  I sure hate to think this behavior
might spread to the middle of the living room floor!!!  And why the HECK did
she start this behavior after being a good litter girl for several years,
and with NO changes happening in our lives, and with no apparent illness,
and only intermittently?????

I KNOW she is healthy as a horse, and this only happens about once or twice
a week anyway, but just to head off the "take her to the vet" answers, she
has her check up appt. this week.  But I promise you this is not about
illness.

So, do I just say, "Oh well..."?  Or is there something I might DO to make
this not occur?

PattyC