Hi All

Instead of thinking outside of the box, my 8-year-old neutered male cat
Freddie has the habit of poohing outside of the box. For almost two years
now, he has been doing it. At first, I thought it was because I had gone
back to work (I had been unemployed for several months). He started by doing
it on my fuzzy green bathmat (which isn't quite so fuzzy now!). Since then,
it has spread to other fuzzies or towels in the bathroom, or worse, in my
bed. It was always pooh, pee went in the box. But now, he has also peed in
the bed twice in the last two months.

I'll take responsibility for the second pee episode, as I had forgotten to
clean out the box in the last 36 hours. But, he has been using the same
litter for years now (I tried changing from wheat to corn, but that doesn't
seem to matter, so I went back to wheat, and the changes didn't make a
difference). I clean the box once or twice a day. I have also tried a bigger
litter box, and a separate litter box (I also have a 5 year old female,
Skooter). The two cats have grown up together, and are best friends, eating
and sleeping together. I try to give them equal time, although Skooter does
like to butt in. The only thing I can think of is that Skooter is
leash-friendly, and he often left us a present to be found when we returned
from our walkies. I also tried Freddie on a leash, taking him outside
outside a couple of time, but since he is terrified of the outside world (I
suspect he had been abused before I got him from the Humane Society), he
just shudders and shakes and shreds me. So, I am going to assume it is
probably jealousy and/or anger at me -- like, if I stay out longer than he
thinks I should (maybe I should call him "Mother"?) Oh yes, the vet has
examined him thoroughly a couple of times, and no problem. Anal glands don't
seem to be involved.

I have no intentions of sending him to the great beyond for this problem,
although in the heat of the moment I wonder. We have sort of made a deal -
it is ok to poo on the bathmat or toilet seat cover. Them I can wash, and
get replacements at the dollar store. I also put a shower curtain liner
(dollar store again) on the bed. But if I forget, like today, I am often the
recipient of little brown presents at bed time, like tonight! Ok ok, so I
forget to tell him I was going to be out for a few hours.

So, anybody want to offer any wisdom?

Thanks
Pat

PS - Found some good stuff for cleaning up after cat pee -> Urine-Erase,
from Reidell (made in Canada) Actually smells good. And in case you are
wondering, I flipped the mattress after the first time, so I don't think
(ok, I hope) that that wasn't the reason for episode 2.