-> My cat has always been rather fond of the bathtub.  For as long as I've had
-> him, he would periodically hop in and run his front paws in place in the
-> sloping end of the tub.
->
-> This amusing display has long since degenerated into him pooping (or peeing)
-> in the bathtub at any given opportunity.  If we forget to refill the tub
-> with water after a shower, we'll invariably find stinky tub presents within
-> mere hours.  Upon reflection, I realized that one of my sister's cats did
-> the same thing for a time at my parents' house (much to their
-> consternation).
->
-> Can anyone speculate as to why some cats are so intent on using the bathtub
-> as a litter box?  It doesn't necessarily seem to correlate to the
-> cleanliness of the actual litter box, and the few times I've caught them at
-> it, they seemed very perturbed that they couldn't properly cover up their
-> excrement, to the point where they continued to "dig" frantically even as I
-> squirted them with water (a normally very effective deterrent).
->
-> Also, other than constantly filling my tub with water, does anyone have any
-> bright ideas as to how to break my cat of this infuriating habit?

Keep the door closed?
Put a small litter box with flushable litter in the bathtub?
Accept it and be glad he's not doing it on the floor?
Mist the tub with lemon juice (or something else he can't stand to
smell) after each shower?

An article I read some time ago said that sometimes, people trying
to solve litterbox problems are thinking of the wrong end of the cat.

Possibly, he likes the smooth feel of the tub when "digging" with
his front paws.  You might try putting something under one end to
tilt the litterbox a little bit, with the litter at the low end,
and leaving the exposed smooth bottom at the high end.

Put a small catbox in the tub. If you are worried about litter scatter, put
shredded newspaper in it. I think maybe the cat feels safe in there. It's
big and private.

Is the cat declawed?

                 ---MIKE---

The only time my cat ever did this was when the box was dirty. Your
statement about "it doesn't necessarily correlate to the cleanliness of
the litter box" tells me that there are times when the box is not clean.
Start with the obvious! Scoop more often. If kitty has not been to
the vet in the last month or so, take him. They like to pee on cool
surfaces when they have urinary tract infections or blockages that
make it painful to pee.

Many years ago, we picked up "Burton" off the streets where he had
been abandoned. I think it might have because he peed and pooped in
the tub. He lived until he was 12 and he NEVER went in the kitty
litter. Always the tub. We have joked that we should have had his
tombstone inscribed, "Here lies Burton. His paws never touched kitty
litter." One time, when my daughter was an easily embarrassed teenager
she had her boyfriend over and closed the bathroom door so he wouldn't
poop in the tub. Burton, happily jumped up into the kitchen sink and
went there. We still laugh about that. I'm glad you asked your
question--it's been fun going down memory lane. Burt was a wonderful
cat and I still miss him and his strange habit.

cats wont deficate where they eat.  Put his food in the tub for a while.

Just keep the bathroom door closed and keep the cat out of the tub.

Adam

I have known people who sprinkle red pepper in the tub and it keeps the
cats out.

Mine only use the tub to tussle with each other and leave bits of cat fur.