soiling

felines are usually very clean animals. they learn from an early age how to use the litter tray, or how to bury their "business" outdoors. when kittens are very little, the mother takes care of it and keeps them clean by licking their behinds.

problem

if a cat suddenly starts soiling indoors on carpets or furniture, it can be a sign of ill health or stress. if the stains are not removed thoroughly, the cat might be attracted to use this area over and over again.

solution

• check if your cat is suffering from an urinary or bowel problem. signs can be frequent urge to urinate with little or no success, loose stools and not making it to the litterbox in time. see a vet to rule out any possible illnesses
• if you live in a busy household, your cat might be stressed and has not enough peace and quiet to do its "business". make sure you provide enough clean litter trays (multi-cat household), away from the feeding area. invest in a covered tray for extra security
• cats can also get stressed by new unfamiliar surroundings and that can also trigger toiletting problems. make your cat comfortable and provide enough hiding and snoozing places, where its undisturbed and can get used to its new environment
• clean out the litter tray at least twice a day. wash and disinfect the tray and replace with fresh litter once a week
• never scold or smack your cat after a mishap. it would only exaggerate the problem
• deter your cat from soiling at the same spot again, by cleaning the soiled area with biological washing - powder and surgical spirit. don't use ammonia based cleaners, the smell is too similar to urine and might attract even more, cover the spots with tin foil or plastic sheets for a while
• change the litter type, sometimes cats prefer softer litter or types that are wood-based or paper-based. trial and error is the key here