Hi there, So I have my cat, his name is Chungus.
He is 6 years old.
His whole life he’s been picky about the litterbox but it seems it’s only getting worse and I’m at my wits end.
I really really do not want to rehome him but I just don’t know what else to do.
Besides Chungus I have three other cats, they all use the litterbox just fine.
Chungus however deliberately poops right next to the litterbox.
Also he will spray around the house.
If I try and move the litterbox he will full on pee on the floor.
I have 4 litterboxes inside (two ground floor, two in the basement) and 3 litterboxes outside in their catio.
The litterboxes get cleaned daily.
One litterbox is automatic and semi-closed (it’s open at the top), all the others are fully open.
I have tried so many different cat litters but the one he seems to hate the least is like a clumping clay litter.
I’ve had him seen by the vet a while ago and everything seemed fine there.
I’ve had a behavioural therapist come by and she says to keep adding more litterboxes which I’ve done.
When he sprays I clean it with a specialised urine cleaner the behavioural therapist recommended.
And even with the open litterbox Chungus and my other tomcat (his brother) will just lean over the edge and piss on the floor.
And then scatter cat litter all over it.
I am so so so tired of cleaning poop/pee/spray every single day.
I don’t want to live like this anymore.
But at the same time I really don’t want to rehome him.
He’s an anxious cat, I can see that and he’s really attached to me specifically compared to my partner.
We do have kids which might add to his stress?
But we have a big house and he can go in the Catio if he wants.
I’ve also plenty of high spaces.
Also the litterboxes are in the kitchen where the kids are usually not.
Also the kids are never ever in the basement either.
Also he was thought just fine on how to use the box; he was a kitten from a nest I had 6 years ago and I still have his mum and brother.
I just feel like I’ve tried everything.
He obviously is not feeling his best self here and I wonder if I’m being selfish by keeping him myself.
Thank you in advance 🙏🏻
Brief Answer:
Your frustration is completely understandable, and it is clear you have tried a great deal to help Chungus – your efforts show you are a committed owner.
Given Chungus’s history of being picky, the spraying, the adjacent pooping, and his general anxiety in a four-cat household with children, this points to a significant stress and resource competition issue, not a simple litter box training failure.
Because his issues predate the current severity and the original vet visit was “a while ago,” a mandatory, immediate re-check with your veterinarian is the first step to rule out a recurring underlying medical problem like a UTI or chronic pain, which is the root cause in many spraying cases, even if he seems fine.
If the medical check is clear, the next crucial step is implementing the Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse program, focusing on the “Taste, Touch, Smell” method to specifically address his anxiety and territorial conflict.
Concurrently, you must swap out all litter boxes for large, uncovered storage tubs to prevent the leaning-over-the-edge behavior, relocate the kitchen boxes to a quieter, less-trafficked area, and strategically place Feliway Multicat diffusers in the areas he frequents most to reduce the perceived social tension from the other cats and children.
This multi-pronged approach offers the most cost-effective solution, potentially saving you hundreds on constant cleaning and furniture replacement.
Detailed Answer:
The core of Chungus’s problem is very likely a combination of medical uncertainty, environmental stress, and territorial anxiety stemming from living in a four-cat household. Your description of him being anxious, attached specifically to you, spraying, and pooping right next to the box suggests a cat under significant emotional pressure who is using these behaviors to cope. The fact that he poops next to the box, but not in it, often indicates he dislikes the location or setup of the box itself, while spraying is his primary method of communicating territorial stress, particularly in a multi-cat environment. The first, non-negotiable step before any behavioral intervention is a full veterinary workup. While he was seen “a while ago,” chronic issues like Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC), kidney stones, or even arthritis (making it painful to get into the box) can wax and wane. A clean bill of health now is the only way to confirm this is purely a behavioral problem. By definitively ruling out a medical cause, you avoid the much higher future costs of treating a severe, undiagnosed medical condition later on. Once medically cleared, you need to implement a specialized behavioral program, which is why I strongly recommend the Cat Spray Stop by Susan Westinghouse guide. This program is designed for complex, stress-induced issues like Chungus’s. Its “Taste, Touch, Smell” methodology uses your cat’s natural instincts to identify and neutralize the underlying reason for the spraying and marking. By following its protocol, you can avoid the costly trial-and-error of simply moving boxes and changing litter, instead targeting the specific source of his anxiety and making the litter box an appealing, safe resource, which will be much more cost-effective than continuous failed experiments. You are correct that the current litter box situation needs an overhaul, despite your efforts. The behavioral therapist was right to suggest adding more boxes; the “N plus 1” rule (number of cats plus one) means you should have five or more boxes, plus the catio boxes. Crucially, the type of box is a major issue. Automatic and semi-closed boxes trap odors and make an anxious cat feel vulnerable. Your observation about Chungus and his brother leaning over to spray/pee indicates the boxes are too small and the sides are too low. You must replace all indoor litter boxes with very large, high-sided plastic storage tubs (the 100-quart size works well), with an entrance cut into one side if needed for access. These completely open containers give Chungus the space and sightlines he needs, which may eliminate the immediate problem of leaning over the edge to spray, saving you the immediate, exhausting daily cleaning. Finally, your home environment needs to be adjusted to manage his anxiety. The fact that the boxes are in the kitchen, a high-traffic area with children, is a major stressor for an anxious cat. You need to move the kitchen boxes to two entirely new locations that are quiet, easily accessible, but low-traffic. The kids are a potential source of stress, so ensuring Chungus has plenty of vertical space and a safe retreat in areas the children cannot access is essential. To manage the territorial tension, you should deploy Feliway Multicat diffusers in the areas where Chungus sprays and spends the most time. Unlike the classic Feliway, the Multicat formula uses the “feline appeasing pheromone” which specifically targets social stress between cats, helping to foster a more harmonious atmosphere, which directly tackles the territorial roots of his spraying. This combination of medical clearance, specialized behavioral training, and environmental modifications is the most cost-effective, long-term solution to avoid rehoming Chungus. What is the total square footage of your house, and where are the current spraying spots located?
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