Cat not using litterbox

[Three~Little~Birds]

Our 6 month old cat is peeing and pooping on our basement (new!) carpet, instead of in her litterbox.  How can I get her to start using the litterbox again?

I suspect that the problem initially occurred from her box not being clean enough, but we are now cleaning it everyday.  She has since pooped in it once, but the rest of the time is using the floor.

Help!!

[Breathless Wonder]

I have an older cat that we have had issues with, off and on.

First step ALWAYS- a vet check to rule out any health issues, such as UTI or bladder infection.  You want to eliminate any chance of a physical cause before approaching the problem from a behavioral stand point.  This could save you a LOT of money in the end!   

Then:

1) Clean all accidents with an enzyme cleaner (such as Nature's Miracle)  Make sure to SATURATE the area, and allow it to air dry.  It MAY take up to 2 weeks for it to be fully dry, if it is a soft surface.  Repeat if necessary.  If for some reason, the enzyme cleaners don't seem to be working, I personally have had REALLY good luck with oxygen bleach.

2) Eliminate alternative places to go to the bathroom- laundry piles, piles of papers, whatever the cat is going on regularly.

3) Make sure you have at LEAST 1 litter box per cat + 1 extra. 

4) If you have multiple levels, consider a box on each level.  Some cats are lazy, and just won't trek very far to find a place to relieve themselves. 

5) Some cats prefer hooded boxes, others prefer open boxes- try 1 of each, and see which gets used more often. 

6) Try the litter test- put out a few boxes with different kinds of cat litter (clay, scoopable, pine, corn husk, recycled newspaper, Care Fresh, plain sand, dirt etc.) and see if the cat prefers one strongly over the others.  Cats may even be picky about what particular BRAND of litter you use- preferring, for example, one brand of scoopable litter over another.  

7)  Try "Cat Attract" litter, or a similar herbal litter additive.

8) Try using a Feliway spray or diffuser if your cat is eliminating in the same place over and over- sometimes inappropriate urination is the result of stress (and cats stress VERY easily!!!)  The Feliway spray contains hormones which help soothe a cat. 

9) If all else fails, consider approaching your vet for a prescription to help reduce your cat's anxiety.

[Three~Little~Birds]

Thanks for all of these suggestions!

It is continuing to be a problem, so I will definitely try these techniques!

Any other tips are always welcome ;)

[chewynotcrunchy]

Try putting aluminum foil or chicken wire where she is wetting; they hate the texture.