Have you changed litter brands or box placements? He may be protesting to a change in the house.

Can you block off access to the dining room??

Munkos, We haven't changed brands in the past year, so I don't think that's the problem....
And our kitchen and dining room are pretty much connected and I can't block it off....

I hate to think of putting him in the bathroom for the night because he has snuggled with me since he was little....

I was wondering if there is anything I could spray on the carpet that would deter or keep him away.....

You may want to try one more litter box. Is one cat considerably more dominant, claiming two of three boxes as theirs, forcing this one to go elsewhere?

Sprinkle chili powder on the area in the dining room. I guarantee he won't poop there again! It vacuums up just fine with no discoloration. Just leave it there for a few days assuming no one is walking on it constantly to grind it in the carpet.

I agree that you may need another litterbox. I know that the dining room is not ideal for a litterbox, but try it in a room nearby and use the chili powder trick.

I would not try chili powder. Cats lick their paws, and .. ouch.. you don't want him to get a taste of that!! Plus, he would quickly find another spot, I think. You can try some lemon scented spray.. but again, he might avoid that area, and find another one. I would go with another litter box, although, as he has a box close to your bedroom, that might not solve this problem. Hmmmm, what could have happened to make him do this? Any changes?

Anne-Marie

I'm definitely no cat psychologist, but if I were in that situation, the first thing I'd try is putting a litterbox right in the spot in the diningroom where he's been pooping. Not appealing, I know, but it would just be to see if he will use a litterbox there, versus the floor. If he will use the litterbox there, leave it there for a week or two to establish routine, then slowly start moving the box to its permanent location- move it a foot or so a day until you get there. It can be time consuming and a little obnoxious to have the litterbox where you definitely don't want it, but if it works... We've used the migrating litterbox technique many times because our kitty does not like change of any kind.

Last night I sprinkled the chili powder and would you believe the little stinker went in another spot...And this is the furbaby that slept by my side the whole night..When he did this, we don't know, unless it was before he came to bed...DH was up early, found it and of course, showed Clancy and kept saying "no, no"...He said, Clancy looked at him as to say, Oh Well! Tonight, I'll bring in a clean litter box and see what happens...Of course I can spread out the newspapers....No wonder I have grey hair!

Time for a vet check - could be that your cat is having problems "feeling" it is time to go...good luck

I like quasifish's idea. Otherwise, it's the bathroom for Clancy, with a new litter box of his very own. Could you try putting a different kind of litter in "his" box?

Is it just poop, or urine too?

Maybe your cat is worried about the move " Me and DH are going away" Animals can "sense things"

I really, really appreciate all the good advice...

Socks, It's just pooping and sometimes, it's just a tiny little bit.

I am going to make that appointment with the vet and have him checked again but I'm beginning to think, he's just showing us he doesn't appreciate having "sisters", although they've been here for 3 years...One, he loves but the other he swats, hisses etc., every time she walks by...And she's the one that jumps on the bed and he doesn't like that...

We're trying the litter box in the dining room for now and might have to leave it there while we're away....

With us going away, it's really no big deal. We haven't done any packing or anything out of the ordinary, yet. I normally go for about a month and then DH will fly south for 10 days and we've been doing this for years... They are used to my DD and even our neighbor who has taken care of them....I'd love to be able to take them with me, but it's just not possible...