soiling in the home

Question
I have had two kittens since they were 7 weeks old and the lady i had them off allowed the kitchens to go to toilet on a blanket in a box. They are now nearly one and no matter what i have tried i can not stop them going to toilet on anything soft such as beds washing blankets my settee and carpets. I use cleaning agents from a pet shop to get rid of their scent but unfortunately this does not seem to work. They are also go to toilet outside which i find extremely strange that they still insist on going in the house. I have 3 small children and they are constantly urinating on their toys and i am forever washing. I really don't want to re-home as my children love them and their temperment is so soft and loving and apart from the soiling are really good. Any advice would be apprentiated as i am at the end of my tether. They will also use the litter tray and even though it is constantly cleaned as soon as they have been they will still go on soft things. I am unable to let them upstairs due to them going on the beds and i have hads to buy so many new quilts. I have even bought a cage to put them in in the nights with a blanket to sleep on and a litter tray but they would rather go on the blanket and sleep in it. At present have no options but to put them out all night. any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Answer
Lianne,

Since you have waited almost 10 months to try to correct their behavior you may find it more difficult to do since it has become a habit.

Putting cats outside at night is the most dangerous time for any cat, but especially young ones. There are many 'creatures of the night' that can harm or kill the cats.

If you have a large cage, I would put them in it again, but with NO blanket, or anything soft so that they will be forced to use the litterbox.

Have you tried a 2nd litterbox in another area of the home? Some cats prefer privacy and don't like to a litterbox that is out in the open. Try a larger litterbox with deeper litter. Sometimes that will help. Or try using children's play sand that you can get at Home Depot, or other building supply store.

You may want to try putting puppy pee-pads (the ones used for puppy potty training or the human kind they put under older people in their beds when they are incontinent)down next to the litterbox. If they use those, it won't leak to the floor.

Since I cannot put all the information in this reply, I am including some links to good articles about improper elimination. Please read them. They will have good information that you should find helpful in dealing with the kitten's behavior.
(copy and paste or type the whole links into your address bar)

http://cats.about.com/cs/behavioralissues/a/outsidebox_two.htm

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/pointe/9352/litterboxhelp.html

http://www.apbc.org.uk/article10.htm

AND,

here is a 'recipe' for cat urine odor removal:

1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup baking soda
1 teaspoon of liquid soap

(3% hydrogen peroxide can be bought at most grocery and drug stores in pint and quart bottles).

Gently mix all ingredients in a non-metal container. Do not mix or shake vigorously!

The mixture is best used when fresh but can be stored. Do not keep mixture in an airtight container.  Have a VERY loose lid as baking soda and hydrogen peroxide when mixed together will release oxygen and an airtight container will explode. You can mix and keep it in large spray bottle (Home Depot, etc.) but a plastic liter or 2-liter soda bottle works just a well.

Always test for color-fastness. Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent in stronger concentrations and can lighten materials that are not color-fast.

CLOTHING, COMFORTERS, AND BEDDING:

Put the items in the washing machine and pour in enough of the recipe to cover thoroughly. This might take a few gallons depending on the size of the load. Soak for at least 24 hours. Rinse and rewash using normal washing detergent. If any of the odor is still present, soak again for 24 hours, rinse and rewash.

A small area on a comforter can be spot treated by saturating the area thoroughly, letting it dry for 24 hours, then washing the comforter normally in the washer with detergent. Always check for color-fastness before using.

MATTRESSES, SOFAS, PILLOWS

For mattresses you must saturate the spot thoroughly to get deep down into the padding and springs to neutralize the urine. If the cat has urinated alot in one spot, the mattress can be soiled all the way to the other side! Let the area dry for 24-48 hours without bedding then reapply if necessary.

For sofas the same directions as above apply but always check for color-fastness in a hidden area before using. Cotton is used in alot of upholstery fabrics and is easily bleached. If your sofa pillow cushion covers can be unzipped and taken off (must be color-fast and washable) you can put them in the washing machine. See How to Remove from Clothing, Comforters and Bedding for instructions.

HOW TO REMOVE CAT URINE ODOR FROM CARPETS

FOR INDIVIDUAL URINE SPOTS ON CARPET:
If fresh, sop up as much cat urine as you can with a paper towel first. Use a spray bottle to saturate the spot completely with the recipe - do not blot. The recipe must penetrate the padding and possibly the floor boards underneath, where the urine has penetrated for it to work.

Wait 24-48 hours until dry then vacuum. If the urine odor is still present - repeat the procedure. It usually takes 2-3 applications to completely neutralize the cat urine odor.

FOR LARGE AREAS OF CARPET:

You can use a carpet cleaning machine - one of your own or a rental and use the recipe instead of the shampoo. You will have to make several gallons of the recipe depending on the size of the carpet. Don't use the vacuum part of the machine - you will want to let the solution soak and dry for 24-48 hours before vacuuming.

Most carpet cleaning machines are not made for this use, and baking soda can clog the nozzles of the machine so use caution. Instead, you can use a 1 gallon garden bug sprayer (Home Depot, etc.). Rinse the nozzle out frequently by filling the tank with hot water and spraying it in the bathtub until the nozzle is clear.

If using the sprayer saturate the entire carpet with the recipe, let dry for about 24-48 hours and vacuum. You will have to probably repeat the procedure again. Where heavily saturated with old urine it may take 3 applications over a week.

Also, if the cat urine is old and dried, the smell will probably be worse a day or two later. This is because you are rehydrating the uric acid crystals in the urine to neutralize them. The smell will get better with each application.

I hope this helps! I know it is frustrating to have cats who don't use the litterbox. But, it is also difficult to find cats that are really good with children as yours seem to be, so I hope you can resolve this issue with them.

Tabbi