Hi There! Usually when a normally behaved cat starts going outside the box, it is either due to a medical condition or a change in environment. I would suggest a trip to the vet to rule out anything medical first, especially since he has been a good boy for 10 years. He could have intestinal parasites or a bowel infection, anal gland inflammation, or something else. If he gets a clean bill of health, consider if there have been any changes at all in his or your schedule, new furniture, pets, anything at all could set him off. If you think that this has been the result of a change or stressful event, you can add a Feliway Diffuser to the room he messes in. This emits a calming to the cat pheromone scent that will help him with this marking behavior. I think this is the best course of action in your case as this boy has been through some changes in the last year, combined with a week away for you. There are ways to deter him from his usual spot and get him back into the box. First, if you do not have 2 litter boxes, you might try adding one. Some cats decide that they do not like to poop where they pee, and be sure to scoop them daily. Add a product called Cat Attract to the box, as this has a very high success rate in getting him back in the box. To clean the area he has messed, use a good enzymatic cleaner such as Nature's Miracle. That will remove all traces of his smell and keep him from going back to it. I wish you the best of luck with this, please let me know how he does!
Best Wishes, Reani
You refer to changes in the last year and a week away from me? not sure where you got that from. Additionally, you talk about getting a second litter box but I started out my question stating that we have a box upstairs and another downstairs.
Do you think there's some significance to the fact that he's urinating in the box just not defecating?
Cat Care Expert
20+ years experience with Cat Care and behavior problems, 3 years Pet Rescue