How to stop cat using doormat as toilet

TrixA

We're having a really unpleasant problem with a cat (at least we assume it's a cat - we haven't actually caught it in the act) defecating on our front door mat. It used to happen occasionally, then became more and more frequent, to the point where last weekend we resorting to throwing away the doormat, thoroughly cleaning the front of the house and liberally applying the product 'scoot'. This stopped the behaviour for about a week but yesterday it happened again - this time in broad daylight when it previously happened mostly at night or early in the morning. I'm really at my wit's end, it's absolutely revolting and we can't afford to buy a new doormat every week. Does anyone have any experience getting cats to stop this sort of behaviour? Unfortunately we live in an urban area with lots of cats, including a number of spraying tomcats who I suspect are responsible for this as well. We don't have a pet ourselves as my OH is allergic.

Laconic

Scat mat. Replace your doormat with one. Won't happen again. Get a second doormat for wiping your feet inside the house.

helcat26

Get off crystals have worked well on my lawn

TrixA

Laconic wrote: »

Scat mat. Replace your doormat with one. Won't happen again. Get a second doormat for wiping your feet inside the house.

I had to google Scat mat, but it appears that this product is only for use indoors?

warehouse

Could you set up a camera to keep watch so that when you eventually spot the guilty party you could perhaps set off some sort of water spray? Yes it might take some setting up and a little patience but think of the satisfaction...

TrixA

warehouse wrote: »

Could you set up a camera to keep watch so that when you eventually spot the guilty party you could perhaps set off some sort of water spray? Yes it might take some setting up and a little patience but think of the satisfaction...

I'm envisaging a scene out of the movie Home Alone, but with cats instead of burglars :rotfl: In reality I would probably end up soaking the postman.

Laconic

There are outdoor versions of scat mats. As a cat has to stand there to poop, it'll convince it in pretty short order to find someplace else.

TrixA

Laconic wrote: »

There are outdoor versions of scat mats. As a cat has to stand there to poop, it'll convince it in pretty short order to find someplace else.

I can't find these outdoor versions - can you post a link?

In any case I can't see that this would be practical given that the location is a doormat - I'd probably just end up shocking myself or visitors to the house.

thriftyemma

I had a similar problem, but with my own cat on an indoor mat.

I'd go with the suggestion of removing the outdoor mat, at least for a while. Hopefully you can break the habit of the offending cats, and then return it. But you could get a mat just inside your door for a few weeks.

You also need to thoroughly clean the area. I know you said you have, but did you use bleach? Bleach, and "...with bleach" cleaning products will contain ammonia. This smells almost exactly like cat wee, and will actually encourage cats to go there. I suggest using something like "Wee Away", or similar pet odour and stain remover. It's not hugely expensive. But if you don't want to buy any, try something like washing up liquid to clean it.

Once it's thoroughly clean, you can make the area smell very unattractive. Cats generally hate the smell of citrus. You can buy citronella sprays, or I used lemon essential oil (dirt cheap on amazon). As it's outside, you can apply pretty liberally, and keep applying every day as the smell with wear or wash off.

My cat took about a week to lose interest in weeing on that spot. So I would keep applying the citrus smell for at least that long. One last thing, if your outside mat is a coir type mat (hairy bristles), they can often mimic an area where a cat would naturally go. I would swap to a rubber mat. Not so great at cleaning boots, but much less attractive to cats.

prowla

I've often wondered about scattering drawing pins about.

Another option would be to acquire a motion detecting dog barking machine!

Mupette

wash it down with bio soap powder to get rid of the amonena