8 year old cat urinating on carpet, beside litterbox! HELP!?

8 year old cat urinating on carpet, beside litterbox! HELP!?
I have had my cat for 7 years now. We got her at the Humane Society and we believe her previous owners beat her or she was just a stray. The Humane Society picked her up on the side of the road. So we arent sure if thats why she does it. She urinates infront of the litterbox everynight and every morning when we are not near her. Its gotten to the point to wear we have to pull up our carpet and our foundation of the floor, just because she has ruined the flooring! We have tried every single kind of carpet cleaner, "stay off" spray. We have been doing this for years and now it has gotten to the point where it is terrible. We love her too much to give her away, so that is out of the question. But is there anyway we can fix this? (If this helps any, in the spot where she does urinate we put larges rugs over the area because of the stains and we didnt have the money at the time to get new carpet. so there is a large rug and then carpet.) PLEASE HELP ME!!!! Thanks.
Just a update-
1.Yes it is a covered litter box.
2. We had it in the bathroom until she started in the livingroom
3. She hasnt always been like this, just within this past year.

Any other suggestions? Thanks! :)
You guys have been great at answering questions, but all of your solutions, I have tried. ):

PS we have only lived in the house for a few years, so we moved with her.


Answers:

Chosen Answer
Pam and Corey:  Is her litterbox big enough? Have you tried a HUGE box?

How about putting a scrap piece of lino or something similar and washable under her box?

Have you ruled out a medical reason why she does this?
2007-10-03 15:32:11
princessfifi12:  try moving her box in a place that doesnt have carpet such as a bathroom or garage....dont have a clue why she does this, do you have a covered litterbox? mine was afraid of the covered box and as soon as I provided her with just a litter pan she obediently went normally
2007-10-03 15:36:40
Leslie W:  I have mats that are specifically for in front of the litter box to catch litter as well as accidents. I also put the litter box in a room without carpet and put a utility rug down to catch all accidents. Maybe you could try putting down puppy training pads around the boxes. They are very absorbent and easy to clean up. It is very hard unless you can put the box in a place where the cat can get to it and not ruin the floor. Good luck!
2007-10-03 15:37:15
Audrey A:  Lets go through the possibilities.

--Is the litter box clean enough? Some cats are very particular about the cleanliness of their litter. I knew one cat that wouldn't use the litter box at all if the owners didn't clean up every time after he used it (he was a little neurotic). Clean it out at least once a day, even if there isn't very much in it, and change the litter completely every week (if non-scoopable) or every month (if scoopable).

--She may not like the kind of litter. Try changing it from clumping to non clumping, or to feline pine, yesterdays news, or some other type of litter.

--Is the litter box near the food? Some cats have a real problem with eating next to where they eliminate. Try moving the litter box to somewhere else in the house.

--Health problems. Sometimes cats will refrain from using the litter box when they have problems urinating due to Urinary Tract Infections. Peeing is painful for them, and they have a tendency of associating the litter box with the pain. Try taking her to the vet and get this possibility ruled out.

There are other reasons why cats don't use the litter box, but yours has been doing it for such a long time, I don't think those apply.

Good luck with her, and thanks for not giving up on her.
2007-10-03 15:46:45
Medusa:  I would presume that in 7 years she has used that spot - she really thinks it's okay to do it there. I can't see how after all this time you can change her habits.

The only thing I can suggest is to get a piece of old rug and sprinkle some litter on it and place it in front of the litter tray.

It could be that she might be frightened to get into the tray for whatever reason. Something must have happened when she was a kitten and she remembers when she uses the toilet.

I think she is too old to be potty re-trained, so the best thing is to create her some confort and put something down to protect your carpet.
2007-10-03 15:46:53
enriquelomasa:  Try also switching the litter to a pine litter. If that's what you're using then switch to a sand litter. Also, your cat may be insecure and need an open area to go the bathroom. Give her a little box without a lid. (or vice versa) She may not like the little box at all. In that case, train her to go outside. Or she may not like where you put the litter box. I never place litter boxs on carpet. Thats just asking for the cat to use the carpet. Place linolium or something cleanable/smooth surface under litter box.
2007-10-03 15:50:40
Yeah boiii:  heyy=]
just get some soap and water(prob. wont work though then if it doesniot go away go to pets mart they have stuff for that and it comes out super fast=]

aslo i was wondering if you couled help me with my belly button thing=/ ohk. i dont have my belly pierced at all.. so what if it is still doing that??
2007-10-03 16:29:15