Please help - they've stopped using their litter tray!

[sian allsopp]

I have a 5 year old tortoiseshell moggie. She's always used her litter tray (which is in a ventilated cupboard with a flap for her to access) fine. A year ago I had work done on my kitchen and for a one week period moved the litter tray to the living room. Shortly afterwards she took to defecating in the living room, generally in the corners behind chairs or under tables. Even if I clean the tray and place her in it, she will urinate but not pass solids, which she insists on doing in the living room.

She is clearly aware that it's bad behaviour from her reactions if I catch her immediately afterwards. Now my ginger tom has taken her lead and is occasionally urinating there as well. Please help me, I've tried pepper, disinfectant, vinegar, lemon soap, orange peel and putting her food bowls in the same place. She's a bit overweight so I've removed the igloo lid to the litter tray in case she was struggling to get through the door flap and the tray flap when they are close together as well, but nothing seems to work and I'm at my wits end.

[jason]

i would refrain from the chemicals, among other things you might just be irratating them.

have you tried placing another litter container in that location for a little while and then slowly (over days) move it to a more desired location? perhaps they just need some slow non-confronting encouragement to break the habit.