[caryatid]

If she all of a sudden starts going potty anywhere other than her kitty box...

This is a telling symptom of a problem. If your normally well-behaved cat starts to do this, he/she is trying to get your attention and trying to tell you something. Take him/her to the vet.

[teenyelliott]

I think many animal lovers would be amazed how many animals end up being dumped or taken to the pound because of this.

If a person is inexperienced with animals, more often than not they think this problem is simply the animal "being bad".