thank you..we ried that, putting her in a room with just her food, her bed and the litter box. She now goes in the litter box alone..kadoos to you for the great advise

The cat can probably still smell urine on the couch. Make sure your daughter washes it well with a detergent which specifies use for removal of pet odours. If the cat can smell urine they think it's fine to use as a toilet. Keep putting the cat into the old litter tray whenever it does it's business anywhere else. It may take a while for it to realise that it is safe to use, as the automated one has obviously scared it. If none of these things work, vets suggest confining the cat to a space only big enough for it's litter a bed and food.. thus giving it no option but to use the litter. This has worked well for me in the past with dirty kittens, and you can buy cages which are just the right size.