Is your cat suddenly pooping outside the litter box? Don’t worry we are here to help. The solution is right before you. You’ll only need to read through this article to get the knowledge that will enable you solve this problem like a real pro!
Ideally, most cat owners complain about house soiling as one of the key behavioral problems they are forced to endure with when dealing with their beloved kitties. Nonetheless, the solution to kitty’s problem greatly depends on the causes that underly the behavior. Whatever the case, kitty needs to be examined to rule out any medical issue.
Why is My Cat Pooping Outside the Litter Box?
1. Health issues:
Your cat could be sickling. Medical conditions such as constipation and diarrhea in cats cause kitties to do their bathroom activities outside their litter boxes. These conditions make the urge to use the bathroom so sudden and extremely overwhelming that kitty could be confused between running to the litter box and responding to the immediate call of nature. It may not reach to the litter box within the prescribed timeframe to launch its stinky bomb.
Nonetheless, the good news is that this problem should only be a temporary thing if your cat doesn’t present with any other underlying medical issues. You’ll only need to look into ways of checking whether the issue has a physiological basis while exploring other behavioral problems that kitty could present with.
2. Behavioral issues:
Any sudden change in kitty’s bathroom routine and environment could lead to adverse litter box issues. This explains why you must never initiate sudden alterations in your cat’s routine. There’re chances that the small, yet sudden changes you previously made could be boiling down to kitty’s stress. Here’re some of the behavioral issues that may cause fluffy to refuse using the litter box;
3. The litter box is smelly:
Your cat will always turn up its nose if its conditions, particularly the smell, doesn’t meet its standards. Your cat has its minimum requirements for smell and cleanliness for its environment. Even the cats that have been trained and have a great history of using the litter box won’t mind landing their stinky bombs elsewhere if the litter box doesn’t meet their standards. However, kitty will do this just to get your attention.
4. Check the location of the litter box:
Kitty could be struggling with the wrong box location. You must consider moving the litter box if it is located in a position with high traffic, near the door or a location with a lot of noise. This creates more confusion particularly if kitty was diagnosed with dementia.
5. Did you adopt a new cat?
This could be the problem. The new cat could take weeks or even months before adapting to the routine in your home. Cats don’t just reveal their full personalities to anyone. The new cat may take time to feel comfortable and adjust to the new conditions. There’s a tendency that the new cat is a bit uncertain in sharing the litter box with the conventional boss.
6. Household alterations:
Did someone move in? Your cat will develop behavioral issues when a new person, animal or baby is introduced to the household. There’s a tendency that your cat has sensed territorial threats if he’s peeing over the edge of the litter box. Kitty is only marking his territory just to make the stranger aware of the areas that must never be crossed. However, this will be a temporary thing until kitty adapts to this new scenario. Nonetheless, you must appreciate that any alterations in your cat’s environment and/or routine could be extremely stressful and may lead to out-of-the ordinary traits you see.
How to Stop Kitty from Pooping Outside the Litter Box
These steps will only apply if you’ve taken your cat to the vet and there is no doubt that kitty doesn’t present with an underlying medical condition. You must take ample measures to ensure that your cat doesn’t continue with its dirty deeds outside the prescribed location.
1. Make the litter box clean
The first step of action is to ensure that your cat’s litter box remains clean. You may achieve this by scooping the ceremonial clumps from kitty’s litter box on a daily basis. Frequently deep clean the litter box with mild soap and warm water then rinsing and letting it air dry.
You maty refill the litter box with a fresh supply of clean and unscented litter. You must be extra cautious when using scented litter as it may be stressful for the choosy cats. Be keen to use a face mask and rubber gloves each time you handle your cat’s litter box just to remain protected from the litter dust and small bugs that may have invaded.
CAUTION! Pregnant women must never clean their cats’ litter boxes. The cleaning exercise should be left to the other family members as a way of minimizing the risks of contracting adverse ailments like toxoplasmosis.
2. Check the location
Does your cat keep pooping on the floor at the same spot? Then you must look into ways of making the spot unfavorable. You may look into ways of blocking kitty’s access to this location by closing the door to this point or setting up a gate. You may also embrace ample ways of encouraging your cat to make use of the litter box the way you would want it to be by ensuring that it is well placed away from its water and food bowls and in a place that is quite and private.
3. Use an obstacle
Is there a specific area where your cat has been finishing its bathroom business and you don’t have the knacks to block its access? I’d advise that you look into ways of spraying the location with a kitty safe deterrent or wrapping an aluminum foil. In this case, your aim should be to make the less-appropriate area as undesirable to kitty as possible.
4. Consider adding another litter box
Did you add another cat? Then why dis you forget its litter box? Ignoring this rule will only leave your cats fighting while trying to share the litter box. Add one litter box for every cat then include an extra one. However, the litter boxes must be placed in different locations just to ensure that each cat remains comfortable when accomplishing its bathroom business.
There’s a tendency that some cats will adopt a territorial mechanism by guarding all the litter boxes just to ensure that its counterparts are kept a bay. You must check and rectify such issues as fast as possible.
Home Remedies for Cats Pooping on the Carpet
The worst thing a cat owner can deal with is kitty’s poop on the carpet. While some cat owners may uphold the idea that kitty is peeing on the mat just to punish them, I’d reveal from my long years of experience with felines that they don’t possess such sophisticated cognitive potencies that will direct them towards the tit for tat tendencies. Now, here’s what to do in case your cat has developed the trait of landing her missiles on the carpet:
- Place their food bowls in the previously soiled areas of the carpet
- Introduce a sheet of electronic mat that will inflict her with harmless shock
- Try and catch her in the act and startle her. She’ll never repeat it again
- Ease kitty’s frustrations through gradual introduction of any new diets and increased playtime.
- Separate any feuding feline then reintroduce slowly
- Apply an odor neutralizer on the soiled areas of the carpet
Conclusion
Cats are wonderful pets to live with. However, they take an episodic turn when they start peeing or pooping outside their litter boxes. You must be careful when handling this behavioral problem lest kitty go wild. The first step is to rule out any medical issue by visiting your vet. Nonetheless, doing a little alteration in your home spaces could go a long way in ensuring that kitty returns to its normal behavior.
