Dear Cathy,
Our six-year-old house cat stopped pooping in the litter box, but she still urinates in it. We find poop all over the house, but never urine. She doesn’t have a favorite place to evacuate; it’s on rugs, hardwood floors – she isn’t hiding it. We find it out in the open and it trails off. It seems like she continues to evacuate while she walks away. We’ve been to our vet and there is nothing physically wrong.
Nothing in the house has changed; no one new and no renovations. It’s the same litter box, same room, and same litter. Her litterbox is in a room we spend a lot of time in and she often is in there with us. Her food is in another room. We do have another cat, her sister. We’ve had both since they were kittens and have never had any problems until recently. They get along great, playing with and grooming each other.
So far, we have tried a new litter box, removed the top from the litterbox and did bloodwork at the vet. We’re out of ideas. Can you help us?
— Steve N., Massapequa, New York
Dear Steve,
Cats don’t generally poop while they’re walking. I am not a veterinarian, but it sounds a little like fecal incontinence. Your veterinarian probably ruled that out, but if you are not sure if he or she did, please discuss this with your veterinarian. Cats should not poop while they’re walking.
If she’s healthy and squatting to poop, then we need to dig a little deeper to figure out why she suddenly won’t use the litter box. I know you went through a list of things that could cause that to happen, but let me offer a few more possibilities.
Cats are extremely sensitive to scents. Were any new scents sprayed into the air or a new air freshener located or plugged near the litter box? Did you use ammonia or citrus-smelling cleaners to clean the litter box? These scents are off putting to cats.
Sometimes, if a cat is startled near the litter box or experienced an especially difficult bowel movement (something you wouldn’t know happened), he or she will associate the litter box with that experience and will poop someplace else. My suggestion is to add a second litterbox to your home, perhaps in a more private space. Use a fine grain, unscented litter product, and fill two to three inches high. Cats like to paw and scratch to cover up their waste and often prefer a little depth to their litter. If she starts to use this second box, then you know she might have had a bad experience at the other box.
Let me know if this suggestion helps her.
Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal
I share your poster’s frustration. We have a male cat who pees in the box, but poops outside arbitrarily. No new scents, no new experiences. We have two cats and one dog (dog is separated from litter boxes). Only our male cat poops outside the box. Nothing has changed as far as location, litter used, diet, experiences, etc. Life at our house is very quiet and peaceful. We are at our wits’ end. I’m about ready to have him put to sleep, I’m so frustrated, not to mention sick and tired of cleaning up after him. I’ve read several online articles as to why he might be doing this, but none of the reasons apply to our cat.
I understand how frustrating it can be when a cat starts pooping outside the litter box. Here are a few suggestions to consider:
1. Consider using a litter attractant. These products release scents that encourage cats to use the litter box. Sprinkle it over the litter to make the box more appealing. You can find these items online or at a pet store.
2. Use feline pheromones. Pheromones take cats back to the days when they were being nursed by their mommas. They help calm anxious cats and sometimes can help with mild behavior issues. Try using one on your male cat for 90 days to see if it helps. You can also get feline pheromone sprays, plug-ins for the house, and wipes. But the collar is best when it’s one cat having an issue.
3. Evaluate the litter box setup: Although you mentioned nothing has changed, consider if anything around the litter boxes might have changed. Have you moved or added furniture nearby? Sometimes even a small change can unsettle a cat. Did you drop something near the box while the cat was in it that would have startled him? Also, ensure you have one more litter box than the number of cats (so three boxes for two cats), and keep them clean as cats can be quite particular, being careful to avoid any citrus smelling cleaning products
4. Cover and relocate the poop: Place any accidents in the litter box and cover them to encourage the cat to use the box again.
5. Use positive reinforcement: Praise and reward your cat when they use the litter box correctly. Positive reinforcement can reinforce desired behaviors.
6. Check for health issues. When a cat has a sudden change in behavior it is generally due to changes in the environment, with family, or changes in health. Since there have been no changes in the home or with family, then we have to consider an emerging health problem. Cats may avoid the litter box if they are in discomfort or getting sick. Schedule a vet visit to rule out any medical issues.
Remember, patience and consistency are crucial when addressing litter box problems. Good luck!