Litter box issues are the number one reason why cats are rehomed or surrendered. Usually because we humans don’t understand ‘why’ this is happening. It’s often just assumed they are throwing attitude, being spiteful, or just enjoy ‘bad’ behavior. If they were a human pooping outside their bathroom, this would probably be true. But they’re not. They are cats.

One of the hardest things that we’ve had to learn is that cats don’t have the same emotions as humans. They don’t do things for revenge. We’ve heard so many people say, “My cat poops on my -fill in the blank- because he like being an a**hole”. This is human behavior, not something cats do. Cats don’t do anything without a reason and only operate instinctively from a place of safety or fear.

So why do they sometimes poop outside the box?

 

Health Issues

 

When someone comes to us with this frustration, our first question is always: Have they been to the vet? If your cat suddenly and randomly starts going outside the box, we always want to make sure there isn’t an underlying medical issue. Cats are stoic and instinctively hide their pain when something is wrong – but subtle things about their behavior may change. Like pooping outside their box.

It’s important to realize that bathroom time – especially pooping – is a vulnerable time for cats. They literally have to assume a very specific position to poop. If this position is painful, they will start associating the litter box with this extra pain – and avoid the box.

A vet visit is always important to make sure it’s not a health problem. Once you’ve ruled out medical causes, it’s time to take a closer look at your cat’s litter box setup and environment.

 

Are There Enough Litter Boxes?

 

If your cat has a clean bill of health, then it’s time to look at their environment. First, do they have enough boxes?

Rule of thumb is at least one more litter box than cats. Two cats = three litter boxes (at least). You want to make sure they have boxes on every level of the home that they inhabit. If you have a 2-story home, make sure there are boxes on the first and second story. I don’t want to have to run downstairs if I have the sudden urge to go, and they don’t either. So let’s make sure they have enough litter boxes so they don’t poop outside the box.

 

Litter Preference

 

What kind of litter are you using? Cats can develop litter aversion, especially if it’s a scented or toxic litter. Every cat has a different preference. Try a softer or harder litter to see if it’s more of a fit for your cat – and always make sure it’s a safe litter to use.

 

Litter Box Size

 

What size boxes are you using? We recommend that the box be at least 1½ the length of your cat from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail. There really aren’t a lot of large litter boxes available, so The Ladies have started making their own litter boxes for their cats – using 90 qt storage bins. If your cat is pooping outside the box, try larger litter boxes.

 

Litter Box Placement

 

When using the bathroom, we go into a small safe room and close the door. Is their box in a low traffic, easily accessible, quiet area? Don’t put it next to a loud washer/dryer, or in a hall where the kids are constantly running through.

Try to find a quiet, safe place to put their boxes. This could be the key to stopping them from pooping outside the box!

 

Pro Tip

 

It’s important to find out why your cat is going outside the box to properly correct it.

For example, some cats will pee or poop on your bed or clothing when you are away. They do this to mesh their scent with yours, their favorite human. Their scent brings them comfort.

If you’ve tried it all and still can’t get your cat to use the litter box, we recommend contacting a feline behaviorist. They are experts at resolving these types of issues on a more individualized level!