8 Ways to Stop a Cat from Pooping on the Floor (And Why They Do It!)

When your Cat decides not use the litter box and instead poops on the floor, this can be a really frustrating problem!

Especially when your Cat has the litter box right there in front of them but he decides to poo on your beautiful carpet or expensive rug.

This is such a common problem for Cat parents, basically avoiding the litter box and pooing in places your Cat shouldn’t be

I can relate; because my Cat used to do the same thing!

Poo anywhere and everywhere and the worst place is on the carpet, cleaning that up is a nightmare!

I’ll let you decide how much of a hard work that is!

But let me give you some glad tidings. My Cat has stopped this behavior!

He does not poo on the floor anymore

I can teach you what I’ve learned so If you want to stop your cat from pooping on the floor – you need to look at the what is causing this

Here’s some points you need to look at

How to Remove Sticky Poop From Toilet Bowl [5 Methods to Try]

• Medical Issue
• Look at the Litter box
• Litter box location
• Is it stress related
• Patience and consistency

These are the factors you need to look at.

This article has everything you need to know about how to stop a Cat from pooping on the floor.

Keep reading…

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First, Why Is My Cat Pooping On The Floor?

Medical Issues 

The first thing you should do is take your Cat to the vets to rule out any medical conditions

Your Cat won’t just suddenly not use the litter box for no reason

Or just to annoy you

There could be a underlying problem which is causing your Cat to poo outside the litter box

Maybe your Cat is feeling constipated which is causing your Cat to not use the litter box

It could be diarrhea and your Cat cannot just hold it in

It could even be something like kidney disease or inflammation bladder

These diseases are something not to be taken lightly

Problem is – your cat is a expert at hiding this

So it becomes difficult to know when your cat is not feeling too well 

But what if there was a way of knowing straight away your cat is not well?

Would that be a life saver?

Of course!

Good news is you can!

How?

By using Cat litter that detects problems such as…

Alpha Paw – Color Changing Genius Litter

It’s a natural cat litter that monitors your cats health by containing an indicator that changes colour when abnormalities in your cats urine are detected.

Pretty Litter

By using a cat litter brand name Pretty Litter 

This cat litter is not your ordinary litter

It changes color when your cat uses it if he has a health problem

Yep! – Just by using the litter box you’ll be able to detect any health problems

Interesting right?

It sure is and it’s a must for cat parents

I have written a in-depth review which you should deffo read (There’s a discount code you can use in the review!)

Pretty Litter Review 

Taking your Cat to the vet will ensure that your Cat is healthy and nothing medically is causing him to avoid using the litter box

Pretty Litter

Pretty Litter defines it’s self as “the worlds smartest cat litter” and “Health monitoring litter that won’t break your back, or the bank”.

• Tracks potential illnesses in your cats – the litter changes colour to tell you when your cat has a health issue that needs dealt with.

• No more litter box smell – traps odor instantly and then eliminates moisture, so you’ll never smell your cat’s dirty business again.

• Scoop your cats poop less – no one likes doing it and now you don’t have to.

• Refill just ONCE per month – no longer do you need to refill the box daily!

• Cat litter delivered to your door – so you never run out and have to improvise.

• Cleaner and safer litter – is 99% dust free and household friendly.

• Over 20,000 customer reviews – so you know you’re getting a trusted and loved product.

READ MORE ABOUT PRETTY LITTER

CHECK LATEST PRICE HERE

Litter Box Issues

Litter Box

One of main and common reasons why a Cat will poop the litter box is because the litter box itself!

There are so many things to consider with the litter box

Let’s go through them!

Clean litter box 

Cats are very clean animals and they expect their litter box to be clean too

I mean, would you use a washroom that is filthy and not clean?

Then your Cat is the same!

Clean the litter box everyday and make sure it is clean for your Cat to use.

Clean it with the right products…

But what you clean it with is just as important as cleaning it because typical household bleaches, disinfectants, and bleaches can actually put cats off using them as they smell so strong and cat’s have a sensitive sense of smell.

You are best to use a scentless Enzyme Cleaner instead, here’s my favourite choice…

The All Natural Enzymatic Cleaner

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PRICE

 Self Cleaning Litter Boxes

If you use a cleaning litter box then your cat always has a clean spot to poop in…

Leo’s Loo Too Covered Automatic Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box

• Self cleaning
• Odor eliminations
• Google and Alexa voice controls
• Advanced sensors and radars to keep your kitty safe
• Smart connected app
• Triple layer safety protections
• Free Shipping (US only)
• Quiet
• 90 Day Trial
• 1 Year Warranty

Check Latest Price

READ CUSTOMER REVIEWS

 Self Cleaning Litter Boxes on Amazon

Here’s a article where I go into a little more detail – How often should I was my cats litter box 

Another point to look at is where is the litter box located

Litter box location 

Is the litter box placed somewhere high?

Maybe your little furball is finding it difficult to climb up the stairs to reach the litter box

Cats can suffer from arthritis and this could be a reason for your Cat pooping on the floor

Is the litter box located near your Cats food or where your Cat drinks

This will put off your Cat as they would not want to relieve themselves at a place where they eat

Pretty much common sense!

Another location you should avoid putting the litter box is near a place where your Cat will get scared

For example,

Near a washing machine or a dishwasher

The noise would get your Cat scared which is the reason your Cat is pooping outside the litter box

Another thing to consider is,

Does your Cat have a escape route once he has relieved himself?

Is your Cat safe when using the litter box?

What i’m getting at is, make sure the litter box is in a safe place basically

Now, if you have a small apartment and struggling to place the litter box in a convenient place then you can read my article on where to put Cat litter box in a small apartment

Number of litter box 

How many litter boxes do you have for your Cat?

If the answer is “1” then you should have another one

The general rule is to have one litter box plus an extra for one Cat

You see, Cats tend to pee in one and poo in another

So this could be a reason why your Cat has started pooping on the floor

If you have a multi Cat household then each Cat should have 2 litter boxes

You can read more about getting your Cat to use the litter box by visiting How to train your Cat to use the litter box

Stress

Did you know Cat can get stressed too?

They are very emotional animals

And intelligent too!

If you are feeling stressed due to work or just family related, then this can have a effect on your Cat

Which will lead to your Cat to poop outside the litter box.

Using A Cat Calming Kit

These can help keep your cat calm and reduce stress…

Another reason your Cat could get stressed is because of the following

• Another Cat or Pet or a new member has been introduced to the family. This will stress your Cat out as Cats are very territorial
• New house or change in environment
• Other Cats entering into your Garden or are coming into your area
• Absence of the owner – If you have been away more than usual can upset your Cat and cause him stress

All these points mentioned above are factors that can cause your Cat to be stressed

And this will result in your Cat not using the litter box and pooping on your Carpet or rug!

If your Cat is stressed then I would recommend you read my article on how to calm a stressed Cat down 

Now let me expand on the above ways to stop your cat from peeing on the floor.

How To Stop A Cat From Pooping On The Floor

1. Restrict Your Cat’s Access to Areas It Like to Poop

If you have noticed your cat has been pooping on a certain spot on the floor, put a barrier to it. Your cat can re-adjust to the change and resort to using its litter box.

If this is still not working, confine it to one room for a while until it learns not to soil on the floor.

When doing so, remember to keep your cat well-fed, watered and entertained at all times by providing all the necessities such as food, drink, toys and a cosy bed.

If the behaviour persists, you may have to keep your cat in a small place for a few weeks, such as a large cat or dog cage with a litter pan and a sleeping ledge.

However, do not totally confine the cat all the time. It is inhumane and can stress the cat out.

2. Take Your Cat to the Vet for a Checkup

Have you given it a thought that the reason your cat could be soiling the floor is due to medical problems?

It is not easy to know if your cat is sick or in pain because they are quite good at hiding it.

However, it is important to rule out health problems before taking further action to stop your cat from pooping on the floor.

It’s likely that your cat is pooping on the floor because it’s suffering from colitis, constipation or a problem with its anal glands.

There are some health issues you can find in advance like UTI’s by just using the correct litter…

3. Keep the Litter Box Consistently Clean

Cats like a clean environment. If the litter box is dirty and stinking from its pee, your cat will avoid using it and resort to conducting its private business on the floor.

For that reason, you need to keep the litter box clean at all times.

Frequently clean up filthy litter and after disposing of the spent litter, clean the litter box with warm water and a sponge. pet-safe cleaning solution every other week.

You can then restock it with a new supply of clean, odour-free litter (some cats do not like scented litter).

4. Use Diffusers and Collar to Relax Your Cat

Stress and anxiety can push your cat into pooping on the floor. If you discover stress and anxiety are the cause of this unwarranted behaviour, you can try a calming diffuser or collar.

Calming diffusers or collars are infused with calming scents and pheromones.

The scent and pheromones released from the collar or diffuser aid in reducing cat stress-related behaviours.

5. Add Another Litter Box

If you have several cat living in your house, you may have to install additional litter boxes. Having your cats share the same litter box could be why one of your cats likes pooping on the floor.

The other cats may feel they have no choice but to poop on the floor if one of the cats tries to claim the litter box as his own. Also, some cats may refuse to use a litter box if another cat has used it and left their scent in it.

Every cat in your home needs its own litter box, so make sure you have enough of them and place them in different areas throughout your home so that each cat has its privacy to relieve itself.

6) Create a fun loving environment that eliminates stress

If your Cat is stressed then he will use the litter box

You need to make sure your Cat is healthy, happy and his standards of life is being met.

Play with your Cat everyday and give him his own toys and play area so he doesn’t get bored when you are not there.

Here’s an article I wrote on how to show your Cat you love them 

Cat trees are a fantastic way to give your cat all the space he needs to unwind…

7) Training Your Cat Not To Poop On Then Floor

You can train your Cat to use the litter box if your Cat is still or a kitten or you have recently adopted.

Simple methods like locking all off rooms except the cats room where the litter box is or re-inforcing his good behaviour can work wonders.

You can check out my article on How to train your Cat to use the litter box 

And if you have a kitten you can check out this article How to litter train a kitten fast

8) Patient and consistency 

Remember patience is key here

You need to be have patience and be consistent in getting your Cat to use the litter box

Using the litter box is second nature so it should not be too hard!

If your cat does poop outside the litter box then whatever you do, do NOT shout at your cat

And most importantly don’t punish your cat

This will just make matters worse

How?

Your cat may get stressed and that can cause even more pooping outside the litter box – it can also cause peeing outside the litter box and I’m sure you don’t want that problem too

Your cat will become scared of you – this won’t be good for your relationship with your cat

Yes, it’s frustrating but trust me

All this patience will pay off when your cat stops pooping outside the litter tray

8 Ways to Stop a Cat from Pooping on the Floor

Here’s a reminder of the 5 ways to stop your cat from pooping on the floor:

1. Limit Your Cat’s Access to Places Where It Likes to Relieve Itself
2. Scheduling a Visit with Your Cat to the Veterinarian
3. Make a Point of Keeping Your Litter Box Clean
4. Use Diffusers and Collar to Relax Your Cat
5. Add Another Litter Box
6. Create a fun loving environment that eliminates stress
7. Training Your Cat Not To Poop On Then Floor
8. Patient and consistency

Another Permanent Solution To Stop Your Cat Pooping On The Floor

Now, here’s some useful information on how to train your cat not to spray but the techniques revealed inside often work just as well for stopping a cat from pooping…

That’s why I would recommend checking out Cat Spraying No More

CLICK TO LEARN MORE

Last update on 2022-08-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API