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
- 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
Don’t worry we will go through them one by one in this article so carry on reading…
This article has everything you need to know about how to stop a Cat from pooping on the floor
So if you want your Cat to use the litter box and not your Carpet or that new rug you just bought, you’re in the right place
Keep reading…
When your Cat decides not use the litter box and instead poops on the floor,
This can be a really frustrating problem!
It can be very annoying too!
Especially when your Cat has the litter box right there in front of them
But he decides
To poo on your beautiful Carpet
Or that 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
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!
Yes that’s right
He does not poo on the floor anymore
The best part?
You can do this too
More about this later on
First we need to understand why your Cat is pooping on the floor
And not using the litter box
So the question you should ask is what is causing your Cat to not use the litter box and poo all over the house
Why Is My Cat Pooping On The Floor?
There could be a number of reasons why your Cat is pooping on the floor
Let’s go through some of the reasons why your Cat is not using the litter box
Medical Issue
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 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!)
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
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
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
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
What To Stop Your Cat From Pooping Outside The Litter Box
If your Cat has started to poop all of a sudden then as mentioned before take your Cat to the vets to rule out any medical conditions
If your Cat is all healthy then you can follow these steps to stop your Cat from pooping on your Carpet or rug!
Clean the area thoroughly
Make sure your clean the area where your Cat has pooped thoroughly
This will ensure your Cat does not come back to the same spot
And you don’t want stains on your Carpet right?
Work on the litter box
As mentioned earlier regarding the litter box make sure it is cleaned everyday
Check where the litter box is and see if it’s in the ideal location
Think like a Cat!
You can go through the points above and ensure the litter box is up to the standards your Cat requires
Stop your cat from going into those areas where he has pooped
What I mean by this is,
Wherever your Cat has pooped make that place very unattractive as possible
You can put foil or double sided tape which will deter your Cat to use that place again
Maybe you can block off that area where your Cat likes to poop!
The aim is to make the litter box the best place for your Cat to use when he needs to relieve himself
Create a fun loving environment
If your Cat is not 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
Show him some love!
Here’s an article I wrote on how to show your Cat you love them
Training
You can train your Cat to use the litter box if your Cat is still or a kitten or you have recently adopted
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
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
In Conclusion
There’s always a reason why your Cat is not using the litter box and it’s up to us to understand what the reason is
I know it can be frustrating and annoying
Especially if your Cat has pooped on a brand new carpet or rug!
But
It’s not their fault as they can’t speak
Do not shout at your Cat if he has pooped outside the litter box
That will just make things worse and most likely your Cat will continue to poo everywhere in the house
Go through the tips and advice in this article and hopefully your Cat will start using the litter box
