Why does my cat still poop on the floor even if the litter box is clean?

Question

Yes she is trained. Shes 6 years old. I have no other animals. And I've found that she doesn't do it at every place we have lived. And I have the biggest litter box they sell at the local superstore. I do get different litter alot though depending what's on sale & cheap.

I have punished her by putting her in her cage that we use when we travel. But it seems to only help for one day. Then the next day or same night she does it again.

Answer 1

Has your cat always done this? Does she use the litterbox to poop sometimes or never?

A change in litter to one they don't like due to scent, feel, ability to cover their poop, etc is one reason.

Where is the litterbox? If it's in a high traffic area, your cat may be uncomfortable about going in due to getting "interrupted" and a covered litterbox may do the trick.

My cat would use the bed (charming) although she always peed in the box. As a last resort, I moved the litterbox from the foot of the guest bed into the closet. Well, that did it. For 3 years I'd been cleaning it daily, trying to find litter she liked, tried covered and uncovered boxes, etc. The problem was, to her, it was in the the middle of where she ate, slept, and played. euw. Now it's out of sight and private.

The writer below did have a good scenario, though. If her box was over full (to her) and then finally cleaned, the cat would still
go outside due to habit.

Cats are very fussy and very clean, so something has caused your cat to decide to 'go' outside the box and it's a real issue for the cat as well as you.

Here's some info that will help...they both have specific info on litterbox problems.

Good luck, and thanks for trying to figure this out instead of just dumping the cat (or dog) like a few of your answerers.

Answer 2

Did you change the type of litter? Sometimes this is an issue. Are you suddenly not home as much? This could be a reaction. Did you move the litter box to a new location? Might need a larger box if the pee stays inside. Did you introduce a new animal or person into the household?

As you can see a lot of this has to do with psychological reasons. Cats are so touchy at times. I have 3 and been thru some of this. Good luck. Meantime, put newspaper outside the pan if the poop is at least next to the pan until you figure it out.

Answer 3

That's very strange. Cats are very clean animals, and most refuse to do their business anywhere but a litter box, or outside, where they can bury it.

If your cat is really going on the floor, something may be wrong. It could be that the litter you have in the box irritates the cat in some way, you can try changing that. The cat could also be doing it on purpose, as a plea for attention or a demonstration of anger, or to mark its territory (although territory marking is generally done witih urine). If there are other cats in the house, it may be a territorial or dominance issue.

Try changing the litter, paying more attention to the cat if you can, or letting it go outside if this is an option. If you can't figure out what the problem is or get it to stop, take it to a vet, who can help you better than any stranger on the internet.

Good luck!

Answer 4

I have had this cat for 16 yrs was there when she was born. I feed her the best of food and her liter is the best. We use Tidy Cat and I never had a problem with her pooping on the floor or on the rug until a few months ago. She has plenty of privacy and plenty of love. Her box gets cleaned at least 5 times a day. So I am not sure why she pees in the box and poop sometimes in the box but now she is doing it on the floor and rug. I have just had enough of this she is spoiled and get lots of attention.

Answer 5

Is she going in the same general area each time that she is not using the litter box (like going in front of the dresser, or behind the couch? If so, your cat is smelling the odor left behind, and knows that is a place she has gone before. Petsmart sells many products to help get rid of the smells left behind (even though YOU can't smell it - your cat can). You should also try moving the litter box to the area she is messing in, and start moving it back to the normal place slowly. This will help her realize that she is not going in the right place.

You should also consider taking your cat to the vet for a general once-over. If your cat is having pains while releiving itself, it will associate that pain with the litterbox - and will stop using it.

Start using ONE type of cat litter - cats DO NOT tolerate change very well, and it could be your cat is trying to tell you it doesn't like that type of litter. Once you find one that your cat likes, do not change. Cats will relieve themselves in places other than their litter boxes when they are mad at you - and sometimes they will do it right in front of you.

Answer 6

Usually when a cat poops on the floor and pees in the litter box it is normally a medical problem and should have the cat checked out espicially at 6 yrs old. Have another look at your litter box as well as litter, your cat could just be getting picky in there older age. I just went through all this. For my cat it turned out to be a frog he ate in the backyard and couldn't control his bladder from it. Made him VERY sick! Thankfully he is better now.

Answer 7

First of all, don't buy the cheapest, whatever-is-on-sale cat litter. That might be your problem. Some of the cheap cat litters are very dusty. Try Tidy Cats, scoopable. I pay around $12 for the 35 lb bucket.

Answer 8

we have a 14y old cat that her name is joey she is very lovey but she stated pooping on the floor and peeing in the box . we live in a 5th wheel not a lot of spots to put a box she know where it is she uses it all the time she will poo in it once but will pee in it and not on the floor we have taken her to the vet and she is good we do not what to do she is a in door cat only if she dose not stop she will be a out door cat only we have tried everything what else is there to do do not wont to put her out can not put up with it

Answer 9

I BELIEVE YOUR ANSWER IS @ YOU BUYING DIFFERENT LITTERS. CATS ARE VERY RITUAL AND THEY DO NOT LIKE CHANGE.(THIS EVEN GOES FOR LITTER).CATSWILL NOT USE A LITTER THAT DOES NOT FEEL RIGHT ON THIER FEET.THEY WILL ALSO NOT USE A LITTER THAT LEAVES TRACES OF "USED" BEHIND.TRY, LIKE ME,INVESTING INTO A PREMIUM LITER.I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TOO. I HAVE HAD CATS ALL MY LIFE AND IM 41.THE TIDY CATS IS A HARD CLUMPING LITTER. (IT HAS A MOISTUREACTIVATED GLUE IN IT) THAT ACTUALLY BINDS THE PEE AND POOPS INTO A HARD BALL. YOU CAN THEN LIFT AND SIFT THIS OUT WITH ALMOST NO PIECES LEFT BEHIND. DO NOT USE A CLAY BASED LITTER.IF YOU DO. EMTY THE WHOLE BOX OUT EVERYTIME HE OR SHE USES IT. IF YOU DO USE CLAY LITTER, ONLY FILL IT WITH 1" OF LITTER. ALSO,MAKE SURE YOUR BOX IS IN A NONCONGESTED ARE!CATS, LIKE US,LIKE PRIVACY WHEN "GOING".CATS REALLY DON'T LEARN PUNISHMENT.THEY'RE BEHAVIOR ANNIMALS UNLIKE DOGS.

Answer 10

Do you have carpetsor hard wood floors??? I found this out when I moved and I brought my cats into the new apartment and as it turned out the previous owners had cats who peed in the same spot, so my cats started doing the same thing in the same exact spot. All they are doing is trying to cover up the other cats smell and they are trying to mark that area as their own.
So what you might want to do is have your carpet cleaned or your floor stripped and re-sealed.