Why all of a sudden is my female cat pooping in my daughters room, even though she also uses her litterbox?

Answer 1

Hi there...First consider all the possibilities such as:
- changes with litter brands (consider using the litter she was accustomed to before you adopted her, if you can find out)
- location of the litter box isn't private enough
- some cats like to have one box to defecate and another to urinate
- cleanliness (some cats are very finicky and prefer a super clean box)
- as a general rule there should be one litter box for each cat plus one extra as a back up
- unspayed/un-neutered if cat is over the age of 5-7 months. Cats will become aggressive as they sexually mature and territorially mark with either urine or defecating.

If all these have been ruled out, there's a chance that your cat may have developed another underlying medical problem which can contribute to accidents outside of the box. Cats will associate pain while using box and change their habits as a result.

Here's an article about why cats inappropriately soil outside their litter box by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html

House soiling is the most common behavior problem reported by cat owners. It includes urination and/or defecation outside the litter box, as well as urine spraying.

Why do cats eliminate outside of the litter box?
One common misconception is that cats soil in inappropriate places for revenge. It is tempting to conclude, "He defecated on the living room carpet to punish me for leaving him for the weekend." But this kind of calculation requires sophisticated cognitive abilities that cats aren't believed to possess. Furthermore, this conclusion assumes that cats view their urine and feces as distasteful, when in fact they do not. It is only we humans who view it that way.

Medical Problems
So why do cats urinate or defecate on your bed or carpet? Medical problems are one possibility. Inflammation of the urinary tract may cause painful or frequent urination, inability to urinate, bloody urine, and crying during urination. An affected cat is likely to eliminate outside the litter box if he comes to associate the box with painful urination, or if he has an increased urgency to urinate. In addition, kidney, liver, and thyroid diseases often lead to increased drinking and urination. Inflammation of the colon or rectum, intestinal tract tumors, intestinal parasites, and other gastrointestinal conditions may cause painful defecation, increased frequency or urgency to defecate, and decreased control of defecation. Age-related diseases that interfere with a cat's mobility (for example, arthritis, nervous system disorders, or muscular diseases), or with his cognitive functions can also influence his ability to get to the litter box in time. In short, any medical condition that interferes with a cat's normal elimination behavior can lead to house soiling.

Litter Box Aversions
Behavioral problems, such as litter box aversions, inappropriate site preferences, or urine spraying can also lead to house soiling. An aversion implies that there is something about the litter box that your cat finds unsavory. It could be the box, the litter, the location of the box, or all three.

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Answer 2

There are countless reasons why she did it the first time, but she may think it's ok to repeat it if the scent has stayed. Cat urine can smell so strongly and they will remember where they did and use it again, not knowing it's not ok.

Definitely get her checked out by the vet for physical issues, then try some of the above methods. Perhaps putting a litter box in your daughter's room (however unpleasant that is) may be a good idea for now because it's healthier to have a place for her to do it rather than a dirty rug. Good luck! Kitties can be tough sometimes

Answer 3

my cat does the same thing on occasion. She is a outdoor cat and comes and goes as she pleases. She only had a litterbox for about 6 weeks when she was a kitten. The only way we can keep her from pooping in that room is to keep the door closed when no-one is in there, and shoo her out if we are in there

Answer 4

Cats do unlike differences except they are the single making the concepts. before everything, if this issue has been occuring considering the fact that Day a million with this stray, then your issue is that the cat has no longer been 'housebroken' and bathroom-knowledgeable. Such issues do no longer happen in a single day, distinctly with highway-cats whom you probably did no longer pickup while they are nonetheless kittens. What I in many situations do is lock them up with in many situations refreshed nutrition, water and the kitty-clutter in a nicely-ventilated precise room for no less than each and every week or greater till the undesirable cat is acclimatized on your place. you may want to choose for a room which best ought to be the everlasting kitty-clutter room for the cat, or you should flow the kitty clutter to a coated backyard after the cat has started using the clutter for all lavatory activities. anyplace it somewhat is located, make confident that its nicely ventilated and which you sparkling the clutter sand and the kitty waste a minimum of two situations an afternoon. Cats are fussy and sparkling animals. good success and function a great life with the cat.

Answer 5

Kitty might not want to leave your daughter; might be too excited from play; might be "marking" your daughter's space; may be in a habit--cats who soil use the same places repeatedly.

Have a vet check her out -- Kitty, not your daughter LOL.

Nature's Miracle (major pet stores) works well to remove odor. Or after cleaning, use vinegar to reduce the odors. Uh, if you leave poop to dry completely it is much easier to remove from carpets. Use a paint scrapper to loosen dried poop or diarrhea, and shove it onto a dust pan or stiff cardboard.

You might put down a layer of newspapers on top of well-used spots... kitties are not paper trained but there's a chance she'd go on the paper...

Lifes

Answer 6

can't say for sure, but my cat poops in my bed if he's mad at me. then the little bugger smooths the covers back out so i don't know till i go to bed. maybe your daughter scared your cat or something. henery gets mad if i startle him. once he walked up to me while i was sitting on the couch, meowed once, turned around, wiggled his butt, and pooped on the floor right in front of me. that was the day i got a puppy. he's kind of a brat. you can try getting this spray at petsmart that is supposed to repel cats, but then your kitty probably won't go into you kid's room at all. good luck!

Answer 7

Are you removing the solid waste on a daily basis? If not-Imagine your toilet-you flush it after each visit-I assume. But lets say your flusher doesn't work and you can't flush your waste for lets say up to a week. Gross. Right?
If you are not removing your cat's waste on a daily basis she doesn't want to use a toilet that doesn't "flush" and is finding other areas to eliminate in.

If this is not the problem, try getting a second litter box. Also if you have a covered box she may not like that either-try removing it.

Answer 8

It could be a sign of dominance. She senses change or smells something funny that threatens her. My dominant male cat would always poop on TOP of the catbox.

Answer 9

maybe a change that she doesnt like...like a different brand of cat litter

Answer 10

honestly, she could be mad at your daughter. Maybe your daughter gave her heck, pulled her tail, or something.