My cat has started pooing on the carpet, how can I stop her?

Question

She's 11 years old and this hasn't really been a problem before. She's had the same tray in the same place for 3 years. Haven't changed the litter brand. Gave it a really good cleaning and all the area around it over Christmas but didn't help. Discouraged her from one area with 'get off' spray but now she's started somewhere else. She is a house cat and doesn't go outside apart from rarely in the garden. We have another female cat and they have been together for 10 years and never had a problem sharing the tray. More recently she has started weeing on carpet now too. We have 3 young children and the hygiene issue is starting to worry me as well.

Answer 1

Hi there...consider having your cat evaluated by a veterinarian. Anytime a cat begins to soil inappropriately it generally is indicative of an underlying medical problem. Senior cats can develop age-related diseases which can contribute to unusual changes in behaviours such as kidney, thyroid, diabetes, etc.

Here's more on why cats soil inappropriately 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.

... please consider visiting the website for full details on house soiling and treatments

Answer 2

There's a few ways.


1) Keep the litter box clean. Cats have a stronger sense of smell than us and therefore, stinky kitty litter can be their version of hell.

2) Clean the area with a cleaner specially designed for pet stains. (And don't use anything with ammonia in it!) The pet stains remover removes the smell so your animals don't recognize the area as a second litter box.

3) If that doesn't work, place a small bowl of food over the area. Animals won't defecate where they eat.

4) Move the litter box so that the animal would have to walk through their own feces on the carpet to get to the litter box. I've found they stop most of the time.

Oh, and buy pet training pads if she continues being a problem. Sometimes they can't help it.

Answer 3

I think your cat needs to be checked by a vet she's telling you she has a problem cats don't all of a sudden start doing this without a problem, check the under side of the tail, she could have blocked anal glands, sometimes when it happen they use the litter box but some will get stuck on the tail and drop off later. If you notice an oily like substance clean the area and have a vet check the cat. Good luck

Answer 4

If she is sharing the litter box, that is typically the challenge. The male is being territorial and preventing her from using it. First you ought to spoil the dependancy. Are trying making use of enzyme disinfectant on the floor where she goes, it is going to remove any hint of previous "mistakes". Usual disinfectant won't do this. Use cat pepper or every other cat repellent on the discipline, but be very sparing as you do not need it spreading to the leisure of the residence! 2d, motivate her to do the proper thing! Maintain them in separate materials of the house even as you are "coaching" her. You cannot particularly coach a cat but that you would be able to make them wish to do what you want - sometimes. Keep the tray in an available place and keep the male well faraway from it. Are trying utilizing a little of catnip on or close the tray, but watch out as on the way to appeal to the other cat too. Until which you could seize her in the act, smacking etc is a waste of time (although it does make you suppose higher). Cat's don't rather understand (or care) about disapproval. In my opinion, i've perpetually had a cat flap. There are risks but I believe it makes them happier and better adjusted. And finally we run risks at all times, and staying indoors to prevent them would make for a gorgeous tedious life. Cats are naturally smooth, but an unhouse-trained one is impossible to live with. So it is worth making an effort to repair it, when you consider that the alternatives are lovely horrid.

Answer 5

My Mums cat Sasha is 13 and started doing the same thing a few years back. Each time we discourage her from a particular place she just finds a new one. The Vet says theres nithing to be done, we tried leaving orange peel around which they hate and it worked but like i said, she just finds somewhere else. Not much help but an empathetic ear nonetheless!

Answer 6

Take her to see her vet just to make sure it isnt a medical problem. Some cats are prone to urinary infections as they age, and the pain of urinating in the box sometimes actually trains them to think the litterbox is the hurtful thing by association.

While you are there, you can state your concerns and the vet may have some very helpful, well education ideas for you if he believes it is due to aging brain changes or behaviour.

Good Luck!

Answer 7

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Answer 8

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Answer 9

im afraid it will be her age.

perhaps shes becoming incontinent or forgetful of where her tray is (or both)

try placing a couple more litter trays around the house or taking her to her litter tray many times a day, to remind her to go toilet:)

Answer 10

Take her to the vet, there could be a health issue that makes her do that. Also any sudden changes in the house could cause that.