why does my cat poop on flour?

Question

it likes to poop on flour more then his litter box

Answer 1

Hi there...do you mean floor or "flour" the white powdery baking substance? Perhaps your cat prefers the texture versus the litter.

If you meant floor:

...first consider all the possibilities such as:
- changes with litter brands
- 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
- kittens who are over 5-7 months can become sexually mature and urine spray as well as defecate inappropriately to mark territory.
- senior cats develop age-related disorders such as chronic renal failure (CRF), hyperthyroidism, diabetes, etc.

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.

...please consider visiting the website for further details

Answer 2

Why is there flour just hanging out where your cat cat poop in it?? That's weird. Anyway, if there is, it just simply is using a place it can bury it's stuff, and if it's gone in the mysterious flour spot more than once, then it's most likely just used to going there. I would really hate to see how things look at your place though, little paw prints everywhere from the flour??!! That's nuts!

Answer 3

That must be a pain in the butt when you're trying to bake a cake or some biscuits, huh?

Sorry to be a smartass, I assume you mean the floor. It could be several things. Try moving the litter box to another location. Try using a different cat litter. Perhaps keep the litter box cleaner than you have been. Cats are funny. They like their privacy and they are definitely picky about their litter and the cleanliness of their boxes.

Start simply and just take it one step at a time. Try first to change the type of cat litter you're using. If you're using the 'scoopable' stuff, a lot of cats don't like it. Some don't like scented litter, etc.
Make sure to keep it clean. You might even try a different litter box, maybe one with a hood or without a hood if you have that kind. If none of that works, try moving it to a different spot.

Answer 4

It either has a health problem that it is trying to tell you about or it don't like the smell of the cat litter. Try using a scent free cat litter, or the tidy cat that has the new tidy lock stated on the front, it don't have a scent to it, Also, only put about an inch to an inch and a half in it so kitty can squat and keep it clean. Also, make sure there is room for your cat to walk around the litter box and cover it up. They like that.

Answer 5

Your cat poops on flour? Does it get on the kitchen counter?

Answer 6

You shouldn't leave your flour where the cat can get at it. It mistakes your baking ingredients for cat litter. Poor thing!

Answer 7

There is special sand for cats in the box for the cat to poop on it.
If the cat poops on that sand and someone doesn't clean the box and change the sand, the cat doesn't want to poop on a dirty box.

Answer 8

Some cats have to have their litter box perfectly clean or they won't go in the box. Might be the problem. Or he is seeking more attention from you.
jw