Why does my cat do her business on the cellar floor instead of her two litter boxes?

Question

The boxes are kept clean everyday and there are no other cats in the house. She will do # 1 in the boxes but #2 is on the floor in the same area everyday. I have tried amonia and even tried placing the box in the area she is going but she will find a new area on the floor.

Answer 1

This is improper Elimination not marking.

Finding the cause is going to take detective work on your part.

Here are the causes.

Factors Contributing to Inappropriate Elimination

• Medical Conditions : Cats avoiding the litter pan should be examined by a veterinarian to rule out a medical condition. Laboratory tests will need to be performed in most cases, however, if a condition does exist, immediate treatment will help resolve the behavioral problem. Possible medical conditions include: colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, kidney or liver disease, or feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). Medical conditions such as arthritis, FLUTD, anal sac disease, and some forms of colitis, which cause pain urinating or defecating may also result in inappropriate elimination

• Stress: Cats of all ages experience stress at some point in their lives (just like us). Stress can be a major cause of inappropriate elimination, and known stressors such as moving, changes in routine, or changes within the family structure (new members added or family members leaving home) can result in inappropriate elimination. Reducing these stressors or decreasing their impact on the household will benefit your cat and you, too.

• Box Location & Contents: Some cats may not like where their box is located; too close to their food or water, in a high traffic area, or on a different level of the house than where they spend most of their time. Some cats are very particular and will not defecate in the same box in which they urinate or go into a box which has been used by another cat. Most cats do not like a dirty litter box. Clean out waste from their litter boxes at least once daily, and wash the litter boxes weekly so that they don't decide to eliminate elsewhere in your home.


My suggestion is that you ADD a NEW litter box and place it in the spot that the cat is pooping in the cellar. She may realize that is where she should be doing it.

As for cleaning... do NOT ever use ammonia. You could start he cat spraying because ammonia mimmics cat urine. Using ammonia will only make it worse.

Good luck with your kitty. I am sure you will figure it out!

Answer 2

Is your cellar floor dirt? That could be your answer there. If it is you could have a problem trying to retrain you cat not to go there. If the floor is not dirt then you can try any orange scent, cats hat the smell of oranges.Can you keep the door to the cellar closed? That would help to keep her out of the cellar.Cats like to keep their potty business private like we do. If you don't have a hooded litter box you could buy one of those as well as the Orange and closed door. If the floor is cement, and you have tried every thing I have suggested you may have to just keep a bucket of soapy water and an old broom and just throw some soapy water on the area from time to time and use the broom to scrub the area clean.Please don't use ammonia to clean the cellar floor with it smells like urine to your cat.It will draw her to that area instead of repelling her away.

Answer 3

Don't use amonia for cleaning the soiled area, amonia is found in urine and will encourage the cat to toilet where you have just cleaned up. When you clean up the cats droppings, for the next few times, bury them in the litter boxes. Wash the area the cat has been using with hot water and household bleach, make sure the cat is well out of the way and the area well ventilated, let it dry and spray some household disinfectant around on the floor, mop it with a dry mop. Keep persisting till the cat gets the message, if you know around the time that your cat is doing the droppings take them to the box and show them how to dig.

Answer 4

Some cats like mine never use litter boxes and just go somewhere else. You should probably use one of those sprays that cats don't like on the cellar floor. You could also try to show her how to do her business outside. Unlike with dogs, you don't have to clean up after cats. Good luck!

Answer 5

try changing litter until the cat does it right. get a new cat..

Answer 6

take her to the vet to rule out any medical reason for her doing this.