Cat Pooping Outside of the Litter Box

Originally published May 23, 2014 @ 08:08

I got a comment on one of our YouTube videos the other day stating something to the effect of “my cat is a weirdo, she likes to poop outside of the litter box” – which reminded me to re-run this post.

Many people do wonder why their cats poops on the floor next to the litter box.

Why is my cat pooping outside of the litter box on the floor?

It is not uncommon for pet owners to be faced with the issue of a cat who will pee inside the litter box, but poop outside of it—sometimes even right next to it.  Below are a few possible explanations for this frustrating problem and some suggestions for how to fix it.  If you have solutions to offer that are not listed here, please share them in the comments.  I would like for this page to be a good source of reference for cat owners, so any additional insights are always appreciated.

Consider first taking your kitty to the vet and doing a fecal check if they are having this issue, especially if they have loose stool, as this could be a possible sign of parasites or parasite eggs, pain while pooping, or even anal glands that need to be expressed.

Cats Not Using Litter Box Anymore: Reasons and Solutions

• Furry Butt Syndrome – Some long haired cats do not like the feel of remnants of feces sticking to their fur.  They associate this feeling with the litter box, so they try to solve the problem by pooping elsewhere.  This issue can be easily resolved by keeping the fur around the cat’s bottomed nicely trimmed so it stays clean.
• The litter – There are a variety of reasons why a cat might reject a certain type of litter for pooping, but not for peeing.  Since cats poop in a different position that they pee, it might be a simple matter of the level of litter—they might want it lower for pooping.  It could also be a matter of the type of litter.  The cat might prefer an unscented option, such as wheat or clay unscented litter.  You might also try Cat Attract Litter, which is designed to appeal to cats who are having litter box problems with its ideal particle size, texture, and herbal scent.
• The litter level – Do you have enough litter for your cat to bury poop? It can be a challenge to figure out – but most cats prefer around 2-4″ inches, and then top it off as the depth drops below what the cat prefers. You can always tell when it’s too low – as they will leave half of it exposed.  On the flip side, sometimes the litter level is too deep and readers have reported that a cat’s hind legs sunk in too far into the litter and the poos would stick to their pantaloons. You can reduce the litter level or change litter brands to a heavier litter.
• Scooping – Do you check to make sure that you get all of the poop when you scoop? Sometimes there are very small pieces at the end of the job and they get left behind in the tray. This can make some cats eliminate outside the tray rather than risk touching old poop with their paws.  The Litter-Lifter litter scoop is awesome for quickly and efficiently scooping boxes.
• Jealousy – If you have recently introduced a new pet into your home, your cat might be feeling a bit jealous or neglected and communicating that message by pooping outside of the box.  The simplest solution for if you suspect jealously is to make a conscious effort to devote more time and attention to that cat, at least until they get used to their new furry companion.  You might also look into calming herbs to give your cat as they are adjusting, although you should consult a vet before giving the cat anything.  Some cat owners suggest valerian root, while others believe this is toxic to cats, so check with your vet for safe and effective suggestions.
• The litter box – Because of the different positions for pooping and peeing, your cat might be having a hard time getting situated for #2 in the box.  Is the litter box too small? Ragdoll cats are big cats. Maybe s/he needs large litter boxes. Consider using a bigger box, a box with higher or lower walls, or a clear box.  A specific type of box for cats with litter box problems, such as the NVR Miss, could be a good solution tohelping a cat get themselves oriented to avoid pooping over the edge of the box.  Or you might go for a really large litter box – like the Petmate Giant Litter Pan.  Some people try covered litter boxes, but this can make it more difficult for the cat to get comfortable.  Ragdolls in particular are larger cats, so they might need a little more room to get situated.  If you are having trouble finding a big enough (and affordable enough) litter box, get creative by going to a hardware store and looking for a large plastic container that could serve as a litter box.
• The number of litterboxes – You should have one more litter box than the number of cats in a household. So, one cat – 2 litterboxes or 3 cats – 4 litterboxes.
• The location – Since pooping takes cats a little longer, a cat might be experiencing anxiety about being vulnerable for that length of time, or might be disrupted by other pets in the house.  Some cats prefer to have clear lines of sight from their litter box or an easy “escape.”  Read more about this and other possible issues in the article “Cat Pooping Outside the Litter Box? 5 Things to Consider.”
• Constipation – Your kitty might be a little constipated, when they struggle to poop they sometimes feel the need to move around, are poops a little hard?

Cats Not Using Their Litter Box to Poop: Additional Solutions

• Keep the box extra clean – Sometimes cats are just particularly fussy about the cleanliness of their box.  Try cleaning the box more frequently if possible to see if this helps.
• Positive reinforcement – Sometimes this solution can be handled much like you would handle an issue with a dog—by getting the cat used to their box and rewarding them for using it.  Dawn had this issue with her cat Pyro, and solved it by putting him in the litter box a few times a day and petting him during that time.  During each session, she would pet him, give him a treat, and gently put him back into the box if he tried to leave on his own.  She would also put him in the box if he looked like he had to go, and after a while he started using it on his own.  She switched to only rewarding him with treats after he used the box, and Pyro got the message.  She occasionally still gives him a treat to keep up the reinforcement.  Check out her story: “Using Positive Reinforcement to Retrain Cats with Litter Box Problems.”
• Doggy Pee Pad – You can pop a doggy pee pad down underneath the litter tray (it helps when you have a kitty that poops next to the tray).  You can get a 100 Puppy Pads, Regular and Extra Large on Amazon.
• Multiple litter boxes – Sometimes cats want options, particularly if you have more than one cat.  A good rule of thumb is one box for each cat, plus one more.  And in different locations in the house.
• Following where the cat goes – This goes along with the idea that the location of the box might be the problem.  If you find that your cat is pooping in the same spot outside of the litter box, such as on a certain rug or by a window, think about moving the box to that location to see if the cat will start to use the box there.

If you have had success getting your cat to poop in the litter box using techniques other than these, please feel free to share them in a comment below!

September 3, 2016

“Dear Jenny,

Several months ago I wrote you about Mr. Bentley. At the time he was ten months old. When Mr. Bentley became a member of our family, he was so precious and still is. The only problem we encountered was his bathroom habits. He urinated in the liter box (thankfully) but when it came to pooping, well he thought the floor in front of the liter box was the best place for that!!!! So, I wrote you hoping you would be able to solve that problem. You gave us several suggestions, but we had either tried those or they did not apply. Then I was reading one of the Newsletters and at the bottom it had recommendations for certain products. One of them was “Cat Attract Litter”. We went to Petco and purchased a bag and tried it out. Well, I am so happy to report that Mr. Bentley has become a very good boy!!! For two months now he has
had no accidents. Thank you, Jenny, for helping us solve our problem. We are a very happy family now!!!

Happy Parents”

Looking for Cat Peeing Outside of the Litter Box solutions?  Check out this post: Cat Peeing Outside of the Litter Box

The post Cat Pooping Outside of the Litter Box appeared first on Floppycats.