What to do when cat keeps shifting infront of the litterbox
My cat has been shitting infront of the litterbox for a while now but the strange thing is, its always on the same place, and she still does shit in the letterbox, but also outside.
Many days i wake up and stand in shit and its been so annoying
It’s also possible she doesn’t realize she’s missing the box… we had an older cat that started doing this… she would get all her feet in the box, squat and shit on the floor right next to the box, then try to bury it. Got her a bigger box with slightly higher sides (still low enough she could easily access), and it fixed the issue
in addition to what others have said: this is also a classic symptom of territorial insecurity so maybe there’s a stray cat spraying the outsides of the walls of your home.
Is the cat older? My oldest cat couldn’t step up into the litter box anymore so I ended up cutting the front of it so the step over was much smaller. You could also put a brick or build a wooden step which makes it easier for her to step into the box. It has to be heavy and sturdy enough to where it won’t move when the cat steps on it.
Also check that the box is clean. I would dump qll the litter and hit the inside with a hose to make sure it is clean. Dey it, and then refill it with fresh litter. And make sure you scoop out all the poop out of it every day. Cats tends to be very clean animals and don’t like a dirty box.
Another thing to consider is if the box is too small for them. One of our cats is rather large so we had to get a larger litter box for them.
They might still have mobility issues. If you don’t want to cut the front of the litterbox open to make it lower and bigger, than maybe get a piece of wood or a brick or something else to act like a step to make it easier for them to get into the box.
Also, I assume the litterbox isn’t just the bottom. Those are usually terrible. I am guessing that there is a top/cover to it, right? They could be pooping in the box near the edge and it just falls out if there is no cover.
If this continues with a new litterbox with a cover, then you should consider bringing them to a vet. Cats are very clean animals so if they are pooping outside the box, it is usually for a good reason.
Of course not, there was never even a need to do that because shes really really really well behaved, she only claws when youre a stranger (outside, but shes not and outside cat anymore) So no, but i agree, declawing cats sounds horrible
Have you seen the cat take a shit outside the box? How close is the shit to the box? My cat sometimes craps outside the box but it is just due to him not walking far enough into the box before squatting, so his ass is sticking out. The poop ends up just outside the door or smeared on the lip.
We had this problem recently; we took her to the vet because we thought it was a medical issue, but they found nothing wrong with her. Instead, they said it seemed like she was depressed and anxious, so they gave her a prescription for a teeny tiny cat-sized dose of Prozac every night, and it totally cleared the issue up. Turns out she was just really down a lot and didn’t know how else to communicate it to us.
How bad does her shit smell? My cat has Inflammatory Bowl Disease. When she has a flare up, her shit smells absolutely horrific, she strains a lot, and poop often ends up outside the litterbox.
The other suggestions in this thread are great. I’d add take her to the vet and explain the situation. Also see if they can express her anal glands. My cat also had massively clogged anal glands which didn’t help anything.
Cats are quirky and can have many reasons to do that. If she is an older cat she may have arthritis and the walls of the box could be high for her to easily get over. Some cats hate covered litter boxes. If you changed litter brands recently she may not like the texture or smell. The box could be too small; I bought a large metal litterbox for mine before they quit peeing over the sides on the wall.
Emotional issues can cause outside box use too: new pet, roommate, someone moved out. All can have an effect.
Feliway has a pheromone spray or diffuser you can use that is supposed to help with issues like urinating outside the box which may help with the poop problem. Another brand called Comfort Zone has a “spray and scratch” that’s slightly cheaper.
If the vinegar or peroxide that others recommended to clean the potty spot don’t seem to do the trick, then you can buy an enzyme cleaner like Nonscents “stain and odor eliminator” to see if that will work.
Already some good suggestions about making the litterbox way cleaner than your human senses would be able to appreciate. But I was just wondering if your cat is a tortoise shell? Seems to be a common behavior in those quirky girls.
When cats shit outside the box, they’re trying to communicate something. Unfortunately they don’t speak English and sometimes resort to speaking Catshittese.
Are there enough boxes? You should have n+1 litter boxes, where n is the number of cats in the home. Also they should be scooped two or three times a day (before work, after work, and bedtime is a good routine). The litter should be about 3”/8cm deep: they need enough to bury their piss and shit, but too deep feels unsteady beneath their feet.
Is she a really big cat? She might want a bigger box. I once had a big fuckoff tabby who needed jumbo boxes with extra-high sides.
Maybe she’s having digestive pains. Does her shit look normal? If not, put the misplaced turd in a zipper baggy and have your vet check it out.
It could also be an emotional issue, like loneliness or anxiety or dominance, but make sure the litter boxes and digestive health are all in order before deciding that’s what’s up.
Totally understandable. When I lived in a small place, I only had room for one box, so I got the biggest thing that would fit and scooped as often as possible.
That reminds me, some cats are picky about litter too, just like some humans will only wipe their ass with certain brands of toilet paper. So it’s good to find a brand they like and stick with it, but I know how hard it is to experiment when there’s only room for one box.
We know that she doesnt like every litter, but this litter has been working for probably like 14-16 years, i dont think that changed. But thanks for the suggestion :)
Is that how old the cat is? If so, it’s probably arthritis. Mine is about that age and has problems squatting. It could be that she has trouble getting in and out of the box, or she’s inside but standing too close to the edge and not squatting enough. You could try a supplement or ask your vet. Mine offers monthly injections for arthritis.
Yes, 16, the thing with the too close to the edge is 100% impossible, its not JUST outside the box, its like a tiny bit further away, enough that it can’t work, but ill try some suggestions regarding her mavye not being able to go over it
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