Proven ways to stop a cat from shitting in the wrong place

The suffering of people whose cat began to shit in the wrong place is immeasurable. Most often in such a situation, the owner's bed and shoes, the threshold of the front door, the corners of rooms and the space under the bathroom suffer. You want to solve the problem as soon as possible, but in a hurry you can only make it worse: by not following the rules, it is easy to reinforce the animal’s erroneous behavior. We will tell you how to stop a cat from going to the toilet in the wrong place.

Why did the cat start shitting in the room?

The first thing you need to understand is why the cat began to upset its owners:

• This may be due to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or genitourinary system.
• It is possible that the animal attracts attention in this way, showing that it needs help.
• Sometimes a cat’s toilet begins to be associated with pain. In this case, any attempts to return it to the tray will remain in vain until it is completely cured.

Important! If a cat experiences pain, pain or simply unpleasant sensations, if it cannot restrain involuntary urination, then educational measures are useless. In this case, urgent assistance from a veterinarian is necessary: ​​a timely diagnosis and proper treatment will help solve the problem.

Main reasons not related to health:

• a significant change in the situation (moving, renovation, buying new furniture);
• non-acceptance of the premises where the toilet is installed;
• aversion to the smell of the material from which the tray is made (or its shape);
• antipathy to the filler (or its rare replacement);
• conflict between cats living together;
• lack of attention from the owners.

Sometimes an animal takes revenge for an insult in this way or protests if it doesn’t like something. This is his way of “explaining” to the owners: something is not as the cat wants. But there is no need to look for human logic and conscious behavior in such actions: everything is spontaneous, situational and subordinate to instincts.

Our article – rating of trays for cats – can help you with choosing the right accessory.

The reason can be elementary:

• the toilet was moved (turned);
• another cat went into the litter box;
• there is not enough food in the feeder and not enough water in the drinking bowl;
• The family pet is old, and these are age-related problems.

Sometimes a cat stops going because something startled her during a previous trip to the toilet: for example, someone suddenly walked by while the cat was doing her business.

A separate block is the natural need to mark the territory, protecting it from the encroachments of other animals or even guests who come to the house. And also in an effort to attract sexual partners. This is a powerful animal instinct, which cannot be overcome by educational measures.

Environmental changes

Cats are creatures of habit. If something in your family was fairly routine and then suddenly changed, it could lead to bad behavior.

Sometimes your cat—like a baby—can't process new information without acting out a little.

If you think back to when the problem first started, you may think of something that changed dramatically—even if it's not that big of a deal to you. This could be something as simple as reorganizing your bedroom. This can completely change your cat, causing her to do questionable things in response.

How to prevent cat misbehavior

You can never be sure of anything with a pet: it is a living creature that may have its own problems and its own views on how its living environment should be arranged. In order to protect your home as much as possible from surprises, the conditions for keeping the animal are thought out even before the mustachioed friend is brought into the house.

The cat loves cleanliness, order and clear organization of space. It would be wise to position the toilet in a way that she likes. Then she will agree to do her business where it is convenient for the owner.

Misbehavior in a cat can be prevented if:

• choose a toilet that your pet will like (even if you have to change several in a row);
• When purchasing a tray, take into account the size of the animal;
• place the tray in a secluded corner with 24-hour access to the room;
• place the feeding area away from the toilet;
• Do not place anything with a strong smell next door.

It is extremely important to clean your cat's litter box frequently:

• every time you change the filler;
• as soon as the smell appears;
• Trays used without filler are washed after each cat’s visit to the toilet.

The litter you choose is the one that suits your cat. We talked about the choice of filler taking into account the individual characteristics of the pet’s breed and age in this article. They change it without waiting for a strong smell to appear, which is individual for each animal.

Sometimes a cat shits in the room because of helminths: the pain and itching force her to look for a place where she can wipe off the remnants of the discharge. Often she looks for something soft - a carpet, a bed or a sofa. To prevent this from happening, even a healthy cat needs to be given anti-worm medication from time to time.

If your cat has urinary incontinence caused by illness or old age, you can only protect your floors and carpets by buying her diapers. This decision will be the only correct one; it will completely eliminate hassle and dirt in the house.

Useful conclusions

There is a way out of any situation, and teaching a cat to relieve itself in a litter tray is possible. The main thing is not to lose hope and be patient.

Before you get a cat at home , think about whether you can provide him with proper comfort, clean his litter box on time, and avoid using certain scents that frighten cats. If an animal feels good and calm with its owner, it is unlikely to start leaving surprises in different corners of the house. Cats who receive enough attention are always grateful to their owner, just like cats who are not nervous about domestic scandals, loneliness and resentment. It must be remembered that cats, thanks to their developed sense of smell, are very sensitive to new odors. And if the owner suddenly bought himself a strong perfume or began to use a citrus freshener in the room where the tray is, the cat may panic and want to change his toilet.

Any changes in the owner’s life are reflected in the cats. Moving, domestic squabbles, new household members - all this leads to stress in animals. And then sudden violations of discipline occur - leaving surprises in different places at home. The owner can swear as much as he wants, but this will not solve the cat's problems. Take care of your cat and relieve his stress. Buy your pet's favorite treats, distribute them into several bowls and place them in different corners of the house. The bed can be placed closer to the radiator; cats simply adore warmth. If in a new apartment a pet expresses a desire to sleep on the owner’s bed, it is better to allow him. This way the cat will have confidence that he is being cared for and has not been abandoned.

You can find an approach to any cat, and then the owner will not have to wonder how to stop the pet from crapping. Patience and care are the main helpers of a person in whose house there lives a furry happiness - a cat.

Methods to Avoid

Measures for raising an animal must be completely safe for its health.

Absolute taboo:

• beating;
• poking your nose into a puddle or pile;
• dousing with water;
• rough pushing towards the tray;
• shout.

All this will only frighten, provoke stress and ultimately have the opposite effect. The cat will become insecure and begin to look through all corners in search of something for which it will not be punished.

A little scolding is necessary, but only if the cat was caught “doing this.” Delayed punishment is pointless, because the cat will no longer understand what the owner’s aggression is connected with.

Sometimes it is advised to lock the cat in a cramped room with a litter tray: if it cannot find another place, it will begin to go there. But this method is also quite cruel. Such treatment can frighten, offend the animal and cause a persistent aversion to the toilet.

What not to do

Sometimes the owner thinks that any method is good in raising a pet, but this is not so. Some actions may, at best, not change the situation; at worst, they may greatly aggravate it.

• Yelling at the cat, scaring it and hitting it is inappropriate. The animal will think that the owner is angry at the very fact of relieving himself, and will begin to do his natural things away from the owner. How unpleasant it will be to find “mines” under sofas and cabinets.
• Poking your face into stool is not the best method. Cats do not know how to draw parallels, and the animal simply will not understand why the owner does this.
• If the owner catches a cat red-handed , you should not make him run away in panic, scattering his “gifts” along the way, but take him to the litter box and finish the job.

How to stop a cat from pooping all over your apartment: proven methods

It is not at all difficult to train a small kitten to use a litter tray. But if an adult cat suddenly changes its habits, or the animal is taken from the street, only those who show patience and love will achieve success.

The owner needs to show the cat that he is against him shitting anywhere and take care of cleanliness:

• the dirty floor is immediately washed and disinfected;
• it is possible to use an odor repellent;
• soiled shoes are thoroughly cleaned and put away.

Many cats urinate in one litter box and defecate in another. In this case, the problem can be solved in the easiest way: just place two containers next to each other.

If the cat is left alone for a long time, you will have to get another potty, because this animal will not go into a dirty tray.

Sometimes it is enough to change the brand of litter to the one the cat is used to. If there is a need to accustom the cat to a different litter, the change is made gradually, mixing the new brand with the old one in increasing proportions.

After making sure that the animal is healthy, you can apply educational measures:

• give a treat every time the cat goes into the litter box: to positively reinforce correct behavior;
• put a bowl of food where it is pooped: cats do not go to the toilet where they eat;
• in cases where “you can’t stock up on any bowls,” you can lay out dry food in areas that have been thoroughly washed of urine or feces beforehand.

If the cat gets into the habit of walking on any object that can be removed for a while (a rug, a chair), then it is better to take the thing out altogether or stop the cat’s access to the room. But it cannot be guaranteed that, having stopped shitting in the wrong place for some time, even for a long time, the cat will not eventually begin to use this thing as its toilet again.

A very effective way for a small kitten is to soak a cloth in his urine and put it in the tray. The smell will point the animal to the right place. The same can be done for an adult cat brought from the street.

A good method is to place the tray where the cat began to shit, gradually moving it to where the owner needs it. Often the cat obeys or does not notice the change in the position of the potty. But sometimes you have to come to terms and permanently move the tray to the corner chosen by the animal.

You can make a place favored by a cat inaccessible:

• cover with something that is better unpleasant for the paws;
• fence with a strip of double-sided tape;
• make inaccessible (fence, cover).

Sometimes it turns out to be effective to create a situation of discomfort at the moment when the cat settles down in the corner of its choice (unexpected appearance, clapping of hands). But the animal always understands that it is doing something bad, and tries to do it when no one is around. The owners will have to keep watch, and perhaps more than once.

To prevent a cat taken from the street from marking the entire apartment, you can collect its scent on a porous fabric (by rubbing it on the fur, for example) and spread its pieces around the apartment. Then the animal will understand that this is its territory, which does not need to be marked.

To prevent pets from spraying gonad secretions and urine around the apartment, males are castrated and females are sterilized. But if this is done late, when the behavior has already become entrenched, the operation will not get rid of the marks. Your veterinarian will help determine the correct age for this procedure.

An animal that shits in the wrong place in order to find a sexual partner can simply be given the opportunity to satisfy its instinct, and silence and cleanliness will return to the apartment.

There is one more absolute rule: a cat’s misdeed, committed in front of the owner, should never go uncondemned. Because the cat must clearly understand what is acceptable in its behavior and what is not.

Useful tips for the owner

Some of the following tips may help correct the situation.

• Every cat has favorite places where it poops instead of the litter box. In addition, ordinary washing of the floor in such cases does not deprive the cat of the opportunity to continue following the smell - these cunning creatures have an excellent sense of smell. To eliminate the smell, you need to use vinegar or any product with a strong chemical effect. The worse the smell, the less likely it is that the cat will dare to shit there. This is especially true for cat urine.
• The smell of citrus fruits, and especially lemons, is not liked by cats and repels them. This can be used to educate mustaches. If you put lemon peels in prohibited places, the violator of discipline will think twice before relieving himself there. There are special citrus fresheners that cats also really dislike.
• Some cat lovers offer this harsh but effective method: leaving the pet alone with the litter box for several days. Of course, the cat will have to be taken out to feed 2-3 times a day. But after 7 days, the problem with the toilet will be solved once and for all. At least that's what experienced cat breeders say.
• No matter what the cat does, he still considers himself a clean and intelligent animal. He will not shit where his bed or food is. The place that the cat has chosen as a toilet must be disguised as the cat’s “dining room” or “bedroom”. To do this, you can stick pieces of cat food on paper and secure the paper around the place of the main events. You can rub the cat with a damp towel, then wipe with this towel all the corners of the place where the pet most often shits. But this method is for those owners who are not too lazy to be creative.
• Are you taking good care of your pet's litter box? Some owners believe that the stronger the litter box stinks, the greater the chance that the cat will relieve itself there. And this opinion is wrong! To understand where the toilet is, a cat only needs the subtle smell of its own feces. The owner may not even feel them, but the cat will catch these aromas from afar. But a stinking litter box, where the filler does not change for days on end, will scare away a clean cat, and he will find a cleaner toilet. Under the closet, for example. Some owners even buy 2-3 trays if there are several cats in the house.
• If the owner cleans the “wrong” toilet with products containing chlorine, the cat will like the smell and will love this place even more.

Protecting your home with special tools

The industry produces many products for correcting animal behavior. At the pet store you can choose them in the form of a spray, powder, or emulsion.

There are drugs whose composition:

• attracts to the tray;
• scares away from the wrong place;
• deodorizes, neutralizes odors;
• disinfects;
• calms during heat.

If in doubt, you can contact your veterinarian, who will advise the most suitable drug for a particular breed and age of the animal. The fact is that some of them act differently on young or old, healthy or sick, castrated or giving birth animals. Only a specialist can choose an effective and harmless remedy for a specific pet.

How to treat the area

To remove the smell of urine and feces, simply thoroughly wash the area where the cat pooped with dishwashing detergent. Often this measure is sufficient and after a short ventilation the smell of feces disappears. If it does not disappear after washing, then try using cologne or perfume with a strong smell. It is not recommended to use “Whiteness” for treatment, since its smell only attracts animals.

You can use industrial products to combat unpleasant odors. You can buy them at a household chemicals store, and some at a pet store.

Traditional methods of dealing with the smell of cat urine

Cats have lived alongside humans for about 10,000 years. During this time, people managed to pick up odors that discourage cats from shitting where they shouldn’t. Not all of them are effective in our time. Moreover, each cat’s sense of smell is individual.

But you can, hoping for a positive effect, spread it out in places that have been washed from excrement:

• lemon, orange (you can put the peels in flower pots);
• mustard or very hot pepper;
• burnt paper or ashes;
• the owner's sweaty clothes.

Cat urine odors from objects, furniture, clothing and shoes can be eliminated using:

• iodine;
• alcohol;
• hydrogen peroxide.

As for bleach and vinegar, they are dangerous to health and completely useless: most likely, they will attract the pet even more to their favorite corner. Simply because they enhance the smell of urine.

New pets or children

If you're dating a new addition to the family—human or animal—it might not go over well with your roommate. After all, you didn't ask your cat if someone else could live with you. Your cat may have difficulty adjusting to this significant change.

They may crap on your bed, especially if a new pet or person is staying in your room. It's more of a call for attention than an angry act—no matter how you feel about it. Remember to introduce people slowly and be patient during the process. In this case, he should calm down as they acclimatize.

Plain old grudge

We've all been the object of our cat's scorn. This is not a pleasant place. Cats can be downright ruthless when they're unhappy, giving you behind-the-scenes clues that they're just scared.

If you have done something to upset your cat, you may want to rekindle the relationship. Your cat may be telling you that she doesn't approve of your new boyfriend. Or they might smell another animal when you get home - how dare you! You need to look into the triggers to fix the problem.