Normal behavior for felines is to go to the toilet in the same place, carefully burying the “results”. This is exactly how instinct tells them to act. Left to its own devices, the cat will choose one or two secluded places as a toilet. This is why most domestic cats are easy to litter train. And even in the event of some misunderstandings, the cat is more likely to “get things done” either next to the tray, or hide it out of sight, or, conversely, demonstratively place it by the door, in the owner’s slippers or on the bed. But it will still be some kind of stable place. And if a cat shits anywhere, what should you do?
This behavior indicates serious deviations. The problem may lie in the animal's illness or psychological problems.
Possible reasons why kittens and adult cats shit in inappropriate places
First, you should carefully observe the behavior of your pet and understand the reasons why he behaves this way . Without this, no steps can be taken because they may be wrong. If you make a mistake, dealing with the cat will become much more difficult.
Why do all the kittens do this?
A small and not yet very smart kitten may simply not know that a special tray is intended for toilet needs.
The little foundling simply does not know about the existence of the tray
There may be several reasons:
- Perhaps he was taken away from his mother too early, so she did not have time to teach him anything. If a kitten is picked up on the street, then it doesn’t even know about such a thing as a potty.
- A state of stress from a new territory and a new life. The animal is scared and does not know what to do or how to behave.
- The new type of filler does not match the old one that was in the mother tray.
- The kitten is trying to mark unfamiliar territory with its scents.
- Inconvenient potty. It is difficult for the pet to climb into it or it is uncomfortable to be inside.
- The smell of urine remains in some places from the previous residents of the cat family, and the animal goes there.
- The tray is in a walk-through location.
- The potty is rarely washed, and the pungent smell of old urine repels the baby.
From personal experience. When we adopted a kitten, we used an old potty left over from the previous cat. But it was uncomfortable for the little kitty in it, because when she buried her feces, she clung to the mesh with her claws. The crossbars in it were located too sparsely for small paws. The cat chose a place for itself in another room, in the corner near the table, and began to shit there. But since we noticed this in time and purchased a more convenient potty, the problem was quickly solved. Subsequently, such incidents no longer happened.
You can’t rush, because you can confuse and scare the little kitten with wrong actions. Only after understanding the reason why he ignores his litter box should something be done.
Why do adult cats shit everywhere?
If an adult animal relieved itself completely normally for several years, and then suddenly began to shit, then this may be caused by the following factors:
- The cat is dissatisfied with something and tries to show it to the owner in this way. Most often, this behavior is associated with a lack of attention. The pet is bored and feels abandoned. But there are harmful specimens that can take revenge for something.
- Inappropriate pot. Perhaps it just became small and inconvenient as the cat grew up.
- Moving the tray to another place that the animal does not like. Home renovation, moving, buying new furniture, etc.
- The appearance of another tenant, perhaps not even a cat or dog, but a new family member (a small child).
- Poor care of the potty, as a result of which it smells bad, or the cat does not like the filler.
- Often during puberty, a cat marks its territory, especially if another representative of the cat family has appeared in the house.
- Diseases of the genitourinary system, digestive tract or helminthic infestation. If an animal experiences painful sensations during defecation, then it develops a strong association of pain with the potty. Therefore, it will try to avoid visiting its tray.
The cat may just need his owner's attention.
From personal experience. We picked up a kitten on the street when our two daughters were still little. The cat grew, and so did the children. All this time they played with him like a living soft toy. They dressed him up in doll clothes, rolled him around in a stroller, etc. The older children began to pay much less attention to the cat, because they had other interests, friends and hobbies. First, the cat began to meow loudly and run around the rooms, and then began to shit in various places. Sometimes this happened demonstratively. So he tried to attract the attention of the housewives who had forgotten about him.
The cat may not like the litter
By carefully observing your cat's behavior, you can understand what she wants to achieve or what she is unhappy with.
Why does the cat piss everywhere?
Before you wean your cat from relieving itself anywhere, you should understand the reason. It could be:
- The pet is not spayed/sterilized. Due to natural instincts, animals can begin to mark their territory. More often this applies to cats, but you can also find a female doing this. After such operations, the pet loses this habit and its behavior changes.
- Incorrect tray or litter. Sometimes the cause is an inconvenient tray. You need to choose a convenient place where the animal will relieve itself. It is necessary to select a good litter and clean the cat litter regularly.
- Health problems. One of the reasons may be disturbances in the functioning of the body. If your pet has not previously caused problems in this regard, take him to a specialist.
- Revenge. As you know, cats have a complex character and are quite difficult to tame. If you scolded or offended your pet, the usual dirty trick is an act of protest in your direction.
- Instincts. Sometimes, a mustachioed friend may begin to spoil your things not on purpose, but only because these items smell the same as the tray.
Kitty
We stop the cat from shitting
It will not be easy to wean your cat off the bad habit of pooping, especially if she has been doing it for quite a long time. You'll have to be patient.
Expert advice
All actions are taken depending on the reason that caused the cat’s abnormal behavior. If your pet suffers from lack of attention, then you need to try to establish the same relationship with him. Pick up, stroke and talk to the animal more often. Cats respond very well to affectionate intonations.
All traces of the pet’s “crimes” must be thoroughly washed with soap and water or washing powder and disinfected to eliminate all unpleasant odors. If somewhere there is a smell of cat urine, the animal will try to relieve itself in that place. It is not recommended to use bleach, as it neutralizes the odor only for a while. In addition, this substance itself can attract a cat. It has been noted that almost all representatives of the cat family like the smell of white, bleach and other similar substances. Vinegar essence and ammonia will only increase the unpleasant odor of urine.
The first thing you need to do is carefully take care of your pet.
Therefore, in order to fight off this smell, it is better to use special aerosols that are sold in veterinary stores and pharmacies (Knock Out, Urine Off, Antigadin, etc.). After spraying the cat's favorite places with such preparations, she should stop shitting there. There are products on sale for toilet training cats (Himola, etc.). On the contrary, they process the tray and attract the animal there to fulfill its needs.
What not to do
First of all, accept the fact that the problem of ignoring the litter box is a process that requires a set of educational measures. A miracle will not happen in a couple of days; your pet will need your patience and constant attention.
Physical punishment and shouting are unacceptable: a small kitten cannot be spanked or scolded even in a playful manner; the animal’s unformed psyche may incorrectly recognize such a behavior, which can lead to trouble in the future. The pet will see you as a threat and will begin to hide and look for a secluded place to defecate. Often this is the space under furniture or hard-to-reach corners of the room.
Punishment will form a reflexive fear in the pet of its owner
Poking your pet's muzzle into a puddle is also unacceptable: the animal will remember this place because of the pungent smell of urine, and in extreme cases, it will become very angry. Wash areas with strong-smelling products and remember that the only place where the kitten's smell should be present is its litter box.
Preventive measures
It is much easier to prevent any problem than to solve it in a long and difficult manner. To prevent your pet from starting to defecate in the wrong places, you need to adhere to the following rules:
- The tray should be immediately placed in a quiet, slightly shaded and secluded place. There is no need to suddenly change its location.
- Replace the filler completely at least once a week. When changing brands, do this gradually, partially replacing the old filler with portions of the new one.
- It is necessary to provide your pet with a balanced and regular diet. There should always be access to fresh water.
- Periodically it is necessary to take tests for the presence of worms and give anthelmintic drugs for prevention.
- The pot should be washed with warm water and soap after each bowel movement, and disinfected once every 7–10 days.
The cat litter box needs to be disinfected once a week.
You should always praise and caress your pet for correct actions. You can reward him with various treats when he goes to the tray when needed.
Filler
Sometimes, if a kitten does not poop in the litter box, the problem may lie in the litter. It may simply not satisfy the animal. For example, many kittens do not like wood pellets. And some prefer to rustle with newspapers. Believe me, kittens can show dissatisfaction no worse than people. When buying new litter, pay attention to its smell. It's better that it doesn't exist at all. What you find pleasant, your cat may not like. In addition, we remember that the cat's nose is very sensitive, especially to chemical ingredients. The latter, by the way, can cause irritation on the pads of kittens. Therefore, if your pet does not go to the tray, experiment with fillers. At the same time, there is no need to buy expensive mixtures; start with paper.
Let's stop marking our territory
Domestic cats, like any other animal, mark their territory. They also mark all the corners in the apartment, thereby additionally attracting individuals of the opposite sex.
Some experienced cat breeders recommend influencing your pet psychologically and proving your superiority over it. You need to wait for the cat to settle down near some corner to complete its furry business, then grab it by the scruff of the neck and hold it suspended for several minutes. You can sharply flick your pet on the ears. At the same time, he will tuck his paws and tail, thereby submitting to the owner.
It makes no sense to try to wash off the marks and treat the places where they were applied with odorous products. The cat will simply try to cover up the alien smell that is unpleasant for him and will mark even more strongly.
We reduce sexual activity with special drugs so that cats do not mark their territory
If a cat applies marks, it is advised to reduce the pet’s nervousness and sexual activity. For this purpose, specialized drugs are used (Gestrenol, Kot Bayun, etc.). The last resort and most effective measure is castration.
Video: how to protect beds from cats
Expert advice
Each pet is unique and for this reason there is no universal remedy for training an animal to use a tray. The owner of a small kitten should take on the role of a teacher, protector and best friend, and in the future - an ally of his pet, which will allow him to build a strong, trusting relationship with his furry friend. The animal demonstrates obedience by recognizing the authority of its owner and only if it feels safe.
Patience and perseverance will help teach the kitten to order and develop positive habits in the pet.
Little kittens, being inexperienced and curious, instinctively learn about this world: respect the nature of your pet, be patient and help the baby take its first steps.
What to do at home
- To start, your goal is to absorb as much moisture as possible from the painted area.
- Take rags or paper towels and fold them in half.
- Place them on the stain and blot until the fabric is dry.
- Do not scrub the stain as the dirt may fly away.
- Then pour baking soda over the area.
- Apply a good amount of ash directly to the stain and leave for 10 minutes.
- While you wait, create a “magic” cleaner.
- In a small bucket, mix water and vinegar.
- Slowly pour the liquid mixture over the tiny stack of baking soda. You will notice some kind of chemical reaction happening, but don't worry too much about it. The bubbles remove dirt from the carpet fibers. Homemade solutions will take effect within a few minutes.
- Gently blot the stain.
Popular purchased products
Experienced cat owners use ready-made scented lotions and sprays, and after treating odorous areas, they share their impressions on the Internet. Positive or negative reviews help other buyers decide on the choice of an industrial drug with targeted action.
Destroys the “fragrance” of urine
:
- SmellOff removes the scent of cat marks from any surface;
- "DezoSan" from Zoo Clean removes odors as much as possible, rather than masks them. The solution can be added to the container of the washing vacuum cleaner;
- OdorGone is a hypoallergenic drug, patented in the USA. The lotion can be used in rooms with children and allergy sufferers. Effectively fights old, ingrained aromas;
- Urine-off Cat & Kitten blocks ferromones using enzymes and biological agents. Easily decomposes urine into simple components: water and carbon dioxide. Harmless, hypoallergenic product made in America.
Repels from places not intended for the toilet
:
- biospray "Antigadin";
- spray lotion “Shit? No!"
- "Mr.Fresh." Unlearning to shit”;
- “Don’t shit! Don't tag!";
- "Beaphar Stop-it Cat";
- “Smart spray – protection of places”;
- Antipakostin "Happy Cat".
Attracts to the tray:
- "Smart spray";
- "Mr.Fresh." Accustoming to place";
- “Ms. Kiss. Spray for cats";
- Spray corrector "Doctor ZOO".
