8 reasons why a cat walks past the litter box

It happens in life that an adult cat went to the litter box and then stopped. While some try to yell at their pets for such misdeeds, others patiently wipe the floor, philosophically saying, “What can we do?” But there is always a reason for everything. It’s just that sometimes we cannot determine it, because... it is not obvious. But the problem can be easily fixed.

The Murkotiki website has compiled the most complete list of factors that lead to the fact that a cat begins to go not in the litter box, but in the corners, in the bathroom, in the sink, in slippers, or even on the bed. So, why doesn’t the cat go to the litter box and what to do about it?

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Reason No. 2: not satisfied with the place

Any living creature feels vulnerable during urination or defecation. But if you understand that there is no threat in the apartment, then the cat does not understand. He is driven by the ancient instinct of self-preservation. Some cats can do their business in front of everyone right in the middle of the room, moreover, at this moment they need company. Others are so anxious that they only want to go to the toilet in a secluded place. If your cat is like this, try to place the litter box away from walk-through areas and buy a house tray.

Cleanliness and force of habit

Just like people, cats have their own preferences, which also apply to the toilet.

When organizing a “latrine”, the owner should pay close attention to various details:

Regardless of the shape, size and type of filler, the tray must be clean. Many owners note that their pets do not go to the toilet if there is even a “hint” of previous bowel movements in it. Some cats furiously “bury” a puddle until the owner cleans it up

Such “cleanliness” is, rather, caution. Indeed, in nature, feces and urine “give away” animals and can bring “uninvited”, dangerous guests into the lair

However, for most animals, it is enough for the tray to be cleaned regularly and the litter to be partially replaced. In this case, once a week it is necessary to completely replace the material and thoroughly clean the container itself.

Tray size. Often, owners, having once bought a litter box for a kitten, forget to replace it with a larger container. It becomes very problematic for a significantly older cat to “relieve” itself on the “children’s potty”, and he goes in search of a more convenient place. The tray should be long enough and moderately deep so that the cat can turn around in it and rake in the way it is comfortable for her. There are also approximate calculations on this score - the length of a suitable container is 50% greater than the length of the animal’s body. Of course, the tail is not taken into account in this case.

Tray location. Most cats value comfort and privacy, which means it is recommended to place the tray away from drafts and prying eyes. Particularly shy cats require closed containers equipped with walls and a lid. As a rule, a suitable tank is selected empirically, based on the individual preferences of the pet.

Number of trays. If the animal is extremely clean, then experienced owners advise placing 2 containers at once. The latter is especially important when the owner is often away from home for a long time and cannot clean the tray every time the pet goes into it. Two cats will need 2-3 trays, and three cats will need 3-4...

Cleaning with disinfectants Chlorine-containing agents and vinegar solutions do an excellent job of eliminating odor, urinary stone deposits and various pathogens. However, these same products have a pungent odor and are often used to stop a cat from peeing anywhere. What to do in this case? First of all, you should wash the tray regularly using regular laundry soap, rinse it thoroughly and wipe it dry. If you do this in a timely manner, the container will remain clean without any signs of stone or “bad amber.”

how to stop a cat from marking its territory;
how to get rid of the smell of cat urine;
how to train a kitten to use the litter box.

Reason No. 3: not satisfied with the filler

Did your cat stop going to the litter box after changing the litter? Then the reason is obvious: the new filler did not suit him. Cats prefer clay clumping litters. Other options may not be recognized if you are not accustomed to them from childhood.

Moreover, cats do not like toilets without any filler at all, because... They don’t see the difference between the floor and the tray: they are equally smooth, so what’s the difference then? Therefore, the tray must contain at least some bad filler.

It is not advisable to change the type of litter if the cat is already accustomed to a specific one. Smelling a different smell or seeing a different consistency, she may think that this place has become unsuitable for the toilet, and will go in search of a new one. Similarly, by the way, the cat will decide if you use aggressive products that leave a pungent odor when washing the tray. You may not feel it, but the “aroma” will hit your cat’s nose. Use soap that washes off easily and leaves no odor.

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.

Reason #4: the cat doesn’t get into the litter box

Do you find shit and urine near the tray? Or does the cat just shit next to the litter box? It would seem, what kind of animal is this that knows its place, but walks by in a small way or in a big way? What kind of pest? Perhaps he did not want to do dirty tricks at all. Think about whether the tray size is sufficient? If the cat does not fit into the tray and cannot turn around freely, he pees and poops by. Try replacing the tray with a wider one, with higher sides, or even a house tray. Read our review on how to choose a litter box for your cat.

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.

Reason No. 5: the cat does not want to go into a dirty litter box

Many cats are terrible tidies: they will not go into a litter box that they have already used and which you have not had time to clean up. Likewise, they will not go to a toilet that has to be shared with another pet. If you are lucky and your cat is like this, you will have to constantly monitor the cleanliness of the toilet.

There are also clean people who like to go to one tray when they need a lot, and to another when they need a little. In this case, you will need two trays and place them close to each other.

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Do not use punishment or physical force

In the case of cats, it is pointless to act with force, since they are not able to make a logical connection between punishment and action if a certain time has already passed. Poking your cat's nose into a puddle will only make her afraid of you, but will not wean her from the habit.

Reason #6: stress

Stressed cats can also experience toilet misfires. For example, a new person/animal appeared in the family or someone died, you moved to another apartment or rearranged the furniture, you became pregnant or began to pay less attention to the cat. These are all reasons for concern. Cats are very sensitive and may start walking past the litter box due to their worries. In this case, you need to try to identify and eliminate the cause of stress, calm the cat, and pay more attention to it. In especially severe cases, cat sedatives will be needed.

The period of sexual hunting

It is impossible to deceive nature, therefore, if a male cat is not neutered, then the period of sexual heat inevitably begins.

There are three options to solve the problem:

Provide the animal with the opportunity to realize its instincts - to mate.
Use special hormonal drugs to prevent or interrupt estrus. Not the best solution due to the likelihood of undesirable consequences for the pet’s health.
Castration (sterilization) of a cat. The cat will not go on a spree after this operation, but it is impossible to definitely guarantee that the pet will no longer mark. In case of stress, castrated animals may begin to do this.

Reason #7: the cat is in pain

In a situation where your pet has been consistently going to the litter box all his life, and then suddenly stops, you should first of all suspect a disease that causes him pain and discomfort when urinating or defecating. This could be, for example, cystitis or urolithiasis. Cats are not very intelligent creatures, and therefore they sometimes blame the tray for the appearance of pain and think that if they change the place, the pain will go away.

Urolithiasis is not a death sentence, but a serious diagnosis. The earlier treatment is started, the greater the chance of remission. Watch the cat for several days. Maybe he's peeing blood? Maybe he meows plaintively before or after bowel movement? Maybe he only pees by the tray and poops in it? All this should be alarming. But in any case, you should go to the veterinarian, because... Urolithiasis can develop without noticeable symptoms.

You should especially worry if a neutered cat stops going to the litter box, because... Neutered men have a several-fold increased risk of developing urolithiasis. This applies specifically to cats, not cats.

After treatment begins, the pet will recover, and the pain will disappear - and the animal will most likely return to the litter box. However, a medical problem can turn into a behavioral one: at first the cat thought that the tray was to blame for the pain, so he started going in the wrong place - and the pain disappeared (due to treatment, but he does not understand this). Therefore, the cat thinks that his tactics of changing places worked. And now we need to eliminate the behavioral problem. Buy a new tray, put good litter in it, place the toilet in a different place (for example, in the one the cat has chosen): let him not associate the new toilet attributes with the old ones and do not think that they can cause unpleasant sensations.

Disease

When cats relieve themselves outside the litter box, in most cases it is due to a medical problem. Although bacterial bladder infections are not common in cats, "idiopathic" urinary tract problems are very common. They are most often caused by high urine pH, which leads to the formation of struvite crystals in the urine.

The crystals make tiny cuts in the lining of the urinary tract, leading to inflammation and a burning sensation.

If left untreated, the crystals can form a partial or complete blockage, which can quickly lead to death due to toxicity as urine cannot be eliminated from the body. Plus it's very painful. A cat may avoid the litter box because it associates it with pain.

As with all medical cases or when you think something is wrong, you should take your cat to the vet and have them run a urine test to check for these problems (request a complete urinalysis). A doctor may detect a bladder infection and prescribe a course of antibiotics.

If left untreated, a bladder infection can spread to the kidneys and cause permanent damage. However, if there are no bacteria, antibiotics are not necessary. Instead, the problem is most likely due to an idiopathic urinary disorder and should be treated with a proper diet. In this case, urine pH should be regularly monitored.

Intestinal parasites and diarrhea are other medical causes that lead to urination and/or bowel movements outside the toilet. To check this, bring a stool sample to your veterinarian for testing. If internal parasites are present, the cat must be dewormed.

Diet

Try to feed your cat high-quality food. Foods high in meat protein and moisture are known to produce acidic urine, which reduces the incidence or recurrence of bladder infections. Some dry foods can cause urinary tract problems due to chronic dehydration and the formation of alkaline urine.

Urine pH and L-methionine

If your cat's urine pH is above 6.5, you should probably switch to a high-meat, grain-free cat food and consider supplementing with L-methionine, an amino acid that acidifies the urine. As always, consult your veterinarian before making any dietary changes.

There are special dietary foods, but their prices can be high. Instead, you can buy L-methionine separately and mix it into your cat's food.

Consult your veterinarian for dosage, usually 100 to 250 mg/day.

If you supplement your cat's diet with L-methionine, check the urine pH every 2 weeks to ensure it remains in the ideal range of 6.0-6.5. If your urine pH drops below 5.5, there is a risk of oxalate crystals forming and you will need to reduce or eliminate your L-methionine dose.

If your urine pH is still above 6.5, you may need to increase your dosage.

Hydration

Always encourage your cat to drink as much water as possible from a bowl or fountain.

By drinking enough water, your cat's urinary tract will be flushed, which will help reduce bacteria levels and reduce the formation of crystals in the urine.

Cats have a sensitive sense of smell and may not like chlorinated tap water. They will only drink water if they think it tastes/smells “right.”

In addition, you can try a special water fountain, many cats love fresh sparkling water and will drink more.

Eating wet foods is a great way to increase your water intake and prevent urinary tract problems. You can also add water to the food.

Reason #8: the cat is marking its territory

The cat recently started peeing in the wrong places, but mostly goes to the litter box? Perhaps he is marking his territory. This will require castration. But occasionally it happens that a neutered cat continues to mark. This happens due to habit or stress when the cat feels insecure in its own territory. This problem can be solved by adjusting the habitat.

The problem of marks can also occur in cats, especially if there are several of them in the house. And in general, if there is more than one cat in a family, this is a provoking factor for marks. In this case, you need to try to normalize the relationship between the pets. And they need not one toilet for two, but... three. There should be one more tray than there are cats. The trays should be placed in different places: in those places where you most often find “gifts”.

Specific events

How to stop a cat from shitting when it happens in certain places on a regular basis? Several such characteristic places can be identified. Nature directs the animal to pots with home flowers, where it is attracted by the soft soil, and even with the smell of fertilizer. Of course, the easiest way is to put the flowers out of reach of the cat. In cases where this is undesirable, the following methods of influence can be recommended: placing a garlic clove or lemon peels on the soil surface; covering the surface (usually a window sill) on which the pots stand with foil or taping the area near the pot; placement of twigs around the perimeter of the pot, creating an interfering fence (toothpicks can be used). Such inconveniences will wean the animal from unscheduled toileting, and after a while all elements can be removed.

Vinegar will help stop your pet from pooping in the litter box.

On a note! If a cat gets into the habit of shitting on the bed, then measures must be taken as quickly as possible so that such comfortable conditions do not become a habit.

First of all, resolutely block the way to the bedroom by closing the door. Using lavender when rinsing bedding is considered a fairly effective method. You can simply apply a few drops of lavender oil to the top of your bed, especially at the head of your bed. Cats cannot stand the smell of lavender and will give up their intentions.

An animal can shit on the floor in different places in the apartment or run out into the entrance and defecate there. A vinegar solution can be considered an effective remedy. If you treat the floor with it, the cat will not make a toilet there. A positive result is achieved by using ready-made products intended for these purposes and sold in a pet store: Nature's Miracle, Odor-Secret, Nok-Out, Urine-Off. Sometimes the animal takes a liking to a certain corner in the apartment and does “its business” there. In this case, it is best to install a tray in this corner.

Nature's Miracle gives positive results

Finally, there is also a known radical way to stop a cat from crapping. The animal is locked in a small room (for example, a bathroom), where a tray is installed and a bowl of water is placed at a distance. To feed, the cat is taken to a bowl of food 2-3 times a day. The rest of the time she remains locked up and is forced to use the litter box. The cessation of isolation should be carried out gradually, as the animal gets used to the tray.

The question of how to wean a cat from shitting in the wrong place at home should be decided taking into account the reasons leading to this behavior of the animal. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate these causes and ensure maximum peace of mind for the cat. In the presence of diseases, the intervention of a veterinarian is necessary, but in other cases, a kind attitude towards your pet and patience will help.

Reason #10: demonstrative behavior

Perhaps walking outside the litter box is a sign the cat is sending you. Sometimes this happens when he wants to draw attention to a problem, for example, with health or improper placement of the tray. Sometimes provocative behavior is dictated by the fact that the pet wants to receive additional attention from you.

At first he didn’t receive enough attention, but then he noticed that you scolded him for his misdeeds, that is, you paid attention to him. After that, the cat began to do this just to get another portion of attention from you. You say it's stupid because it's negative attention? No, it's not stupid. This is how not only cat psychology works, but also human psychology: negative attention is much better than complete indifference. Watch the following video about people and you will understand a lot about cats.

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General recommendations: how to make the tray the most attractive place for the toilet?

Thoroughly clean the entire house of cat dirt using special odor-eliminating products. After all, it is its own excellent smell that makes the cat come back and shit in the same places. In places that are extremely undesirable for “cat dirty tricks”, it is necessary to place bowls with cat food. You can also take pieces of cardboard and glue literally a few granules of dry cat food onto them and place them throughout the house, except in places in close proximity to the litter box. Your cat is unlikely to poop in these areas due to the aforementioned innate instinct. Don't forget to add paper stained with cat urine to the litter tray to reinforce the association with a latrine.

Reason No. 11: the cat stopped going to the litter box after the dacha

Separately, it is worth considering the complaint that the cat, after walking outside or going to the country, stopped pooping and peeing in the litter box. Some owners are afraid that the cat, having tasted the joy of going to the toilet outside, will then not recognize its substitute, that is, the litter box. Let's say that this problem is out of the ordinary. Usually cats know very well where the toilet is in the house, even if they went under a bush on the street.

But what to do if the problem has already appeared? Firstly, going to the toilet in the country should be avoided. Secondly, if possible, we don’t let the cat pee anywhere and spray it with a spray bottle if he settles down in another place, praise him for going to the litter box, and force him to go to those places where he has already gone.

How to understand why a cat shits everywhere?

Before you begin to study ways to overcome a nasty habit, it is necessary to analyze the reasons for inappropriate behavior. Without a clear understanding of your motives, you will not be able to achieve a positive result. All the efforts of the owners will be in vain, and relationships in the house will go wrong.

There is a fairly impressive list of reasons why a cat began to shit anywhere. Each animal is different, so owners may have to work hard to solve the problem.

So, you noticed that the cat began to shit everywhere. What to do in this case? Let's figure it out.

Reason #12: the smell clogs

Sometimes cats pee on the bed or other places to cover up the bad smell. For example, a child pees in the bed, a cat smells it and wants to kill it with its smell. Moreover, it is not even so important whether the child peed recently or a long time ago: cats have a sensitive sense of smell. Sometimes the issue can be resolved only by changing the bed linen or mattress. This situation is typical not only for beds. A noteworthy story is that of one man whose cat persistently peed on the parquet floor in his room, and then during the renovation it was discovered that dirty men’s trousers were walled up under the parquet. The cat smelled them and tried to cover it with her own.

Complications associated with declawing

Please never have your cat declawed. However, if you have a cat that has already been declawed, this could very well be the reason why she is urinating outside the litter box.

Declawing involves removing the last bone on each toe. The joint is severed and the claw is removed along with the last bone to which it is attached. This extremely painful operation causes permanent complications in many cats.

Nerve damage is a common problem, and early osteoarthritis often occurs.

DO NOT DO THAT.

When a cat steps on gritty litter, it can irritate the operated paws and cause pain. If your cat is declawed and doesn't like the litter box, take her to the vet to be examined for osteoarthritis, phantom pain, or other problems that may arise days or years after surgery.

There are things your veterinarian can do to relieve the pain. Also try to choose a filler with a softer texture.

Reason #13: old age

In old age, not only people can suffer from incontinence, but also cats. Plus their mental abilities deteriorate. Then the cats start peeing and pooping anywhere. Don’t scold the respectable animal: it’s already difficult for him and he doesn’t do it on purpose. Instead, buy a litter box with low sides if you find that your pet has difficulty getting into the toilet. And it’s better to place several trays around the apartment so that the cat has time to reach them. Well, if your cat has incontinence, buy special cat diapers.

Fight for territory and attention of owners

If a new animal suddenly appears in the apartment, this will be real stress for the cat. It should not be surprising that the cat shits anywhere. What to do? Try to make friends with them, but you need to do this wisely. You should never scream or hit a cat if it perceives an “alien” aggressively. The animal defends its rights, its territory. It is best to separate your pets into different rooms and gradually accustom them to communication.

Stroke the cat more often and talk to it. Show that you don't love her any less. Get your new family member his own bowl, tray and bed. Don't let him take up the places where the "old" cat liked to lie. Gradually, the animals will get used to each other, and it will be possible to remove the established barriers.

The birth of a baby into the family is often a huge shock for a cat. This “alien” destroys everything the cat is used to and loves. The owners change their daily routine and spend less time with the animal. New, previously unfamiliar smells appear, and restrictions on freedom of movement are often introduced.

In order to defend its rights and regain lost attention, the cat, which previously regularly went to the litter box, begins to shit in the slippers or on the owners’ favorite carpet. What to do in this case? You need to gradually accustom your pet to children. You can invite friends with kids to visit. It is better to distribute the attention paid to the pet among all household members. The cat should not “obsess” exclusively with the expectant mother.

With the birth of the baby, the cat needs to be given the opportunity to get to know him. Let the animal sniff the child's things, do not scold for violating new boundaries. If the pussy climbs into the baby's crib, arrange a bed for it next to it. She will be happy to watch such an unusual “kitten”, and often protect him.