Why Does My Cat Poop Outside the Litter Box?
If you’re wondering why your cat keeps pooping outside the litter box, you’re not alone. A common cause is stress or a medical condition. If your cat has a particularly large bum, it might just be hanging over the edge. There are several potential causes, though. Listed below are a few. A cat’s fear of the litter box could be one of them.
Why do cats do business outside the litter box? Your cat can have litter box problems for a number of reasons, including medical issues, dislikes the litter box, or likes to urinate or defecate outside the litter box.
Fear
Cats can poop outside the litter box for a variety of reasons, including noise, other cats, and strangers. Identifying these triggers can be challenging. Luckily, there are a number of simple solutions to eliminate your cat’s fear of pooping outside the litter box.
First, try to determine the source of the fear. Cat poop outside the litter box can be caused by stress or fear. If you notice your cat poop outside the box, it’s likely that it’s fearful of people, things, or places. In either case, a safe place to relieve itself is necessary.
Cats are highly sensitive creatures, and they will react to anything they perceive as a threat. As such, they can become extremely stressed and poop outside the litter box as a result. It’s also a good idea to keep the litter box in a quiet area, away from potential stressors, and to stay consistent with your litter type.
Medical conditions
There are many possible reasons your cat may start defecating outside the litter box. Whether it’s a sudden urge or the result of some medical condition, your cat should be checked out by a veterinarian. Many felines associate the litter box with pain or discomfort, and are therefore reluctant to use it. In these cases, your cat may suffer from a medical condition such as a UTI.
Other reasons your cat may start pooping outside the litter box include gastrointestinal issues. Many cats experience constipation at some point in their lives. This can occur because their body does not get enough water to stay hydrated. Other causes of constipation include renal failure, hyperthyroidism, and megacolon. Similarly, a cat suffering from diarrhea will strain to defecate, often in a sudden urge. The causes of diarrhea vary, but are most often stress-related.
Inflammation of the bladder is another cause of cats to poop outside the litter box. This condition can lead to pain and blood in the urine. A vet should be consulted as soon as possible for an accurate diagnosis. A condition such as this can be life-threatening. Cats with this condition will strain to eliminate even a small amount of urine, and may even lick themselves after urination.
Stress
Cats can be sensitive animals and can defecate outside the litter box when they feel stressed or anxious. If your cat is poop-ing outside the box often, you should consider the causes of this problem. Often, your cat may be upset about a recent change in its routine, such as moving to a new home or having a visitor.
First, try changing the litter box. Make it more appealing to your cat, and you can help the problem go away. Your cat may prefer privacy when doing his business, so consider providing him with a cat tree. A cat tree provides him with an elevated private area, which can offset the stress he feels. Two great options for cat trees are the Frisco 72-Inch Cat Tree and the Frisco 48-Inch Heavy Duty Cat Tree.
Another common cause of poop-outside-the-litter-box behavior is a urinary tract infection. Treatment for this condition can be effective with antibiotics. But if the problem continues for more than 24 hours, you should see a veterinarian.
Fear of poop
Fear of poop is a common reason that cats avoid using the litter box. Your cat doesn’t do it to spite you – cats are not vengeful creatures. Instead, it’s a way for your cat to communicate with you. If your cat is straining and cries when it urinates, he may associate the litter box with unpleasant elimination. If he does this frequently, you might want to consider getting a check-up from your veterinarian.
If you believe that fear is the cause of your cat’s behavior, try to eliminate triggers. Your cat may associate a poop with a loud noise, a strange person, or a sudden shift. To make your cat feel more secure, consider moving the litter box to a quieter area of the home, or building a hidden cat bathroom in your furniture.
Your cat may also start eliminating outside the litter box if it has used the litter box consistently in the past. It may also refuse to use the litter box if it’s not in a private or quiet location. If you have moved, the new location of the litter box may scare your cat. Remember that cats are creatures of habit and want a place where they can feel comfortable.
Fear of pain
Your cat may have a medical condition that interferes with its normal elimination, such as kidney and thyroid disease, age-related illnesses, and inflammation of the urinary tract. Seeing a veterinarian is the best way to rule out these conditions. In some cases, your cat might associate pain with the act of eliminating in the litter box, and therefore choose an alternative route. This condition is often treatable, however.
Identifying the cause of the problem is the first step. If you have more than one cat, try separating them and see which one is the culprit. If the issue is with one cat, a veterinarian can prescribe a non-toxic stain, which will show up in feces and urine. A bright-colored child’s crayon will show up in feces as well.
Stress can also be a trigger. If your cat feels stressed, it may start to associate the litter box with pain. Changing your cat’s routine or adding a new member to the household can put her in a stressful situation.
Fear of smell
Cats that fear the smell of the litter box may begin to poop and pee outside the box. This problem affects about 10 percent of cats. It is one of the leading reasons people surrender cats to shelters and humane societies. While it is not always curable, it can be corrected.
Stress can also cause a cat to go potty outside its litter box. Stressful circumstances can include moving to a new house, introducing a new pet, or introducing a new smell. Stress may also cause a cat to avoid the litter box altogether. This is also a sign that your cat may have a health problem.
Identifying what triggers a cat to poop outside the litter box is vital in finding an effective treatment for this condition. Several approaches have been developed to help cats overcome this problem. One approach is using anti-anxiety medication to reduce stress levels and thereby encourage the cats to use the litter box.
Fear of smell is one reason that cats poop outside the litter box. This fear of smell can cause your cat to associate the litter box with pain and discomfort. Another common cause is stress, which can affect your cat’s daily routine. Changing the routine can make your cat feel overwhelmed, resulting in poop outside the litter box.
Fear of urine
A cat may have a fear of urine and may therefore go to the bathroom outside the litter box in an effort to avoid it. This fear can be reduced by using enzymatic cleaning products and restricting access to soiled areas. Another solution is to purchase a new litter box for your cat. Even if the new litter box is not as appealing to your cat as the old one, it may still use it occasionally. For some cats, different types of litter may also work better, such as ones with a fine grain or a softer texture.
In some cases, your cat may be dealing with a gastrointestinal disease that causes it to urinate outside the litter box. Some of these conditions include hyperthyroidism, megacolon, and dehydration. Other causes of this condition include stress, GI infection, or physical problems.
A cat may be afraid of the litter box because it has a traumatic experience associated with it. For example, it may have been cornered by a dog or someone, heard a loud noise, or seen something startling. If this is the case, the cat will usually use a location where it feels comfortable and safe.