Is your cat pooping on the floor all of a sudden? This behavior likely means your cat is trying to tell you something. You may be asking yourself, do cats poop out of spite, or is there something else I need to know about cat behavior?
Did your cat just start pooping on the floor?
If the behavior is new and sudden, bring your cat to the veterinarian for a checkup as soon as possible to rule out any major medical issues. Deciphering why your cat chooses the floor over the litter box is more than a simple mystery—it’s a step toward understanding your feline friend’s needs. Together, let’s find solutions to keep you and your cat happy!
Reasons why cats may poop on the floor
Have you ever found yourself dealing with a surprise outside the litter box? Understanding your cat’s pooping behavior goes beyond mere curiosity. It’s an essential insight into their well-being, health, and preferences, even if your cat’s litter box is clean enough.
The more pet parents know, the easier it is to give the care your cat needs. We’re sharing a closer look at possible medical or behavioral issues that explain common reasons cats poop outside the litter box, so you can take the first step to mess-free floors.
Major illness
Your cat pooping on the floor could be related to medical issues. This feline behavior may be mitigated by something as simple as changing their diet or managing constipation. However, it could also be a more serious health issue, such as inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, or arthritis.
It’s also important to note whether your cat is showing additional symptoms, like changes in their urinary habits or increased vomiting. Vomiting more than 2-3x/month could mean underlying health problems—especially if this is in combination with a sudden change in stool habits. In any of these situations, it is best to schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to look more into a possible medical cause. If possible, bring one of those poop samples as well so that it may be tested for intestinal parasites: the fresher the sample, the better.
Stress or anxiety
If your cat is stressed or anxious, this can cause them to defecate outside the litter box. Have you added a new family member to the home, such as a new baby or an aging parent? Or perhaps adopted a new cat or dog? Even moving to a new home can throw your cat off schedule and cause them to poop on the floor. In the event that stress is the cause, resolving the change (if it’s temporary), time (if it’s not temporary), and over-the-counter pheromones or calming treats can be helpful in helping your cat adjust and minimize stress.
Dirty litter box
Most people do not want to use a dirty restroom, and neither do cats. If the litter box is full, they may stop using it to poop until the box has been cleaned and enough litter has been added.
Another possible obstacle could be not having enough litter boxes for the household. The current recommendation is one litter box per house and one litter box per cat to be spread out accordingly. Simply adding an additional litter box for a single-cat, single-litter-box home could be the resolution.
If you're finding it difficult to stay on top of cleaning, you may want to switch to a self-cleaning litter box. Litter-Robot 4 automatically sifts the poop and clumps from the clean litter just minutes after being used and alerts you via the Whisker app when the waste drawer is full.
Type of litter
You also want to consider the type of kitty litter you use. Your cat may not poop in their litter box if you’ve recently tried out a new or scented litter. Acclimating your cat to a different litter, such as high-quality, all-natural clumping litter, can be accomplished with a few training tips. Also, recognize that cats have preferences just like humans, so if acclimating to a new litter is not going well and the previous litter is still available, consider switching back to it for a while.
Litter box location
Another reason for your cat pooping on the floor could be the location of the litter box. If it is placed in an area that becomes difficult for your cat to access, they may not be able to use it easily.
Your cat's age could play a large role in this issue. Old cats can develop conditions like arthritis, which makes it painful or difficult to reach the litter box and may require adjusting the new location of the potty to make it easier for your cat to access. If you are suspicious of arthritis in your cat, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible because there are treatments available that can substantially improve your cat's mobility and quality of life; if this is the cause of the inappropriate pooping, it will surely fix it.
If it only happens at night
Speaking of senior cats, a decline in vision may lead to your cat simply not being able to find the litter box in the dark. A common misconception among cat parents is that cats have night vision. While cats see much better than humans in the dark, they can’t see in total darkness.
Sometimes senior cats develop cognitive dysfunction (essentially cat dementia). Often, symptoms such as going to the bathroom outside the litter box are more prevalent at night in the dark. If you notice your cat only pooping on the floor at night, have your vet evaluate your cat’s eyesight and cognitive behavior. Additionally, some pretty simple environmental engineering, such as adding night lights and limiting house access, can make a huge difference.
Is it normal for my cat to always poop outside of the litter box?
It is not normal for your cat to always poop outside of the litter box. If your cat has stopped using the litter box to poop, it’s important to understand why.
One way that you can monitor your cat's waste behaviors is to use the Whisker app in connection with Litter-Robot 4. This can help you monitor the frequency and pattern in which your cat is eliminating. You can even track the usage of individual cats in a multi-cat household, as long as your cats weigh a difference of 1+ pounds from each other.
How to stop a cat from pooping on the floor
It’s easy to get frustrated with your cat when they begin pooping everywhere in the house except their litter box. However, it’s very important to remember that there is almost always a reason that your cat is doing this. So, how can you stop your cat pooping on the floor?
- Clean the area of the accident thoroughly. You can use an enzymatic cleaner to help get rid of the scent. It's important to remember that if the scent remains, your cat is more likely to have another pooping accident in the same area.
- Address underlying health issues with your veterinarian. It could be as simple as changing your cat's diet. However, your veterinarian should be able to help you figure out any health problems and what you can do to help your cat.
- Try to decrease stress within the household. While this may be easier said than done, giving your cat the attention they may be seeking could help relieve their stress and stop the accidents from occurring. If attention is not enough, it may be worthwhile to try some pheromone products or calming treats,
- Tend to any litter box issues, such as location and type of litter. Make sure the litter box is easily accessible for your cat and that they like the type of litter you are using.
- Provide a nightlight: Whether your senior cat is having trouble finding their bathroom in the dark or experiencing cognitive dysfunction at night, a night light near the litter box can offer some much-needed comfort.
- Make sure the litter box is cleaned often. You should scoop the litter box daily, or use a self-cleaning litter box. Try replacing the litter and cleaning the litter box once or twice a month.
Remember, your cat is not pooping out of spite. There is always a reason for your cat to suddenly begin pooping outside of their litter box. The most important thing you can do is get your cat to your veterinarian to rule out any medical issues or major illnesses. Once their health has been cleared, try to understand what is going on with your cat.
If there aren’t any new stressors to address and you guess it has more to do with the cleanliness of the litter box, you could try making things easier on yourself by using Litter-Robot 4 along with the app. Whatever the case may be, patience is key in understanding how you can help your cat.
FAQs
Why does my cat pee in the litter box but poop on the floor?
Typically, cats prefer to poop in their litter box and cover it up with surrounding litter. If your cat is suddenly pooping on the floor, they may think the litter box is too dirty to use to cover up their poop. Or, an underlying health issue may need to be addressed by your vet.
How do I stop my cat from pooping on the floor?
Make sure you are cleaning the area of the accident thoroughly with an enzymatic cleaner. Try to understand and address any underlying causes, which should help stop your cat from continuing to poop on the floor.
What consistency should cat poop be?
Healthy cat poop should be dark brown in color and firm, but not too hard or too mushy. It should not be black in color or have a runny consistency.
Sources:
- Constipation | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- Osteoarthritis in Cats: More Common Than You Think | FDA
- Pet your cat to reduce stress | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
- The Special Needs of the Senior Cat | Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine
Cover photo by Marjan Grabowski on Unsplash
