How to stop my cat from pooping outside the litter box for good?

Question

Hello- I am not sure if this is a behavioral question or a health question. My female cat has started defecating outside of the litter box. This has gone on off and on for the past few years. I’ve noticed it’s gotten worse in our new house we moved to almost a year ago. We also have another cat (who we’ve had almost as long as her) and 2 dogs we’ve gotten more recently. She has certain spots like a rug by the front door and she really likes our bath tub. I’m at my wits end! Pet's info: Cat | American Shorthair | Female | spayed | 9 lbs

Dr. Elizabeth · Accepted Answer

Cats will defecate outside the box for many reasons. Here is a good article to explain the different reasons: https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-top-5-reasons-your-cat-is-avoiding-her-litter-box-and-what-to/ The first thing you need to do is have Girl Cat checked for abnormalities or pain. Constipation or a painful bowel movement is a common cause. Increasing the amount of fiber in the diet can often help as can feeding a canned food with additional water added. There is also a special prescription diet made by Royal Canin called Fiber Response that many cats respond well to. If the veterinarian thinks this is behavioral, there are a few factors to adjust. Cats are sensitive to the type of litter, size of the box and location of the box. If you have more cats, you need 1 litter box per cat + 1 additional box. You should also have a litter box on every floor of the house. This article discusses different types of litter and litter boxes: https://www.petcoach.co/article/cat-litter-finding-the-right-fit-for-your-cat/ In general though, cats prefer large, uncovered litter boxes, clay-based clumping litter that is scoped every day and a private, quiet location. If you have other cats or dogs, if they can access the litter box, it may cause Girl to be afraid that she could find herself trapped in the box. Cats are a prey species in the wild and they still retain those instincts. Clean the carpet with a good enzymatic cleanser. This will to get rid of any smells. There are things you can do at home to help to keep Girl relaxed and that may help to ensure good litter box habits. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Most cats response best to combination therapy. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with house soiling. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

How to stop my cat from pooping outside the litter box for good?

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