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How do I stop my cat from peeing and pooping outside the litter box?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

How can I stop inappropriate urination AND pooping? I’ve recently taken in a stray cat, she did have tapeworm so I thought that was the reason. She’s been cleared of it for weeks now and still will not stop pooping in our hallway and peeing on the laundry room floor. I’ve tried deterring her. She will poop on the hallway carpet anyway. Would getting a Feliway diffuser help?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

Veterinarian

Published on April 26th, 2020

Cats will urinate 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 your kitty checked for a bladder infection or other urine abnormality. There may be a medical cause for the behavior. Constipation or a painful bowel movement is a common cause. You should also bring in a fresh stool sample so the doctor can check for other parasites as well as moisture/consistency. 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 your kitty to be afraid that she could be trapped in the box. Cats are a prey species in the wild and they still retain those instincts. Clean the soiled areas 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 her 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.

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Other Answers

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    Answered By Amber W

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on January 5th, 2018

    Inappropriate elimination (peeing or pooping outside the litter box) in cats can be frustrating and difficult to treat. The first step you should take is scheduling an appointment for Speckles to see a veterinarian. From that picture it looks like a larger amount of urine which can indicate a kidney issue, diabetes, or other health concern that causes increased drinking and urinating. Many times a cat will start going outside of the litter box due to health problems like urinating tract infections, pain, urinary tract inflammation and digestive problems. Once you have established that there aren't any medical reasons for inappropriate elimination the following may be helpful: 1. Cats will urinate or defecate outside of the litter box for stress related reasons. Therefore it is best to keep the litter boxes in several different, quiet areas of the household. 2. A pheromone diffuser like Feliway can be quite helpful. 3. Ensure you have at least one litter box in the household per cat plus one. For example, if you have 3 cats, then 4 litter boxes are recommended. 4. Feeding an all canned food diet can help if there is inflammation in the bladder. There are also prescription diets available to help with bladder inflammation or digestive issues. Your veterinarian can help you choose the best one for your cat. 5. The litter boxes should be cleaned once to twice daily and completely emptied and washed weekly. Most cats prefer litter to be the clumping type that is kept a few inches deep. Certain litter types like Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter may be helpful. Litter boxes should be very large with a low cut out to make it easier for older cats with arthritis to climb inside. 6. If you are still having problems after taking the above steps you may want to talk to your veterinarian about behavioral medication. This article may be helpful to you: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-litter-box-mistakes/ Thanks for using PetCoach and good luck with Speckles!

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    Answered By Amber W

    Veterinarian, Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist

    Published on November 13th, 2017

    I'm sorry that Lilly is having this issue! Inappropriate elimination (peeing or pooping outside the litter box) in cats can be frustrating and difficult to treat. The first step you should take is scheduling an appointment for your cat to see a veterinarian. If money is an issue for you, you should look into Care Credit which may help make things more feasible for the visit. A lot of times a cat will start going outside of the litter box due to health problems like urinating tract infections, pain, urinary tract inflammation and digestive problems. Once you have established that there aren't any medical reasons for inappropriate elimination the following may be helpful: 1. Cats will urinate or defecate outside of the litter box for stress related reasons. Therefore it is best to keep the litter boxes in several different, quiet areas of the household. 2. A pheromone diffuser like Feliway can be quite helpful. 3. Ensure you have at least one litter box in the household per cat plus one. For example, if you have 3 cats, then 4 litter boxes are recommended. 4. Feeding an all canned food diet can help if there is inflammation in the bladder. There are also prescription diets available to help with bladder inflammation or digestive issues. Your veterinarian can help you choose the best one for your cat. 5. The litter boxes should be cleaned once to twice daily and completely emptied and washed weekly. Most cats prefer litter to be the clumping type that is kept a few inches deep. Certain litter types like Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter may be helpful. 6. If you are still having problems after taking the above steps you may want to talk to your veterinarian about behavioral medication. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and good luck to you and Lilly!

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    Answered By Rodrigo Roca, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on May 27th, 2018

    Hello, sorry to hear about Shakey. Here is some more information why cats do not use their litter box adequately. Hope this helps and best of luck. Feline inappropriate elimination is a common behavioral problem. Many owners may become frustrated trying to cope with this problem. Help is available. Because inappropriate elimination is associated with an increased risk of relinquishment to shelters, treatment should be sought early on. Contact your veterinarian or local animal behaviorists for additional help. What is inappropriate elimination? Inappropriate elimination is the deposition of urine or feces outside the litterbox. Cats displaying inappropriate elimination may either be eliminating in the wrong area, or exhibiting marking/spraying behavior as well. Inappropriate Elimination vs. Spraying / Marking? Urine marking is a distinct problem separate from inappropriate elimination. These two behaviors are similar and can often be confused by owners. Urine marking is most common in intact males, but a relatively large proportion of cats will display this problem. Reasons why your cat may be eliminating inappropriately: Medical: A number of medical conditions may contribute to and intensify house-soiling problems. Kidney, liver, and thyroid diseases can cause increased drinking and increased urination. Inflammation of the urinary tract can result in painful or frequent urination, or inability to urinate. Once a cat associates the litterbox with urinary difficulty, he or she may be reluctant to return. Animals may also experience age-related changes (arthritis, loss of vision or sense of smell, senility) that alter normal litterbox habits. A complete physical examination, plus other recommended diagnostic tests by your veterinarian is necessary to rule out and treat medical problems. Substrate, Litterbox or Location Aversions and Preferences Cats may find fault with the chosen litter substrate, litterbox location, and/or the litterbox itself. Dirty or artificially-scented litter is often distasteful to cats. Litter texture may also be unappealing– most cats prefer fine, sand-like clumping litter, while some prefer coarse, nonclumping litter or soft substrates, such as towels. There are many reasons litterbox location may be offensive, such as close proximity to highly-trafficked areas, feeding areas, loud noises such as washing machines and dryers, and other pets (particularly if they terrorize or ambush).The actual litterbox(s) may be too small, insufficient in number, contain harsh odors or aversive plastic liners, or have sides that are too high– a particular problem for kittens and geriatric cats. Cats with a preference for an inappropriate substrate or location may still continue to use their litterbox, but inconsistently.

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