One of the most unpleasant surprises that we can find as cat owners is the evacuation of feces outside the litter box The initial perplexity is transforms into confusion and worry if the behavior becomes a habit. In this text on our site we will point out the keys that answer the question why does your cat defecate outside the litter boxTo do this, we will stop to analyze the possible causes, since only from understanding the problem can we find the solution, which involves measures such as those that we also indicate in the article that follows. And, as always, if the behavior persists we should consult a specialist.
Determine the cause of the problem
Finding our cat's stools outside its usual place, the litter box, is one of the situations that most disturbs us as guardians, given the fame of extreme neatness that these cats enjoy. And it is true that, from a very young age, as soon as they begin to take their first steps away from their mother, approximately at three weeks, they are already able to use the litter box correctly. And for this, in clear contrast to what happens with puppies, you don't have to do anything more than show it to them, put them in it and slightly move the sand, imitating the scratching that they do naturally.
The cat defecating outside its box indicates a problem. In no case does it occur because the animal wants to bother us, we must banish these myths once and for all. Our cat is going through a bad time and our obligation as owners is to help him, investigating the causes of his behavior and putting the necessary means to eliminate it. If inappropriate defecation occurs only once, we can consider it a one-time event and not give it more importance. The problem is when it is repeated until it becomes a habit.
First of all we must take him to the vet to rule out a physical cause for why your cat defecates outside the litter box, such as constipation, diarrhoea, the presence of parasites or even some musculoskeletal disorder, neurological disorder or senility, if you are dealing with an elderly cat. If the tests conclude that it is he althy, we can focus on looking for a environmental cause: let's analyze the sandbox
Analyze the sandbox
If your cat has stopped using the litter box or has never used it and therefore defecates outside its box, it is possible that the problem lies precisely in the toilet. So check:
- The sand: if we have changed the substrate our cat may find it uncomfortable, so it will try to evacuate touching it as little as possible until you end up doing it outside.
- The tray: the size must be adequate, approximately 40 x 50 cm, measures that allow the cat to turn on himself inside. The edges should not be too high, as they can make access difficult, especially with older cats. Your location is crucialIt is not recommended to place it in places of the house with constant traffic, next to doors or appliances, or near your food or water. Therefore, we must look for a discreet and protected site.
These factors can explain why the cat defecates outside the litter box, whether he is an adult or a puppy, but they are not the only ones that have an influence. In this way, if you consider that the reason for your feline is not any of those mentioned, keep reading.
Have you introduced a new cat?
If a new cat has recently come home, this may be the reason why your cat has stopped using the litter box to defecate. Especially if you have decided to share the litter box, since it is best for each cat to have its own box, and add an extra one.
Cats are very territorial and neat animals, so they don't usually stand to share something as intimate as their toilet. This does not mean that all cats are like this, since there are cats that are capable of sharing the box. However, if ours has stopped using it since the arrival of the new family member, the reason is most likely here. For more information on this, you can consult the following article: "Can two cats use the same litter box?". On the other hand, keep in mind that the presentation between them is crucial to ensure a good coexistence. If you didn't do it right, especially older cats can have behavior problems like this.
How to make a cat use the litter box?
After reviewing the most common causes, how do we get the cat to use the litter box to defecate?
- Changing the substrate until we find our cat's favourite. In principle, we should avoid scented litters, as they can be unpleasant for some cats. The amount of sand should be about 3-4 cm. As for the type of sand, fine grain is recommended, softer to the touch.
- Modifying the place of the tray and even adding another, even if we live with only one cat. We will see that one will be used primarily for feces and the other for urine. And remember that if we have more, the number of trays must be equal to the number of cats +1. We can also try offering you a covered tray, if yours is uncovered, and vice versa.
- Increasing cleanliness, trying to ensure that the cat always has a tray free of feces and urine at its disposal. It is not convenient to use ammonia or bleach to clean the tray, we will always have to opt for enzymatic products.
- If we notice that our cat always defecates in the same place, we can try putting a tray there to encourage its behavior. If instead of a tray we put food, we will dissuade it.
We must also take into account if there has been any change at home and/or in the cat's routine, which can explain why why the cat defecates outside the litter box. Fear can make it unsafe to use it, for example, so paying attention to where it poops can give us clues.
Never punish him
Finally, we should never punish the cat, let's not forget that he does not do it on purpose and it is also a difficult situation for him. No lockdowns or water gun or any other similar method. Our cat cannot speak but he is asking us for help On the contrary, we must pay more attention to all his reactions to find the underlying cause and always reward good behavior. Keep in mind that positive reinforcement is the key to success.
If, taking into account all these factors, the problem persists, we should consult a veterinarian specialized in ethology so that he can help us to determine and solve, once and for all, why the cat defecates outside the litter box.
