Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/Not Using Litterbox

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 2/9/2009


Question
Hi Tabbi,

I have two 6 month old kittens, which I have had for about two months now, after fostering them from the animal shelter for about a month. When they came to me, they already knew how to use the litterbox, and I have never had a problem with them up until about a week ago, when one of them started pooping on the carpet in the bathroom outside their box. At first I thought it might be because the litterbox was dirty, so I cleaned it, and they continued pooping on the carpet, so I believed perhaps it was because the smell of the poop was still in the carpet, so I threw out the carpet. I was away for the weekend, and there was no carpet in the bathroom, and when I came home, there was no litter except inside the litterbox -- that was yesterday, and I'd bought a new carpet while I was away. I put it down last night, and this morning, there was new poop on it. What can I do about this?

Answer
Rachel.

There is always a reason for a kitten pooping outside the litterbox.

My first guess would be worms or other intestinal parasite. Do not buy over the counter wormer because the worms are getting immune to it. Always get wormer from a vet because they have the latest products and can give you the correct dosage for the kitten's weight, and for the correct type of worm (their are numerous kinds).

You may want to try a bigger litterbox with deeper litter in it. As a kitten gets bigger he needs more room, and some kittens won't use a litterbox they THINK is too small because they don't want to get their paws 'dirty'.

It may have something to do with the texture or smell of carpet itself. Try it without carpet and see if it continues.

It could be an emotional issue stemming his experiences before you got the kittens and something triggered it.

That should give you some directions to go, plus I am including some  links to good articles about improper elimination that you may  find helpful: (copy and paste or type the whole links into your address bar)

http://cats.about.com/cs/behavioralissues/a/outsidebox_two.htm

http://www.geocities.com/heartland/pointe/9352/litterboxhelp.html

http://www.apbc.org.uk/article10.htm

Tabbi

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

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Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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