Expert: Tina - 11/19/2008

Question
I adopted a 6 month old cat about a month ago. He is playful and affectionate. He loves the older cat that my roommate has. My problem is every once in awhile he poops next to his litter box. So I have to keep him in a bathroom when we are not home. I don't know what to do.

Answer
Hi Kellee,

Your cat could be doing this for a number of reasons:

1. Take a stool sample to your vet to make sure he does not have intestinal parasites (worms). Parasites can cause discomfort or itching in the anal area and often causes cats to want to defecate outside the box.

2. Make sure your litterbox is located in a quiet out of the way area and that it is large enough and always very clean. You need to scoop out the soiled litter at least 2x a day. If the box is not clean enough that you would walk in it with YOUR bare feet, neither will your cat want to. Here is some advice on choosing and maintaining a litte rbox:

http://catinfo.org/litterbox.htm
http://www.catnutrition.org/litterbox.php

3. Use a clumping clay litter with NO scent. I recommend you try Cat Attract litter - it has a texture that cats like and it contains a blend of herbs that actually attracts cat to the litter box.
http://www.amazon.com/Precious-Cat-Attract-Problem-Training/dp/B0009X49IC/ref=pd...


Good luck!