Expert: Jessica - 11/24/2009

Question
Hi Jessica,
Thank you for providing this answer service.

We have two cats- both 5, Ninja and Starr- brother and sister.
In the past year, Starr has started pooping outside her box on an inconsistent basis. Usually she did it when we went on vacation- we'd come home and she'd pooped. We assumed it was because she was upset at us being gone. Starr has neurological problems that make her tail very stiff and her hind legs can't do much more than walk at a very slow/wobbly pace. Because she gets no physical activity, she's also overweight. We have recently (about a week and a half ago) put her on diet cat food (Hills M/D) recommended by her vet. She seems to really like it. We usually separate the cats at feeding time now.

Back to the pooping- we have two litterboxes, they are cleaned every two days, we use very mildly scented litter (from Costco, the same one we've been using for 2-3 years, at least). So she either poops right outside the litterboxes right after they've been cleaned, or she goes in familiar places, i.e. once in a box she LOVED to sit in, she peed in it. And then the bed she sleeps in, she pooped in it this morning. I'm really concerned because this is not regular behaviour - she does use the litterbox, but then on the third day or so, she poops outside. If it was medical, wouldn't it be occuring every time she had to poo or pee. She still pees in the litterbox on a regular basis. Its just the poo.

Should we be cleaning the litter every day? We clean it every two days currently. Is she anxious about something? We don't scold her, we give equal amounts of attention to both her and Ninja.

I'm really confused and stressed. Could it be a mental issue? She seems sharp otherwise. This morning I peeked under our bed after she pooped in HER bed, and she was sitting in a shoe box and didn't look thrilled. She knew she wasn't pooping in the right place so thats probably why she was distressed? Please help! I love my cats, I want to make sure they're with us for a long time.

Thanks very much,
Starr's Mom in Canada

Answer
Hi there.  This sounds like a complex issue.  I see that you mentioned she poops outside the boxes right after they’ve been cleaned.  Does this mean right after the litter has been replaced?  If so, this is when the litter will be dustiest and most fragrant.  Cats feel more of a need to dig and burry their stool than their urine, which would cause her to kick up more of this dust and fragrance, and she might be objecting to this.  Look to see if it might be a consistent pattern that she’s missing the box after the litter is changed.  If so, you may want to consider switching to a different litter that is dust-free and fragrance-free.  The natural, renewable litters fit the bill, although they are a little more expensive.  These include pine, wheat, corn and cedar litters.  There is another litter that was designed by a vet specifically for the problem you’re facing, called Cat Attract.  It’s formulated with herbs to encourage 100% litter box usage, and has a money-back guarantee.  You can find a retailer at www.preciouscat.com.  If you’re unable to find a retailer near you, there is also a Cat Attract additive that you may add to your own litter, which you can have shipped to you from various websites.  However, it must only be used with unscented clumping litter.  I’m not positive what you mean when you say that you clean the boxes every two days, but the boxes should ideally be scooped for solid waste daily.

Some cats even have days when it’s difficult or painful to get into the litter box due to arthritis, and obese cats are more likely to have this problem.  I’m not sure if your vet moved her joints to check for evidence of this.  Cats with arthritis can benefit from a glucosamine/chondroitin supplement such as Cosequin for cats or Zuke’s Hip Action treats for cats.  They also should be provided with a shallow litter box.

If her stool seems a little on the firm side, it might also be that she’s feeling discomfort when she’s moving her bowels due to some constipation.  This is a common reason why cats sometimes don’t use the box, but may use it other times when their stool is normal.  Adding a couple teaspoons of pea baby food to canned food each day can help prevent constipation, although I’m not sure if you’re feeding dry or wet m/d.  Since she’s on a prescription diet, you’ll want to check with your vet before making any changes.

Anxiety is always a possible underlying factor, especially with her known history of pooping outside the litter box when you were away on vacation.  Sometimes a trigger can be identified, such as a change in schedule or a new baby, but sometimes cat develop anxiety disorders.  I would recommend that you try a product called Feliway.  I use the plug-in diffusers in my own home.  There is also a spray that you can use directly on accident spots.  You can learn more about how it works at www.feliway.com.  

Sometimes a prescription antidepressant is prescribed when anxiety is strongly suspected.  When inappropriate urination is the primary problem, this is very commonly the underlying cause, and antidepressants are usually very helpful.  Inappropriate defecation is less often related to anxiety, so vets may be reluctant to try this unless it is a last resort.

I’m not sure what her leg and tail problems stem from.  But you might want to have the vet check her anal tone and reflex on her next visit.  The vet gently pokes around the outside of the area to see if she tenses up normally in response to touch.  If so, it indicates that she should have normal sensation and control over her bowels.  If there is reduced tone or delayed response, she may not always be realizing that she’s defecating.  This is a difficult problem to manage.

Best wishes, I hope there is some improvement in your situation!

Jessica