You are here:

Cats/cat pooping outside of litter box

Advertisement

Expert: - 8/6/2009


Question
We have 2 cats both 7 years old. One has now decided to have a bowel movement outside of the litter box. He goes in corners and even on the bed. We have changed absolutely nothing. Thanks!

Answer
Sue,

When there is a sudden change of litter pan behavior, and absolutely nothing has changed, it would tend to point to a medical problem, e.g., intestinal parasites, impacted anal glands, and the like.  Do you have any idea which one might be the culprit?  If not, they both may have to visit the vet to rule out medical issues.

On the other hand, if there is a strange cat hanging around your household, it might be upsetting one or another of your cats, which could affect litter pan habits. If this turns out to be the case, you might even try a Feliway diffuser (available from most pet supermarkets) in the room where most of the accidents are occurring.

Anyway any area where there has been inappropriate pooping needs to be cleaned with an enzyme based cleaner specifically for pet stains and pet odors (available from most pet supermarkets or farm stores).

You might try another litter pan located in a separate location.

Here is a link to a series of excellent articles on cat litter pan problems which may have further suggestions.

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


Best regards... Norm.  

Cats

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.