Expert: Jessica - 9/2/2009

Question
Hello!  I recently moved into a house with 3 males cats and 1 female cat.  One male cat will use the the kitty liter to pee but will step out to poop?  Any reason why he is doing this.

Answer
Hi Ali.  I would try adding some litter boxes, perhaps of a different style.  Many cats like to use one box to defecate in and another to urinate in.  I know my own cats like to use uncovered boxes for urination and hooded boxes for defecation.  It gives them a little extra privacy.  Also, be sure there are enough boxes available.  The general rule is that there should be one box per cat, plus one extra.  So in a household of 4 cats, there should be 5 litter boxes.  Perhaps have 3 uncovered boxes and 2 hooded.  Each box should be scooped daily for solids.  

Some cats also won’t dig in litter, as they feel is necessary before defecating, if the litter is too rough on their feet.  I find them most apt to use Feline Pine Scoop when it comes to this, or else Cedarific, because it’s softest on their feet.

If none of these seem to work, you should have the cat checked out by a vet.  Pain upon defecation caused by gas, constipation or cramping can cause a cat to associate the pain with the litter box, and hence avoid using the litter box for defection but not urination.  Treating the cause should help correct the problem.

In the meantime, if he is stepping just outside the litter box to defecate, you can protect floors by lining the area surrounding the litter boxes with puppy training pads.

Hope this helps!

Jessica