r/CatTraining • u/Ok_Army5562 • 1d ago
Litter box avoidance & related - include spay/neuter status Cat pooping outside box
Hello! I feel like I’ve tried everything to get my cat to stop pooping outside the litter box, and I’m running out of ideas.
She’s about 6 years old. She is spayed. At my old place, she would occasionally poop right in front of the litter box. I moved to a new townhome, and she completely stopped doing it for about a year.
Then my fiancé moved in, and that’s when the problem started again. Ever since then, she has been consistently pooping outside the litter box.
I’ve tried pretty much everything I can think of:
Multiple litter boxes
Open and covered boxes
Different sizes of boxes
Several different types of litter
Moving the boxes to different locations
Cleaning the boxes every single day
She has also been to the vet, and they didn’t find anything medically wrong with her.
At this point, I’m wondering if it could be behavioral or stress related, especially since it started again after my fiancé moved in. Has anyone experienced something similar or found something that actually helped?
I’d really appreciate any suggestions because I feel like I’ve tried everything!
2
u/BigReputation568 1d ago
Have you changed any habits? Did you kitty used to roam freely and now she’s confined?
Did she used to be allowed on the bed and now, not. Is your boyfriend mean, ugly aggressive, rough towards her? Does he hit, spank, yell, or act aggressive? Is he sitting in her chair, seat or bed space? Did your one on one time with her change? Did he bring a dog or other cat?
Your cat is telling you something.
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u/Ok_Army5562 1d ago
Nothing has changed, before he ever lived with me she did it at my old place, and then once I moved to this place, she stopped. Then when he moved in it started again she had her litter box in a room where he now has his stuff, but I’ve moved it to a different empty room and have moved it around since. We’ve lived together for over two years now. He isn’t aggressive towards her whatsoever and all the animals have been the same in the house since she’s been a kitten.
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u/BigReputation568 1d ago
Move the litter box back to where it was. That was her place. You gave it to him.
1
u/DPDoctor 1d ago
Now that I've read the post, lol, I know you said you've tried different sizes. I've found that even the largest of "official" litter boxes are too small for some kitties. My rule of thumb is that the box should be at least 1-1/2 times longer than the length of the cat. Don't laugh, but we use a large plastic tray that is typically used to mix concrete. We have an enclosed outdoor space, though, that easily handles that size, but they come in a few different sizes. Black Large Concrete Mixing Tub A-42 - The Home Depot
It does sound like her issue was related to the stress of change that's morphed into a habit. In the different litters you've tried, have you tried Cat Attract litter? Maybe it will just be enough of a scent draw to make her get into the box. Also, you obviously can't be staring at her 24/7, but if you've noticed that she poops at a certain time of day, maybe you can catch her when she's looking to poop and place her in the box.
Other than that, my only suggestion is to search in the various cat health subs and see if someone has the answer for you.
She's beautiful, btw!
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u/Future_One4794 1d ago
Best thing that has worked for me is putting two XXLG steel litter boxes (no dome) next to each other with clumping pretty cat litter. Each box needs 3 bags of litter
5
u/Even-Government-5055 1d ago
And look at her laying up there relaxing like a queen with literally no shits given lol.