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It can certainly be frustrating to have a cat that poops on the floor! You may have bought the most extravagant litter box for your feline friend, only to face the disappointment of having to clean up after they poop on the floor or other unwanted places.
New cats are unpredictable when it comes to where they will poop, and it may take some patience and training to teach new cats and kittens how to use a litterbox. However, if you have a litter box-trained cat that suddenly starts pooping on the floor, then it might be a cause for concern.
What are the reasons behind this behavior in cats and how can you prevent it? Hopefully, this article has the answers you need!
Why Do Cats Poop on the Floor?
There are many reasons why your cat may begin pooping on the floor, carpet, or other surfaces. It is best to take your cat for a simple veterinarian check-up as soon as you notice any abnormal daily routine changes in your cat, such as pooping or urinating in unusual places. This can help rule out the chance of a medical condition that may cause your cat’s pooping on the floor.
The 6 Methods to Stop Cats From Pooping on the Floor
1. Restrict Your Cat’s Access
If your cat poops or urinates on the floor, you should cover up or restrict access to the space your cat is using as an alternate litter box. This will help prevent your cat from using that place on the floor to poop on again.
Cats will usually favor a specific spot on the floor to poop on as they are highly habit-forming. Once you restrict your cat from using the place where they like to poop, they’ll hopefully be unlikely to use that spot again.
Alternatively, you can also place a litter box on the area of the floor your cat is pooping on, to try and see if they will use it instead.
2. Add Another Litter Box
If you have multiple cats in a household, it is recommended to have several litter boxes around the house so that each cat can comfortably do their business. In some cases, litter boxes may be occupied by another cat, which can lead the other cat to poop on the floor because they feel that they have nowhere else to go.
You can place litter boxes in different areas of the house so that each cat can have their own space when doing their business.
3. Regularly Clean the Litter Box
Cats will usually refuse to use a dirty litter box, so you must keep the litter box clean and scoop out soiled litter regularly. Some cats may not use the litter box if another cat has used it and left their scent, which can be a problem in multi-cat households. You may want to consider giving a particularly finicky cat their own litter box that only they can use.
You should scrub the bottom of the litter box weekly with a pet-safe cleaning solution and warm water to get rid of any gunk left at the bottom after you have thrown the soiled litter away.
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4. Deep-Clean Certain Areas of the Household
Even if you think the floor has been cleaned properly after your cat has pooped on it, there may still be a lingering smell that is attracting your cat to do their business there again. You may need to use stronger cleaning products directly on the area your cat is pooping so that any traces of your cat’s scent is removed.
A cleaning solution of baking soda, warm water, and vinegar will help remove stains and smells from the flooring.
5. Try a Calming Diffuser or Collar
If you find that your cat is pooping on the floor because they are stressed or anxious, then you can try giving using a diffuser such as the Feliway optimum enhanced calming diffuser which can be plugged in to release calming scents and pheromones.
You can also try the Sentry calming collar for cats, which releases pheromones in a similar way to the diffusers, except it stays on your cat.
6. Cat-Away Methods
If there is a specific spot on the floor your cat keeps pooping on, you can use a deterrent to keep them away from this area. Most deterrent sprays are for cats who urine mark, but they work well for stopping cats from pooping in certain areas too. We recommend the NaturVet pet organics no mark spray. This spray removes poop and urine marks while masking odors and pheromones so that your cat does not poop in the area again.
Final Thoughts
When dealing with a cat pooping in unwanted places, it’s important to consider why they may be doing this instead of using their litter box like normal. You may want to take them to a veterinarian for a health evaluation so you can rule out any potential medical conditions, and if they’re all clear, follow the steps outlined above.
Featured Image Credit: Tanya-Plotnikova, Shutterstock
