How to stop a cat from shitting in the wrong place

The suffering of people whose cat began to shit in the wrong place is immeasurable. Most often in such a situation, the owner's bed and shoes, the threshold of the front door, the corners of rooms and the space under the bathroom suffer. You want to solve the problem as soon as possible, but in a hurry you can only make it worse: by not following the rules, it is easy to reinforce the animal’s erroneous behavior. We will tell you how to stop a cat from going to the toilet in the wrong place.

Why does a cat shit in the wrong place: reasons

Before taking any action, you need to find out why the cat began to shit anywhere. Let's look at several common reasons why a cat shits in the wrong place:

Physical discomfort.

With inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, cats experience discomfort when defecating. Repeated repetition of the problem creates a negative attitude towards the litter box.
The pet begins to look for new places to defecate, causing a lot of trouble for its owner. In some situations, this cat behavior can be regarded as a signal for help.

Finding a solution
Psychological discomfort.

If a cat began to shit during a period of dramatic changes in the personal life of the owners, then this behavior, when the kitten shits in the wrong place, is associated with the psychological discomfort of the animal.
Cats sense the situation in the house well and get used to the usual way of life of their owner. Home renovations, the arrival of a new family member or other living creature, cause stress in the animal, which affects its behavior.

Lack of attention.

Like any pet, cats require attention. If the owners are ruthless towards the animal, then characteristic cats change their behavior. They are capable of holding grudges and doing mischief in order to attract attention.
The simplest thing is to start shitting in the wrong place. The owner obviously won't like this.

It is important to eliminate psychological discomfort
New location of the cat litter box.

If your pet is used to going to defecate in a specific place, then changing the position of the toilet causes him stress. If you want to rearrange the furniture, it is better not to move the animal's tray. Buying a new litter box or changing the brand of litter also often causes a negative reaction from the animal - the cat shits in the wrong place.
When moving to a new apartment, the cat needs to get used to the new territory. Owners must be patient and help their pet, including weaning the cat from shitting in the wrong place.

Why do they do this

In order to stop your pet from shitting anywhere, you need, first of all, to understand what prompts him to such behavior. Cats are extremely clean animals. If they go to the toilet anywhere except their litter box, then there are good reasons for this. Which ones exactly?

Reason 1 – emotional state. Animals, like their owners, experience a variety of emotions: joy and sadness, fun and indignation. They try to express their condition with their voice, gaze, touch, but most of us cannot (and often do not strive) to understand what is bothering our pet. What remains for the poor animal but to resort to the most accessible method of explanation for its slow-witted owners?
Reason 2 – lack of attention. Automata, no matter how perfect they are, cannot replace animal communication with humans. Is it possible to love an automatic feeder, talk to an automatic waterer, or expect that the most expensive play complex, the size of half a room, will take you in its arms and begin to stroke you, saying something quietly? Of course no. Left to its own devices all day, the cat suffers from loneliness. To attract the attention of the owner and make him feel how bad she is, the cat chooses a very unique method: shitting in the wrong places. If you find a very dubious sign of attention in your slippers or on the bed, do not rush to scold the animal. It is quite possible that in this way he is trying to attract your attention, to achieve affection and love.
Reason 3 – fear and stress. A too small kitten, left without a mother, is in a state of severe stress. Unfamiliar surroundings, unusual smells and sounds, unknown people - how can you not be scared? Don't forget about changing your diet. Many kids, having tasted unfamiliar food that is too fatty for their tiny stomachs, react to it in exactly this way - by heartily shitting on the floor.
Reason 4 – I don’t like the tray or the place in which it is located. In most cases, cats quickly adapt to any litter box configuration. But sometimes it is purely physically uncomfortable for an animal to climb into it and jump out. It may be difficult for a small kitten to climb over a side that is too high for him or he simply does not have time to do it. Some people don’t like the grate in the tray, while others, on the contrary, can’t imagine how they can go to the toilet without it. The place where the tray is placed is also of great importance. If your kitty stubbornly goes to the toilet in a secluded corner, you should not try to re-educate her by forcing her to use the litter tray located almost in the center of the living room. Place the tray where she used her toilet. She will willingly go to it.
Reason 5 – the filler is unpleasant. Even if your pet descends from his great-grandfather Alexander the Great, it is by no means a fact that he will deign to pay his attention to a tray with expensive modern filler. Perhaps his royal paws find it more pleasant to dig into sawdust or quarry sand. We should not forget that we ourselves sometimes have a strange tactile taste, preferring the rough surface of jute burlap to the most delicate silk.
Reason 6 – lack of knowledge. If you receive a newborn orphan kitten, you should not be surprised that he does not understand what the tray is for. No one explained this to him! Now it is yours, and only your task. Show patience and all the teaching talent you can muster. Soon your little pet will become a rare clean person.
Reason 7 – health problems. If an always neat cat suddenly begins to walk past the litter box or even choose inappropriate places for this purpose, we advise you to show him to the veterinarian as soon as possible. This could be a sign of serious health problems. This is often done by very old animals that have developed mental problems.

Careful observation of your pet will help you determine the reason that prompts him to use any suitable corner of the apartment as a toilet. From now on, your task is to do everything possible to direct the animal “on the right path.”

Why does a kitten shit in the wrong place?

The appearance of a little kitten brings owners a sea of positive emotions. Before getting a pet, you need to properly organize its time in the new territory . The most important question is how to train a kitten to go to the litter box?
The first days of being in a new family are stressful for a kitten. You shouldn't expect him to obey on the first day. Don't start getting to know your animal with punishments.

Could be stress

A small kitten does not understand where to relieve itself, especially if it was born on the street. In the first days of developing the territory, it is necessary to help the animal form the right habits.
Observing his behavior, you can notice fussy behavior when he wants to go to the toilet. Transfer the kitten to the litter box. Even if the hint doesn’t work the first time, in the future the animal will understand what you want from it.
If the kitten has taken a liking to a specific corner from the first day and the place allows you to place a tray there, then he will definitely take advantage of this opportunity, otherwise you will not be able to stop the kitten from crapping in the wrong place.

A cat shits in the wrong place: how to train it to the litter box?

Give the animal a choice.

The location of the cat litter box is of fundamental importance for many pets. Cats are predators by nature and they have their own natural instincts.
The first thing to do is to ensure that the animal has constant access to the tray. The toilet or bathroom should not be tightly locked with a door, so it is quite possible to wean a kitten or cat from shitting in the wrong place.
Sometimes cats themselves suggest where it is best to place the tray. Most often they choose secluded places. There is no need to resist this state of affairs.

In the wrong place

Proper arrangement of a cat's litter box

train your cat to use the litter box for a long period of time then perhaps your litter box does not meet the animal’s requirements.
When wondering which cat litter to choose, pay attention not to the purchase price, but to the correct parameters of the litter box. A small tray with low sides will bring a lot of inconvenience to both the owner and the pet.
There should be enough space in the cat litter box so that an adult cat can freely turn around and settle into a comfortable position. The height of the sides should take into account that a third of the space will be filled with filler.
The filler for the tray is selected through experimentation. Instead of granular filler, regular finely torn paper may be suitable. Changing the usual litter can be one of the reasons why an animal shits past the tray.

Failure to clean the litter tray in a timely manner may repel the animal. So make it a habit to keep your cat's litter box clean. If you are away for a long time, you can arrange two trays side by side.

Methods of rewarding an animal for correct actions

Cats cannot speak the language of people, but at the level of instincts they are able to perceive our requests and appeals. Praise your cat for being obedient.
Treat your pet with his favorite treats. Perhaps the cat will thank you for your attentive attitude with good behavior and affection.

Expert advice

Experienced felinologists offer several effective tips on litter training cats. Take advantage of some of them. Perhaps they can help you.

One of the most effective ways to train a cat to use a litter box is to soak a piece of cloth in urine and bury it in the litter. Wipe off any remaining puddle thoroughly and cover it up. This is necessary so that the cat decides that it was the last time she went to the litter box, and does not fail to go there again.

Place the tray in a cardboard box with a hole in one of the side walls (like a dog kennel) to make it more comfortable and calm for the animal to go to the toilet.

You can play on your cat's cleanliness by placing bowls of water or food in the place where he regularly poops. You can also try to put a tray in this place, but it is not a fact that the animal will agree to go into it and not shit next to it.

Offer your pet another litter tray. If he regularly goes to the first one for minor needs, perhaps he will appreciate the second one.

Contact an experienced veterinarian to review your specific case and prescribe an effective remedy.

How to train a cat to use the toilet?

To stop your cat from pooping in the wrong place, you can try teaching it to defecate on the toilet.
It is easier to train him to use the toilet after using the litter box. To begin with, the habit of defecating without litter is formed. The amount of bulk material gradually decreases. Replace a regular trough with a mesh tray.
At the second stage, the tray is raised daily to a certain height until it reaches the level with the toilet. It is important to take care of the stability of the structure. After a few weeks, the tray at height is removed, and a special tab with a small hole is placed on the toilet. Another option is to cut an oval hole in the toilet lid.
If the cat is scared by the noisy sounds of the toilet , then try flushing while holding the pet in your arms. He must see that he is not in danger. If you notice that it is difficult for your cat to sit on the new device, then help her take the correct position.

Training

It will take about a month to train your cat to use the toilet after using the litter box, so be patient.

Cat Urine Odor Eliminators

To prevent your cat from defecating again in the wrong place, it is necessary to completely eliminate the smell of the animal.

How to remove the smell of cat urine? You can use improvised and special tools.

Oxidizing agents will help eliminate the smell of pet feces:

hydrogen peroxide;
iodine solution – 10-20 drops per liter of liquid;
water with lemon juice;
concentrated soda solution;
alcohol solution.

Getting rid of the smell
Professional products that help remove the smell of cat urine:

DezoSan and Zoosan
UrineOff
Complete Pet Stain&Odor Remover
Pet Stain&Odor Remover
Bio-Vax toilet deodorants.

High-quality chemical products must contain enzymes. You can identify stained areas using an ultraviolet lamp. This way you can definitely stop your cat from shitting in the wrong place.

People's Councils

Using folk remedies to stop a cat from crapping in the wrong place is not that difficult. Here are the most effective ways:

wash the area thoroughly and place several orange or tangerine peels on it - cats cannot stand the smell of citrus fruits;
for preventive purposes, treat the surface with vinegar - cats cannot stand the smell of acids;
Fill a spray bottle with water and add a little pepper tincture to it, then treat all the floors in the house as a preventive measure. Be careful, the mixture is quite caustic! You only need to spray it in a respirator!

How to stop a cat from shitting in the wrong place: folk remedies

Aromatic irritants are used as folk remedies for re-educating a cat. To stop a cat from shitting in the wrong place, several unpleasant combinations for animals are used.

Any of the following remedies will help stop your cat from shitting in the wrong place:

Fresh mint aroma. A bunch of fragrant plant retains its aroma for a long period and creates a pleasant atmosphere in the room.
Citrus. Don't rush to throw away fruit peels. Place it on pieces of furniture, on the windowsill, near the carpet. Lubricate furniture with citrus oils.

Cats can't stand the smell of citrus fruits

Sprigs of dried rosemary. Make small bouquets of rosemary and lavender. The cat will not want to be in this room.
Cinnamon. Spicy seasoning can be diluted in containers with water or purchased cinnamon oil.
Onion and garlic. Ideal for the kitchen. Cut the bulbs into several pieces and place them in places where the cat defecates. The garlic clove can be ground into a paste. Lasting aromas will repel the animal and will not irritate the owner.
Concentrated perfumes. Choose a perfume with a strong smell and treat the area where your cat likes it. Even if it doesn't work the first time, continue with your idea.

You can experiment with any strong-smelling products, including household chemicals. You can try to re-educate the animal using gentle methods. Transfer the cat's excrement into the tray with him, gently point his muzzle into the pot, have regular conversations, place the animal and the pot in an isolated space.

If your pet is acting inappropriately, we also recommend reading the following topics:

How to stop a dog from littering the house?
The cat climbs on the table: how to wean it off?

How to stop a cat from shitting in the wrong place: reviews

Reviews from those who managed to wean porridge from shitting in the wrong place:

Anna: A cat has been living in my house for more than a year. From the first day I went to relieve myself in the litter tray in the bathroom. Then she suddenly started peeing in the tray and pooping on the tiles next to it. The reason turned out to be her excessive cleanliness. We placed two trays side by side, and the cat began to use both. The problem has disappeared.
Inna: Once every six months I go on a business trip. The cat stays with her husband. After a long absence, the cat begins to shit in the wrong place. His behavior can only be leveled out with the help of additional attention. When I hear scratching in the corners, I change my intonation. After defecating in the tray, I praise him. A week later the cat gets better.
Evgenia: I came to visit my grandmother. After visiting for a week, I noticed that the cat sometimes relieves itself in the corner behind the TV. I purchased Zoosan odor eliminator from a veterinary pharmacy. I processed the corner and covered the floor with foil. The cat stopped shitting there.
Andrey: Our cat got into the habit of peeing in a flower pot. We changed the soil - it didn’t help. The citrus peels in the pot didn't scare me away either. They put this pot in another place, the cat shit in another place. The only thing that helped stop the cat from shitting in the wrong place was double-sided tape on the windowsill. She stomped on the adhesive tape once and now walks around the window sill.

How to wean a neutered cat

Castration is one of the radical methods, which in itself should wean the cat from shitting in the wrong place. If this does not happen, then the reason lies not in the physiology of the animal, but in its psyche.

Most likely, the reason lies in the inconvenient tray. For example, either it is too small, or the filler in it is too wet, or the cat simply doesn’t like it. The solution is to alternately replace the fillers first, and if this does not help, the tray.

It is possible that the tray is located close to the place where the cat eats. In this case, move it further away - animals do not like their toilet to be near the bowl.

Wash the tray with “Whiteness”. It is possible that the reason why the cat refuses to use it lies in the unpleasant smell of feces. By the way, many animals simply love the smell of chlorine. It is possible that your pet will like a “scented” tray.

Consult your veterinarian. Let him examine the animal. Your pet may be sick or stressed.