Cats can be picky when it comes to their bathroom habits. If there is even one thing out of place, your cat could decide it is no longer comfortable pooping inside their litter box. There are so many possibilities, in fact, that it can be difficult to narrow down the exact problem.

Thankfully, most of the common reasons why your cat is pooping outside of their litter box are easy to distinguish, once you know what you are looking for. Here are the most likely reasons why your cat is pooping outside of the litter box…and the solution to each problem.

Litter Box Blues

There are a surprising number of reasons why your cat is pooping outside the litter box that has everything to do with the litter box itself. Any one of these issues could be the reason your cat is not pooping in the litter box.

Problem: The Litter Box is Dirty

It doesn’t matter whether you are a cat, a human, or any other animal, nothing wants to be stuck in a stinky, dirty area. This is especially true in times of vulnerability and when your cat is doing their business, they are extremely vulnerable. So, if your cat perceives the litter box as too dirty (or stinky) they will not use it.

Resolution: Clean the Litter Box

Thankfully, this is a fairly easy fix. If this is the issue and you clean the litter box (to your furry friend’s satisfaction), your cat will return to the litter box. If this is the case, make sure that you keep the litter box clean and on a strict schedule, or your cat may eventually stop using the litter box altogether.

Problem: The Litter Box is too Small

Any human who has ever had to poop in an airplane bathroom can have sympathy for cats with litter boxes that are too small. Now, imagine you are expected to use that small, cramped space every time you do the deed. Granted, cats don’t need to worry about turbulence but nevertheless, that is not a fun experience. It is no wonder that cats refuse to use the litter box if it is too small.

Resolution: Get a Bigger Litter Box

While this is not an overly common problem, unless your cat is extremely large, as most litter boxes are built to accommodate most domestic cat breeds, it is possible that your cat has outgrown their litter box. The general rule for the size of a litter box is that it should be at least one and a half times the length of the cat.

Problem: The Litter Box is Not in a Good Location

The last thing you want to do when you have to go is to search for your bathroom and cats feel the same way. If you recently moved the litter box or your cat does not like the location of their litter box, this could be the reason why your cat is pooping outside the litter box.

There are many reasons the cat might not like the location of the litter box. It could be too close to your cat’s food dish, it could be too high, or simply too difficult to get in or out of.

Resolution: Find a Better Location for Your Cat’s Litter Box

If you have recently moved the litter box, move the litter box back to its original spot. If your cat just doesn’t like the location of the litter box, try to figure out why. A litter box should be easily accessible, with a lot of ventilation.

There might be a physical or even psychological reason your cat doesn’t like a specific location. Therefore, you might simply have to experiment with different places until your cat finds a place where they are comfortable.

Problem: Another Pet is Guarding the Litter Box

For pet parents with more than one cat, you should always have at least one litter box for each cat, plus an extra, just for safe measure. However, even if you only have one cat, there could be another pet guarding the litter box. Unfortunately, you might not even be able to prove that is the problem. However, there is an easy way to see if this is the problem.

Resolution: Get More than One Litter Box

If you get more than one litter box and a pet is guarding one of them, your cat will always have access to the other one. This will also help give your cat another litter box option, which should help quell your cat’s desire to poop outside the litter box.

Problem: The Litter Box is Covered

If your litter box is covered your cat may feel trapped or claustrophobic inside the litter box. If this is the case, they may result in pooping outside the litter box, where they have more room.

Resolution: Get an Uncovered Litter Box

Try uncovering the litter box you have. If this fixes the problem, you should look into getting an open litter box.

Your Cat Has a Texture Preference

Why Do Cats Use Litter Boxes?This is a rarer issue but it is potentially an easy fix. If your cat is pooping outside the litter box it is possible that your cat prefers to do their business on something other than litter. Pay attention to what your cat is pooping on. If they like tile, or wood, (hopefully not cushions, for your sake), take note of it and try to add that material to their litter box. Putting a piece of tile or whatever the preferred texture is inside the litter box can encourage your cat to use it instead of your floor.

Your Cat is Afraid of the Litter Box

If your cat continues to pee in the litter box but will not poop in the litter box, there is a possibility that your cat is afraid to spend too much time in the litter box. Your cat may have had a frightening or painful experience in the litter box, thus making it a place they want to avoid.

This issue is a little more difficult to fix but if you get new litter boxes and put them in different spots throughout the house, you can break your cat’s fear of them. It may take time, but they should learn to trust the new litter box.

Your Cat Needs Medical Attention

If your cat is pooping outside the litter box, there could be a medical issue going on that needs immediate attention. If your cat is getting older or there is something else going on, perhaps your cat can’t make it to the litter box. If there is a medical issue, besides old age and/or incontinence, you should be able to see it in their stool.

Either way, if you suspect a medical issue is the reason why your cat is pooping outside the litter box, contact a veterinarian immediately.

In summation, it is always a nuisance when your cat decides they prefer to poop outside the litter box. Yet, more often than not, there is a reason that your cat is acting this way. Whether it is as common as a cleanliness issue or as odd as an affinity for tile, there are plenty of reasons why your cat is pooping outside the litter box. As a fur mom or dad, you can take solace in the fact that a lot of those reasons have nothing to do with the health and ultimate wellbeing of your cat.