Don't try to scare, punish, or discipline your cat. Stressing your pet will only make the problem worse. You can also try saying “no,” then calmly picking your cat up and putting it in the litter box. Use a firm voice to get your cat's attention, but don't yell, since this could scare the cat.
House soiling can be a frustrating problem, but you should never hit, kick, or scream at a cat. Punishments like these are not only ineffective, the anxiety they cause may actually worsen the house soiling problem.
Stress and anxiety can lead to litter issues quickly with most cats. If your cat is upset about something, especially if that issue is a long-term problem, then they may start pooping in the wrong places because of being unhappy or stressed.
Put Up Obstacles. If there's a particular area where your cat has been going frequently and you can't block their access, try laying down aluminum foil or spray the area with a kitty-safe deterrent. The goal is to make the inappropriate area as undesirable to the cat as possible.
Finally, never punish your cat for spraying in your home or peeing outside of the litter box. This can cause your feline to become more stressed and make the situation worse. Frequent urinating outside of the litter box is often due to health issues, stressors, or litter box problems.
Cats stop using their litter boxes for a variety of reasons, including issues with the box or litter, dissatisfaction with the placement or number of boxes, changes in the environment inside or outside the house (e.g., a new pet in the house, feral cats prowling around outside), and undiagnosed medical conditions.
Cats like predictability and do not generally react well to stress. Urinating outside the litterbox can be your kitty's way of letting you know that it is not happy with recent changes to its environment.
Cats dislike certain strong smells, which you can use to your advantage. Place citrus peels (oranges and lemons work the best), garlic, vinegar, coffee grinds, mustard, citronella, or eucalyptus around your garden. These smells won't harm the cats, but they will probably make them head elsewhere.
Think food puzzles to engage minds and bodies, vertical space for climbing and surveying their domain, scratching posts, safe outdoor access (like a catio), window perches and interactive play. “Play is an important part of relieving stress,” Delgado says. “It helps cats release those feel-good hormones.”
Some cats think the box is their territory, and may not use litter used by another cat. Tidy likes when everyone gets along, and these simple tips should help clear things up: Make sure you have enough litter boxes. The rule is one per cat, plus one extra.
Don't try to scare, punish, or discipline your cat. Stressing your pet will only make the problem worse. You can also try saying “no,” then calmly picking your cat up and putting it in the litter box. Use a firm voice to get your cat's attention, but don't yell, since this could scare the cat.
Spraying your cat with water can make her uncomfortable
Spano explained. “[So] equating the discomfort a human feels upon being spritzed with water to the discomfort a cat feels upon being spritzed with water is unfair and not rational.”
While some cats follow their owners to the bathroom and don't understand the concept of privacy, many are still wary of who's watching when they go to the toilet themselves.
Your cat could be exhibiting this behavior for various reasons, including stress, litter box aversion, territorial behavior, or medical problems. If your cat continues to poop outside the litter box every day or often, consult a vet who can help you determine the underlying cause of the behavior.
How to stop your cat toileting indoors. Once your cat has toileted or sprayed in a certain place, their sensitive nose encourages them to use that place again. The best way to break the habit is to keep them away from the area for as long as possible and clean the area thoroughly so they can't smell any scent.
Typically, cats prefer to poop in their litter box and cover it up with surrounding litter. If your cat is suddenly pooping on the floor, they may think the litter box is too dirty to use to cover up their poop. Or, an underlying health issue may need to be addressed by your vet.
A common reason for a cat pooping outside the litter box is change. Cats are creatures of habit, so if you have just moved to a new home, changed the location of the litter box, changed the litter box itself or the type of litter, your cat may have some difficulty adjusting.
It's medical
If your cat is fully potty trained and suddenly starts to pee on your bed, it could be that there's a medical problem to blame. Issues such as bladder infections, bladder stones, and urinary tract infections can cause your cat to pee outside of the litter box.
Give each pet their own confined space for as long as it takes, complete with their own food and water bowls, beds, and litter boxes. It's also a good idea to contact your veterinarian, especially if your cat has been aggressive, since injury or illness can sometimes be behind cat aggression.
Cats may stop using the litter box after a scary experience in the area, such as a loud noise or harassment by another pet. They may also dislike the spot you chose after moving the litter box, or moving to a new home.
Some of these behaviors are natural reactions to a cat's environment, while others are simply bad habits. It's often possible to discipline a cat out of these types of annoying behaviors by clapping your hands, raising your voice, or using an air spray.