The smell, texture, or both could be troubling, causing them to poop elsewhere. Some cats are equally as picky about the litterbox itself. Your cat needs to have enough room to turn around in the litterbox without bumping into its sides. Some cats prefer a box with a cover, while others want more room to move.
Why do cats eliminate outside the litter box? Your cat may have litter box trouble for any number of reasons, including medical problems, an aversion to the litter box, or a preference for urinating or defecating in places outside the box.
A small litterbox – a litterbox too small for the cat to move freely and feel secure may cause the cat to do their business elsewhere. A new cat – if you add an additional cat to the family, the old cat may “mark its territory” by pooping outside of the litterbox.
"Cats have the instinctual behavior of eliminating away from their core living area and then burying their waste so they don't alert predators to their presence," explains Pam Johnson-Bennett, CCBC, author and owner of Cat Behavior Associates and member of Daily Paws' Advisory Board.
But cats are born with the instinct to dig and cover their waste. Theoretically, she says, if you place an appropriate litter box in a room, a cat or kitten will use it. Stray cats transitioning from outdoor to indoor life also know what to do, but they might insist on using your houseplants rather than the litter box.
Many cats and kittens will instinctively use a litter box without needing to be taught, because of their instincts to expel bodily waste in dirt or sand. Therefore, with a new kitten, owners usually need to simply show the kitten where the litter box is located, and how to get in and out.
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 needs privacy when using the litter box, just as you would like when you use the bathroom. Place your cat's box in a quiet location, away from noisy washing machines or dryers that could frighten your cat while in the box. The box should also be in a location where your cat can use it undisturbed.
Declaring Territory
A domesticated cat may choose to not bury their poop to let other cats—or their owner—know "I am here." Even if a cat has lived in the same place for a while, he may not feel it is his territory. The smell of their poop shows that particular cat's presence.
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.
Consider that the (normal, not post-poop) zoomies are a completely normal behaviour, and are a way for a cat to burn off excess energy. Perhaps it's just coincidence that the need for the toilet happens during this time.
Are Cats Supposed to Clean Themselves After Going to the Bathroom? "Cats are naturally clean critters, so they are inclined to clean up after using the litter box," Dr. Zay told POPSUGAR. "Typically though, they have little to no residue from their bathroom habits.
It is a criminal offence to harm a cat under the Protection of Animals Act 1911. Minor neighbour complaints can quickly escalate so it would be worth bagging up the poo and disposing of it. Remember there is no malice from the cat and throwing your neighbour's cat poo back may cause further disputes.
Establish a Reward System for Good Behaviour: Encourage your cat with a quiet, calm voice when it uses the litter tray properly, and move it to the litter tray after firmly saying "no" if you find it pooping elsewhere. Keep the Litter Tray Clean: Cats are clean by nature, so they won't want to use a dirty litter box.
“Their litter box might be in there, so it could be a room that smells very familiar. Cats also probably know that when we are on the toilet, we are a captive audience — nowadays we are so busy and distracted that many cats are probably looking for an opportunity to have our undivided attention!”
Your cat follows you into the bathroom because they want to be a part of this daily ritual. Your cat may also follow you into the bathroom because they associate your routine with something else. For example, your kitty may have figured out you always feed them after your morning shower.
Why does my cat follow me to the bathroom? Cats need privacy when using their litter box, but they seem to believe you need company when using yours! You might find it strange that your cat likes to curl up on your lap while you're on the toilet, but this is really your kitty's way of showing how much they like you.
One of the most plausible and sweetest reasons why your cat “follows” you even into the bathroom is that he loves you. The cat wants to take advantage of every second of your presence and every possible opportunity to spend time with you! He adores you so much that he will follow you everywhere in the house.
This is very normal in cats. The reason they might want to sit next to your feet, or just be near you while you're going to the bathroom, is an instinctive thing that cats all do. They usually do this to protect you, since going to the bathroom is a very vulnerable action.
Be sure not to yell or pick up your cat by the scruff, or punish them. Doing so may cause your cat to associate the litter box with fear and punishment, and they may then avoid using it. If you want to know how to train your cat to use the litter box, punishment, yelling, and rubbing their nose in their poop isn't it.
People often get a toxoplasma infection one of the following ways: Cat feces with the parasite. Cats that hunt or who are fed raw meat are more likely to carry toxoplasma parasites. You may get infected if you touch your mouth after touching anything that has been in contact with cat feces.
How often should you scoop a litter box? For best odor control, you should scoop the box twice a day. If you're busy or you just forget, you can probably go with a daily single scoop. You don't want clumps and lumps to sit undisturbed for longer than a day though.
You may have even heard that your cat can smell their dirty litter a mile away. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that a cat can smell their litter box from that far away. More realistically, they might be able to smell it up to a few hundred feet away (depending on wind and weather conditions) and often a lot less.