Why is my cat pooping outside the litter box?

Question

We’ve had our cat Sheila for four years. She is loving and sweet, but a real pain! Sheila is 5 years old, completely declawed, and lives indoors. She travels with us to Florida by air and is very well behaved, except she will not use her litter box. She will urinate and then go to the front or back door and poop on the floor. Why is my cat pooping outside the litter box?

We tried moving the litter box to the spot on the floor she goes to, but she still won’t use it. We’re not sure what to do.

Answer 1

Before approaching this issue as a behavior problem, take your cat and a fresh fecal sample to your veterinarian for an examination. Sometimes medical issues will cause cats to defecate outside their litter box. It’s likely that there is a combination of reasons for your cat’s behavior.

1. Your cat could be middening, or marking her territory. Based on the areas she’s targeting, neighborhood cats or other animals might be causing this behavior.
2. Your cat might have a problem with her litter box or its location. The litter box could be too dirty or too small for her. It might be placed in a spot where she feels trapped. Preferably, you should have two litter boxes in your house. They should be large, uncovered, and cleaned at least once a day. Make sure to place them in locations where your cat has a clear view of the room.
3. You mentioned traveling by air. Stress from traveling might be a factor. Cats need consistency and generally do not adjust well to change. Make your cat’s travel as stress-free as possible. Place some clothing with your scent on it in Sheila’s carrier while flying. If Sheila has a favorite toy, make sure it stays with her as well. Covering her carrier with a towel will help your cat feel safe. When you arrive at your destination, place both the cat and her carrier in a room with a comfy place to sleep, cat food, water, and a litter box. Think of this as her sanctuary room, and allow her to explore it at her leisure. After she makes herself comfortable in this room, open the door and let her explore the rest of the house.
4. The fact that your cat is declawed could also be a contributing factor. Because the natural defense of her claws has been removed, she feels vulnerable, and defecating outside her litter box could be a reaction to that stress.

Follow this link for more solutions and information:

http://www.wikihow.com/Retrain-a-Cat-to-Use-the-Litter-Box

Answer 2

Why is my cat pooping outside the litter box? I also want to ask this question. My cat has the same problem, but it seems to manifest as communication. For instance, if we move some furniture or leave town for a few days (don’t worry, our neighbor feeds him while we’re gone) he uses it to show us he’s unhappy. It seems that he does it to spite us.

I’ve tried keeping him in the kitchen with his litter box for a few weeks, and that helps get him back to using his litter box.