Why does my cat poop in his cat bed instead of the litter box?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. This is a frustrating thing and is very likely behavioral since it is both poop and urine. If it’s the exact same spot on the bed, the first thing I would try is getting a litter box for right on the bed where he goes. If he goes for that, awesome. Leave it there a few days (cleaning it daily of course) and then slowly start moving it toward the side of the bed, an inch or two each day. 

 This could be that he feels there is competition with another cat, has anxiety, cor some other thing that we may never figure out. 

 Spraying that area with products designed to get rid of the smell, rearranging the furniture, keeping th bedroom door shut at all times are also all tactics to try.

 Finally, speak to your vet about anti-anxiety/behavior modification medication which can help quite a bit with inappropriate elimination. 

 Best wishes to you and Jack.

Use a litter box attractant. You can purchase one from most pet stores. If she defecates under the bed, remove the stool and place it on the litterbox. Block her access to the bed. Use tin foil or a carpet runner flipped upside down (pokey side up) to keep her off the bed.

Many cats prefer to toilet in quiet undisturbed areas, such as the bathroom or under tables/furniture and I would recommend placing a few trays in such areas until you figure out a happy middle ground for both of you! Crating until he returns to using a tray can be helpful if this does not work and pheromone products can help if there is any underlying anxiety or fear. Scolding will not work with cats!

Hello, sorry to hear about Om. There are a couple of things that can contribute to this. Primarily have 1 litter box per cat and then an additional one is a must. Having the litter boxes in a private area also helps. Finally, trying different types of litter is another thing to consider. Here are some tips on litter box use what may cause inappropriate eliminations. Hope this helps and best of luck. Feline inappropriate elimination is a common behavioral problem. Many owners may become frustrated trying to cope with this problem. Help is available. Because inappropriate elimination is associated with an increased risk of relinquishment to shelters, treatment should be sought early on. Contact your veterinarian or local animal behaviorists for additional help. What is inappropriate elimination? Inappropriate elimination is the deposition of urine or feces outside the litterbox. Cats displaying inappropriate elimination may either be eliminating in the wrong area, or exhibiting marking/spraying behavior as well. Inappropriate Elimination vs. Spraying / Marking? Urine marking is a distinct problem separate from inappropriate elimination. These two behaviors are similar and can often be confused by owners. Urine marking is most common in intact males, but a relatively large proportion of cats will display this problem. Reasons why your cat may be eliminating inappropriately: Medical: A number of medical conditions may contribute to and intensify house-soiling problems. Kidney, liver, and thyroid diseases can cause increased drinking and increased urination. Inflammation of the urinary tract can result in painful or frequent urination, or inability to urinate. Once a cat associates the litterbox with urinary difficulty, he or she may be reluctant to return. Animals may also experience age-related changes (arthritis, loss of vision or sense of smell, senility) that alter normal litterbox habits. A complete physical examination, plus other recommended diagnostic tests by your veterinarian is necessary to rule out and treat medical problems. Substrate, Litterbox or Location Aversions and Preferences Cats may find fault with the chosen litter substrate, litterbox location, and/or the litterbox itself. Dirty or artificially-scented litter is often distasteful to cats. Litter texture may also be unappealing– most cats prefer fine, sand-like clumping litter, while some prefer coarse, non- clumping litter or soft substrates, such as towels. There are many reasons litterbox location may be offensive, such as close proximity to highly-trafficked areas, feeding areas, loud noises such as washing machines and dryers, and other pets (particularly if they terrorize or ambush).The actual litterbox(s) may be too small, insufficient in number, contain harsh odors or aversive plastic liners, or have sides that are too high– a particular problem for kittens and geriatric cats. Cats with a preference for an inappropriate substrate or location may still continue to use their litterbox, but inconsistently.

This can be a difficult problem to figure out. Some cats prefer to urinate in one litter box and defecate in another, so if he only has access to one box the first thing I’d recommend is adding a second box. If you haven’t tried Dr Elsey’s Cat Attract litter it may be worth trying that specific brand. Finally, if he seems to prefer fabric you could try lining a litter pan with a disposable potty pad. If at any point his stool doesn’t look normal (i.e. If you see diarrhea, mucous, blood or if it seems very firm) I’d recommend rechecking with your vet. Good luck!

Inappropriate elimination in cats is often a behavioral problem rather than a medical problem, so the first step is to have him seen by your vet to eliminate any kind of illness or condition as a cause for his defecating outside the box. Once medical issues are ruled out, take a look at other explanations. Has there been a lot of activity that wasn't normal? Were you away and your cat was left at home or boarded? Is the litterbox located in a busy area? Has anything happened recently in this area to make him reluctant to use it again? Is there another cat, pet or person that is preventing him from getting to the box? Have you changed it from a hooded to an open box, or vice versa? Have you changed the brand of litter or kind? Is there something about the spot he has chosen to use that is attracting him in some way? Cats dislike disturbances to their routine and may act out to express their dissatisfaction. The litter box may not be big enough. The general rule of thumb is one litter box per cat in the household, plus one. That way each cat can have a place of their own to go in case the box is occupied or another cat has claimed it as territory. They should be scooped daily, if not more often and changed completely weekly washed with soap and water only. You can also offer one kind of litter in one box and another kind in another to see if there is a preference. I don't recommend the crystal kind, it makes a hissing sound when wet that can startle some cats and make them reluctant to use it again. The litter boxes should be located in a quiet, low-traffic area so that the cat can use them in peace. Make sure any other pets or people aren't giving them a hard time around or in the litter box. It may take some investigation and experimentation to find your cat's preference and accommodate him so that everyone is satisfied with the situation. And, when cleaning up pet accidents, don’t use any cleaner containing ammonia. This leaves behind a scent similar to urine

I'm sorry to hear that Oliver is not using his litter box appropriately. How frustrating! The first thing you want to do is have your veteriarian rule out a medical problem. If he has inflammation, crystals in the urine or an infection, he will be less likely to use the box. If he has a condition causing him to drink excessive amounts of water, he will urinate more and likely out of the box. If there is not a medical issue, then it is a behavior issue. The first step is to neuter him. You should have a litter box for each cat in the home plus one (2 boxes for 1 cat, 3 boxes for 2 cats, etc). Try adding a box in a new location away from any loud noises (furnace, washer/dryer, etc). You can also try a new litter substrate and see if that helps. I hope this information gives you a starting point. Good luck!