Why is my cat pooping outside the litter box and running away?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

• Answered By Dr. Elizabeth

  Veterinarian

  Published on May 21st, 2019

  Pooping outside the litter box can be related to pain when having a bowel movement or a behavioral condition. The most important thing is to have your cat examined by the veterinarian for signs of discomfort. Make sure to bring in a fresh stool sample so the doctor can examined the firmness, moisture content and check for parasites. Sometimes these cats need a higher fiber diet and additional water (like canned food). A dry stool, parasites or constipation issues will cause pain and avoidance of the litter box.
  Here is a good article to explain the different reasons cats will avoid the litterbox:
  https://www.petcoach.co/article/the-top-5-reasons-your-cat-is-avoiding-her-litter-box-and-what-to/
  Make sure to clean the soiled area with a good enzymatic cleanser. This will to get rid of any smells. If the veterinarian suspects this is behavioral, there are things you can do at home to help control some stress. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs:
  https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/
  Also using a Feliway diffuser, setting aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play for your cat or switching his food to Royal Canin Calm may help. The veterinarian can also prescribe medications which can help with house soiling and stress management. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.
  

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

• Answered By Ricardo Fernandez, DVM

  Veterinarian, Veterinary Oncology Resident

  Published on March 12th, 2018

  Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This usually indicates an issue with defecation. Sometimes defecating outside of the litter box can be seen with constipation for instance. Other possibilities include intestinal parasites, among others. You may start by adding 1/2 teaspoon of canned pumpkin to his meals which may improve mild cases of constipation. If no improvement, have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck and have a good night!

  

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• Answered By Vanessa Yeager DVM MPH

  Veterinarian

  Published on August 31st, 2017

  Hi and thanks for your question! Runny stools can have many causes- stress, parasitic infection, bacterial infection, virtual infection, or dietary indiscretion. The poop outside of the litter box tells me he may have had some discomfort while defecating and ended up defecating outside the box (associating box with painful experience). You may try adding plain canned pumpkin (not the pie filling) to his food to help firm up his stool for a few days. If he is still having this issue, you may want to take Burger in to see his veterinarian so they can run a fecal test and check for parasites and/or bacterial infection. I hope this helps! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

  

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• Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

  Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

  Published on June 18th, 2017

  There could be a few different reasons for this. It's possible that your cat has a medical problem causing him to poop in inappropriate places, especially if his stool is loose or runny. This may also be a behavior issue caused by a litter box that isn't large enough for him, or a type of litter that isn't comfortable for digging and burying feces. In some cats, pooping outside the litter box can also be a stress-related marking behavior, although this is less common than urinating outside the box.
  
  If your cat has not been checked by a vet recently for any medical issues that could be causing this problem, this is the first thing I would suggest. Your vet can do a fecal exam and may also recommend blood work to screen for common problems that can cause this behavior.
  
  If everything comes back normal, then it's likely that you will need to address this from a behavioral standpoint. In that case, feel free to post again with more details about your litter box, where your cat tends to poop, etc. - we would be happy to try and make some more specific suggestions that may help.

  

  4Pet Parents found this answer helpful