Why does my cat poop on the litter box edge and sometimes miss?

I'm sorry to hear about this! There are a few possibilities that may be happening. One could be that there is a problem such as pain or discomfort that is causing him to not use the box. If the sides are too tall or too hard to get into it may stop him from being able to climb into the box. However, you may also see urine just outside of the box as well Second, it could be that he is climbing into the box, but is positioning his bottom over the edge on accident, especially if it is right next to the box and he is still urinating in it. Getting a box with taller sides or that is enclosed may help contain his stool and prevent it from falling over the edge. As with any health or behavior issue, a good first step is to schedule a vet visit to rule out any issues that could be causing this as well.

There are a few things to consider; some cats will go in the corner of the litter box, so they end up hanging their tush over the edge and it goes out of the box. You could try a litter box with a cover or with high sides to see if that helps. The size of the box and ease of entry is something else to consider. If she is still small enough that she has to leap into something that she can't see into, getting in the box may be a bit daunting. Make sure the has an approachable entry for her. Also consider if you changed the type or brand of cat litter. Some cats can be very picky. Go back to the old brand if you have switched. If you have not made a change it cat litter, you can also try a cat litter called Cat Attract-- its a brand of cat litter that most cats accept very well. Another thing to keep in mind is other cats and the location of the boxes. If you have multiple cats, make sure that you have enough litter boxes. If you have 2 cats, have 3 boxes. If you have 4 cats, have 5 boxes. I know that seems like a lot, but its the best way to prevent negative cat interactions near a litter box, and avoid them feeling territorial. If you have an older cat, the box may have been "occupied" when she needed to go, or she may have been intimidated by the other cat being nearby and didn't want to get in a confrontation. To be thorough, I would also recommend that you take her to your vet to see if there's any medical issue going on that could be contributing. Take a stool sample with you. If she has intestinal parasites or other causes of inflammation in her intestine, she could be having some urgency that doesn't allow her to quite get into the box. Also, if she is painful somewhere, she may be trying to avoid getting up into the box. I hope that helps you. Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Best thing to do is to get a long, shallow plastic storage container (obviously just the box and not the lid) like the ones you get to store things under the bed. Seems to work the best. Cats like it because it is long. ( https://www.walmart.com/ip/Homz-60-Quart-Twin-King-Under-Bed-Clear-Latching-Storage-set-of-2/40977741 ) Other option is to take a regular large storage container and cut a hole in it on the side so he can go in/out. You can make it any size you want. Here is an example: ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JaVrsy-RgY ) Remember, the more shallow it is for him to get in effectively, the higher chance litter will be scattered everywhere..... Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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!

I would try a large litter box. Some cats, especially males, need a large space in order to not accidently drip on the outside of the box. You may also try the option of a covered box. Some cats don't like those so I would still leave out the uncovered boxes. You could also get some of the urinary pads like puppy pads or geriatric human bed pads to put under the pans to make clean up easier. Finally, I would make sure you have enough boxes in general. The typical rule of thumb is a litterbox per cat plus one extra. I know with 6 cats, that can be a lot so however many you can put throughout your house, the better. I hope this helps!

I hate to hear that Moonshine is having this issue. Try adding a second litter box and make sure to clean the boxes daily. Studies have shown that cats prefer large, uncovered litter boxes with a clumping clay based litter. They want to box to be in a private area where they cannot be trapped by other pets. Certainly make sure you are sticking to the guidelines. Experiment with different locations of the box and see if he has a preference. Some cats who poop outside the litter box can actually have pain when they have bowel movements and this could contribute to the behavior. You may try changing the diet and see if this helps. Feeding a mainly canned food diet will help with the water content. Look for foods with high fiber contents as this helps bowel motility. Lastly, there is a diet made specifically for cats with bowel issues. Its made by Royal Canin and it is called Fiber Response. Cats tend to do very well on this diet. I think a diet change will help to know if this is related to a medical issue. I hope this helps to point you in the right direction. Please feel free to post any additional questions!

Some cats may climb into the box but still "miss" it by sticking their bottoms over the side when they go. Using sides or a lid on the box may help solve this if that is the case. Some cats also do not like stepping in certain types of litter, so changing to a softer litter or scooping it more often may also help. Enzymatic cleaners can also be used to remove any urine stains/odor and discourage going in that spot again.