My cat walks while pooping and misses the litter box. What can I do?

Ok, try this: Go to a big department store and buy one of those see through storage boxes (Sterilite or similar). Get a big one, and he then has enough room to poop inside it. He is 9 years old and may be having arthritis pain in the hips, and possibly cannot squat properly or won't because it hurts. This may also be the reason why it "shoots" out....he may delay pooping until he cannot hold it anymore and then go. You may want to schedule a vet exam with a feline veterinarian checking him for arthritis. If Mickey is painful, the feline vet may prescribe some off-license NSAIDs for your kitty which would significantly help with his pain.

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.

Dasher may have just missed the box. Since he is an older kitty, he also may have been in pain from arthritis and may have decided not to go all the way into the box. If you notice that he walk stiffly or has swollen joints, then you can get a larger soft plastic box and cut an entrance, so he does not have to climb into the box. There is also a chance that he is not feeling well overall today and missed the box because of that. I would not worry about it too much until it becomes a problem.

It is best to try a long tupperware like the under-the-bed sweater box ( see the one linked below) for a litter box. All the studies done show that cats prefer to have a litter box that is 1-1/2 times their length. See if this helps. I would also recommend using some Feliway diffusers especially in the room that contains the litter box (es). If all this fails, I suggest you take Crispy to your vet for an exam and fecal test to check for any abnormalities. https://www.walmart.com/ip/IRIS-USA-41-Quart-Underbed-Plastic-Storage-Box-Clear/54515534 https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser

Poor Bear! If this behavior is usually triggered by pooping, it's likely that he has some type of pain or discomfort when he defecates - some possibilities would include an anal gland infection, hip or spinal arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, or some other medical problem. I'm not sure what kind of testing has been done so far, but I would definitely suggest blood work and x-rays at a minimum to help identify any potential problems that could be causing discomfort. Your veterinarian can also check his anal glands to see if they are overly full or infected. A trial course of pain medication might also be helpful to see if this improves the behavior. I would suggest talking with your veterinarian about these options, or seeking a second opinion from another vet in your area if needed.

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!

It's hard to say what could be going on without examining your cat. If the poop is firm and literally falling out as your cat walks, then a neurologic or structural issue with the anus would be a concern. If the stools are loose or diarrhea-like, that should also be addressed by a vet.