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Why is my kitten suddenly pooping outside the litter box now?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed | 3 months and 18 days old

My kitten pooped right beside the litter box today even though I'd removed the dirty litter from the box. Even a few days back, she pooped on my floor even though the litter box was right there. She's never done this before, why is this happening?

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Stacey Anstaett, DVM

Answered By Stacey Anstaett, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on July 18th, 2018

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!
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Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Jessica Keay, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 28th, 2017

    I am sorry to hear about your kitten! This must be frustrating for you. We can occasionally see pooping outside the litterbox for medical problems such as constipation or anal sac discomfort. Because of this, it is usually recommended to have an exam by your vet to be sure there isn't a medical reason for her accidents. If none are found, then because she is so young should could be having a regression in her pottytraining and need to restart training for a bit. This may involve confining her to a small room with a litterbox for a time so that she doesn't have a place to go hide and poop. Once she is consistently pooping only in the litterbox here, you can let her have access to a larger area by adding another room she can enter and gradually expand the area she is allowed to roam. I would also block off access to the area where she is pooping right now and clean the area well with an enzymatic cleaner available at the pet store.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on June 28th, 2018

    At her age, you can expect "accidents". As she gets older, she should begin to use the box, or boxes, more consistently. Make sure she can get into each box without difficulty. If the side is too high, a kitten could have trouble getting over it.
    Use a litterbox attractant to get her back into the boxes. You can find one in local pet stores or online.
    Use an enzymatic cleaner, such as Nature's Miracle, to thoroughly clean soiled areas. The AVC may not be removing all of the residue or odor.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Juliana, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on June 4th, 2017

    Litterbox troubles can be frustrating ! And Charlotte is still very young. I bet she will figure it out very soon. A couple of things you could try- instead of a kitten litterbox you could try something even bigger and flatter like the top to a Tupperware bin. If she is still urinating just outside of it you could place seran wrap under the litterbox. Maybe she will not like the texture or the pooling of urine on it and decide to use the box. Also keeping the boxes very clean always helps with any litter box issues. Have fun with those kittens!!

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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Why does my cat poop outside the litter box and how can I stop it?
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Why is my cat only pooping in the bathtub and not her litter box?
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Why is my 12-year-old cat pooping in and out of her litter box?
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My cat pees outside the litter box but poops inside. Is she sick?
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