My 11 year old son and I are doing everything we can think of to help our cat, Grayson. Grayson is an 11 year old male cat and has been blind since he was about 6 years old. Between my son and I, he gets plenty of love and attention. Grayson has started pooping both in the bathtub and in the litter box in the past few months. The cat litter box is about twice the size that he is and has always been located in the bathroom, near the bathtub. He has always pooped and peed in his litter box without fail.
If the cat is blind and pooping in the tub you might want to add another litter box to the bathtub or maybe two. This might help him out and keep your tub clean. You can always remove the boxes when you need to take a shower.
Since this sounds like a change in his usual habits. I would have your sweet boy checked out by the vet to rule out a health issue. Most changes to potty habits are health related, not behavior related.
Cats who use the bath tub are usually drawn to it because it is cool to the touch. These cats often have a bladder infection that is causing pain. The cool of the bath tub is soothing to then. Have him checked for a bladder infection. If he has one understand that it can take two or three treatments to get rid of it. They are famous for coming back.
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I have read most of the answers previously provided, but my situation is slightly different. We don't make use of a litter box - we have a massive garden on a golf estate. My cats (brother and sister) have a cat flap and have been doing their business outside since they were kitties (they are 9 years old now).
My male cat started pooping in the shower about 2 months ago, and this morning was the 3rd time. I want to stop this before it becomes a habit or help him if something is wrong. I cannot see anything abnormal in his stool. Any advise will be much appreciated?if a vet or an external animal threat has been removed, and he happens to be an older cat, would you consider using a litter box for him? Maybe for some reason he's at the stage in his life where he doesn't want to go outside to do his business because it is too much work or something.
Several things come to mind. As previously mentioned, your cat may be afraid of something outside. He also may be arthritic, and it is easier to step over the shower edge than to go through the cat door. Thirdly, and most likely he may have an bladder infection. Cats very often will use a cool surface (tub, shower) because it feels soothing to them when they are in pain. Your cat is at the age when they can get urinary blockages from crystals in their urine.
My 2 year old cat has been pooping in the bathtub for a year. I have used ammonia, vinegar, and orange scent to clean in the bathtub. All the products prevented her habits in the bathtub briefly. She used her litterbox for a week or 2, but the poo poo continues.
She's been checked at the vet, her litter box is kept clean, and I've tried different litters. It stains my tub, and I use a bleach solution to remove it, but then it continues. Any solutions or suggestions will be helpful. Thank you.
Brossi
Try putting the litter box in the bath tub. Maybe she will get the idea?
Yes, start with the litter box in the tub and then if she uses it there, wait a few days and move it to right beside the tub. After a few more days move it a few more feet away and continue this until the box is where you want it. Also just be glad she isn't pooping in the center of your bed. That's what my cat did and the moving the box thing cured her of it. Hope this helps :)
I keep the litter box in the bathtub as I have a very old cat and she frequently misses. Rather than have it on the floor (yes, I tried putting a rug and then newspapers underneath it, neither of which worked), I find it easier to clean the tub than the floor.
Hi Brossi!
I've always owned cats and I know they don't like aluminum foil. It may be a pain but perhaps if you kept a strip of it in the shower your kitty will find it unpleasant enough to go back to her box. You may need to remove it and replace it each time someone showers but it might be worth it.
I had a similar problem with a cat we rescued a year ago. He pooped on area rugs, laundry in laundry baskets and many other "soft" places. He had been declawed before we got him. I later read that declawed cats don't like litter. I read on the internet to put the kind of litter used by hamsters in the litter box. That worked for us.
There is a product called Comfort Zone with feliway. A cat will not potty where this pheremone has been sprayed (90% of the time). It is a fine mist that should not make your tub slippery.
One of my cats did this too. You need to think like your cat to figure out why. I had four over-sized litter boxes in the basement, scooped clean every morning. They did not have too much litter (cats don't like to sink up to their ankles in litter, they just want enough to make a little hole and to cover up after), it wasn't scented, he would use it some of the time.
It was always before meal time that he did this. Although a kitten, he was the Alpha cat of the group. Eating was very important to him - he ate first and last. I finally figured out that he was "worried" about missing his meal if he went to the basement to use the litter box. I began feeding them in the basement. He stopped using the tub. Eventually I was able to resume feeding them in the kitchen.
My point is, think like your cat. Put together all the pieces, what else is happening when she does this, the timing, anything at all could be a clue. Good luck!
Try newspaper in the litter box. Some cats will refuse to use a litter box with cat litter in it. Also keep something strong smelling in the bathtub like orange peels so your cat will avoid it.
I've had the same problem with my kitten twice now. After reading countless theories, I've come to my own conclusion. Which is, our tub is old, and the enamel is wearing off. When we pee in the shower, he can smell it, and therefore conclude that it's a giant litterbox.
Strange that I haven't heard this theory yet. But, I mean, come on, we all pee in the shower.
My cat is gonna be 5 years old and has recently been pooping in the tub. He has never done that before. The box is always clean and tub is as well. The poop is very wet and like a diarrhea color.
My husband said he had just seen a little blood this week. Why do you think he is doing this since he has never done this before? Nothing has changed in our lifestyle.He may have some kind of infection. His butt may be sore and the litter is irritating him. The tub is smooth. I would give the vet a call
Pooping or peeing in the bathtub is a pretty sure sign that your cat is having some pain. They think the cool smooth tub will make them feel better. There can be any number of things that would cause the diarrhea. It could be and infection, a blockage, or hookworms. Some of these can be quite serious. You cat needs to see a Vet right away. Remember to take a stool sample.
We took in a cat, Charlotte, from someone not fit to take care of himself due to mental illness and laziness. We are angry about how badly he treated the cat. He never showed cat boundaries, never ever cleaned the litter box, let bad habits go on, ie. table jumping.
Charlotte got here 5 days ago and is doing great on everything - except she won't use the litter box. She was used to the bathtub and won't stop that. We're doing the careful - put poo in the right place and carefully admonish and show her where to go. We don't want to cause more problems. Our other dear cat is trying to convince her too, I swear. We are going to try to keep tub wet, but Charlotte never was taught or encouraged to use litter box.
She is around 4 yrs old. She is healthy. She is a sweet cat. We rescued her from his family taking her to the Humane Society. No one else will keep her. We understand it is going wrong because this is how he taught her, but we need this to end. We have 2 boxes, no room for another and she is getting along with our other 2 cats. Please advise how to deal with this.
Good on you for taking Charlotte in. She clearly needed a friend. I suggest a couple of things. Dont use covered boxes (they frighten some cats). Use big litter boxes. Limit or eliminate the scolding. Unless you correct her in 10 seconds she has no idea what you are getting at and can become more confused and frightened. Make sure the boxes are in a quiet, secure place the cats can get to easily. Perhaps one near the bathtub. With her new and very different environment she is dealing with a lot of stress. 5 days is not enough for this stress level to go down. It will take a couple weeks at best. At that point she will be able to focus and change some habits with a little help. The more you do to help her relax the faster they will move along. My "grandkitten" came to stay for awhile and he is known for peeing on the rug. I got a litter called Dr. Elseys Cat Attract. He has been here 4 months now and has never missed the box. I recommend the product. You can get it from Chewy online or higher end pet stores. Be patient with Charlotte. You are doing a wonderful thing for her., and she knows it.
My cat recently had a litter of kittens (possibly the stressor to her recent problems?) and she has been having diarrhea in the bath tub as well as peeing on a bed. I don't know why she started peeing on the bed, but she has always pooped in the tub, it's just more recently.
I got her when she was roughly 3 months old off the street and she has always had diarrhea, but why has she been pooping in the tub and peeing on the bed?
She has two litter boxes - one in my bedroom where she sleeps and one outside of the bathroom - she has used both of them, but recently stopped using the one in my bedroom after I cleaned it out. She still uses the one outside of the bathroom occasionally.
She also does this thing where she'll poop in the litter box and then find a towel or plastic bag and pull it into the litter box to cover her poop instead of burying it in the litter and this only started after she gave birth.
Why is my cat doing this?
You might want to hold off on worming your cat while she is nursing kittens. Some wormers can be passed onto the kittens and it can be harmful to them. Chronic diarrhea usually means a cat needs a change of diet. You might want to try a cat food for sensitive stomachs, or a hypoallergenic food. If you are feeding dry food try canned. That can make quite a difference. Your Vet might have suggestions too. Urinating outside the litter box is usually caused by a bladder infection. It sounds like she needs to be checked out.
My adolescent male cat keeps on pooping in the bath, it is starting to get rather annoying. He was a stray and turned up on our doorstep about 5 weeks ago (you know the old saying "cats choose you not the other way around"). I have tried bleach cleaning the bath in hope that he has no smell to go back to, the garage door is always slightly ajar so he can come and go as he pleases morning or night.
I would shut the bathroom door, but I'm scared he will just find a more disastrous place to do his nasty business. People have said rub his nose in it, but I won't because I believe it will just make him anxious, and I think I would not like my nose rubbed in the mistakes I have ever made. Does anyone have any helpful advise for me to use?I use to have a cat that did that everyday.I also had a litter box but he would still poop in the bath tub.One day I decided enough was enough.I fill the tub with water.I came home to a wet bathroom and cat but it stopped him for good.I did this a couple of weeks just to make sure he understood.He never pooped in the tub again.
Bleach actually attracts a cat as it is like ammonia - I would suggest something with orange oil in it to detract it. Is it desexed at all - you may need to look at that aspect and provide as clean litter tray - once you show it where it is he may just start using that instead of the bath
This could be bad behavior, but it could be he has worms or parasites or something else. Cats are smarter than we give them credit for. He may be trying to call your attention to his stomach problem. It would probably be wise to have him checked by a Vet. If nothing is wrong, then I would advise the water in the tub, and keeping him pinned up in a room with his litterbox, so he could get the idea again.
Place the litter box in the bath tub until kitty is accustomed to using it. Show him how interesting it is by scratching your hands thru it to give him the idea. Confining kitty in the room w/ the litter box might help also. Then you can slowly move the box to the place in the house you wish it to be. Move it SLOWLY, a little at a time each day. Read this in a book.
Hi!
I have two female cats who read my signals and vice versa. They know exactly what I want or don't want and I know exactly what they want or don't want.
We often have a battle of wills and sometimes I let them win. Other times I will grab them by the scruff of their necks, show them why I am angry with them and escort them out the door. This usually works...or not ;-)
Thankyou guys
I will give each and every one of your suggestions a go, Ill let you know what happens.
well, do NOT rub his nose in it...they have no idea what you are doing that for they can not make that connect, their brains are simply not wired for that kind of thinking.
It is quite possible that where he lived before his liter box was placed in the bathtub, to keep the mess off the floor. Not a good idea, but people do some dumb things. I agree, put a little water in the tub, or put the litter box in there. Also, you can try shutting him in a room with the litter box.
Now you can train him by aversion training, but you have to catch him in the act everytime and spray him with a water spritzer...or in my cats' case crumble a plastic bag. Their brains can make that connection.
My mother had a cat that one day after 5 or 6 yrs. decided to forgo the litter box and pee at the top of the stairs. She eventually had to move the litter box to that area. Good luck
You could also crumble some tin foil and place it in the tub, with newspaper on top. The idea is to make the cat feel safe with the newspaper, then, when he steps on it, the crunchiness of the crumpled foil, he can't stand it. One book I read suggested using those tiny mousetraps, set and then covered by the newspaper. Again, making a "safe" but scary environment out of your tub. These ideas would work in any place, and I used them to keep my cat out of a particular windowsill that he would climb over the couch with nasty paws to get to.
You sound like a very wonderful, good-hearted person. No wonder the kitty chose you. If you fill the bathtub, I think you'd want to be home for the kitty bath, just to be on the safe side.
Remembering that cats like to poop in one place, urinate in another, for some odd reason. Spraying is marking "new" territory, so the cleaner it is, the more it will mark it. I'd wash all but a tiny amt. of the spray off, hopefully it will satisfy the cat? Also,
cats don't like green bean juice, lemon ju., or orange scent. Try those fragrances as odors to discourage the cat? Make sure that the cat can get to the "private" cat box, that it is changed often, and
that the floor is clean around it as well. God bless and help you. : )
Cats will mark their territory with poop as well as peeing. Neutered or not. Only males in my opinion but I am not totally sure. Maybe something has happened to make your cat uneasy. You maynot have noticed but it might be a big deal for him.
I had high hopes for a product called Feliway which is supposed to make them feel safe and secure. I see they even sell a plug in diffuser now. I just have too many other male cats in my neighborhood.
I dont know if it will work for you. But it's a suggestion.
www.feliway.uk.com/
I had the same problem with my male cat. He just one day started to pee in the bath tub. I tried everything from cleaning out the tub as best as I could, putting plastic in there to scare him away and finally I put the litter box in the tub. I let it stay in there a week or so and then moved it right outside the bathtub. That didn't work either. I finally put the litter box in the hallway and closed the bathroom door. When I started to open the bathroom door again he used it again. I finally put a piece of wood over most of the tub. There is still an opening he can get into the tub with but he doesn't try. Good luck!
I think only one person specified this, so I am saying it again ... Don't rub his nose in it. He has no clue why you are doing this! Also, if you decide to put water in the tub, only use about an inch ... just enough to wet his paws and not enough to scare him to death!
Personally, I would just line the tub with newspapers and stick a litter box in there, as you never know where he will decide to poop if he can't use the tub! The tub is easier to clean than your closet, your bed, or other places he can find! I took in a family of stray cats and the big male, who is about 3 years old now, will only pee on the boot tray by the front door...so I just keep washing it off, and bought a shoe rack for ME to use! Good luck, and good for you for adopting a stray!
Only need to put a little water in the tub, not fill it. Just enough to wet the feet
I have a 3 year old female cat that has started to poop in the bathtub. I feel as though she is doing this because we recently moved, in July. However the other cat has no problem using the litter box. We have a leaky bathtub so I can't always leave the plug in the bath tub and the bathroom is the only non carpet place in the house.
I am beyond frustrated and just want her to stop. I have two litter boxes and it could be freshly cleaned and she will still do it. I just don't know what to do.I had a cat that did this after a move. You are lucky it is in the bathtub my cat did it on the floor by the toilet. I had the litter box and it was cleaned twice a day. It took the cat a few months to accept the new home we were living in. The cat finally stopped on his own and started to use his litter box again. There are some cats that hate change and yours could be one of them. Keep scolding the cat and try to keep the door closed to the bathroom this one should help.
Try putting a litter box in the bathtub. If she goes for it, then a couple days later move it to next to the tub. If she goes for that for a few days you might be home free.
I believe the move had something to do with it. I would ask the vet for advice.
Have you recently changed litters.Try putting the litter box near the tub.
My cat has been pooping in the bathtub lately. It's not cause she doesn't like her litter box, she uses it just as much as the bathtub. She has all my other pets scared, and usually tries to attack them. She's also very anti-social. I know she grew up in a very bad environment before I got her, so what should I do?
By jenny p
If it is only the bath tub, I would keep the bathroom door shut. She may need her own room and her own litter box and food bowl. Do you have an extra bedroom that could become hers??
