Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Rogue poo-er

15 replies

TaraR2020 · 04/10/2021 20:41

Help please!

Posting on behalf of a friend who is at their wits end.

They have had a rescue cat for several years who has always used a letterbox. Recently, he has started pooing outside as well but, even more recently, he has also taken to pooing in their hallway.

The other morning they found 4 poos in his favoured spot Sad

I wondered if it was because he was discovered to be toileting under the stairs but since that's been blocked off he's now chosen a spot close to it but my friend is getting so desperate about it he's beginning to wonder if they should rehome him!

He does have 2 other cats, they live together reasonably well and there aren't any signs of stressors that might be affecting this cat - though he does have quite a dominant personality.

He still uses the litter tray for both urination and defecation and its kept clean.

Feliway plugins are already used around the house.

Does anyone have any experience or advice about what might be causing this behaviour and how to stop it?

My friend is a soft old soul and would break his heart to rehome this cat but he's really struggling with this.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 04/10/2021 21:18

I think a trip to the vet first, if they aren’t feeling well they will do odd things to show you. They don’t like being unclean.

icedcoffees · 04/10/2021 21:56

They need to see a vet - any change in behaviour should always be checked out. Cats disguise pain very well - it could be that he's struggling to get into the litter trays or if there are multiple cats, the trays could have become a source of conflict somehow.

If he's given the all-clear in terms of his health then you can look at management - changing the environment, diet, adding more litter trays, "catification" of the home etc.

RaisedByPangolins · 04/10/2021 22:11

I have a cat like this. Rehomed as a pair about 3 years ago and she goes through phases where she’s good as gold, then other times will randomly shit on the beds or the sofa etc

She’s been checked out by the vet several times and nothing obvious going on. She’s very timid though and there are often other cats in our garden so the fact that she’s pooping in the hall way or on the front door mat feels territorial to me.

TBH the poos aren’t the worst thing - she used to wee on the sofa and that was an absolute pain - having to keep washing the cushion covers, soaking the cushions and trying to dry them outside and vaxing the upholstery, but clearly never quite getting it out as she always went back to the same place Angry. At least poos can be more easily removed and with hard floors easily cleaned up.

FWIW mine is definitely happy most of the time, she rolls over and sleeps like a baby, snoring away and being playful, but then when she’s awake she’s often being harassed by the other (male) cat who’s supposed to be her friend, so I’m sure that and the neighbouring cats are the biggest issues. I did buy some anti anxiety meds (Zylkene or something?) for her but the other cat kept eating the food with it in and ending up totally zonked Grin Maybe that’s the answer?! Drug up all the boys so that she’s left in peace?! (They’re all neutered).

Hope your friend gets it sorted and doesn’t have to resort to rehoming. I probably would have done so, but my DD loves the bloody cat so much it would break her heart, so we’re stuck with her!

RaisedByPangolins · 04/10/2021 22:14

Re litter trays, does he have several? The advice is one each per cat plus an extra one.

Also High places for the cat to escape to away from other cats/kids/people generally.

And lots of play/exercise to let the cat use its Hunter instincts.

Elieza · 04/10/2021 23:05

Agree with Pangolin’s comments.

Vet first.

Try the above things and see if it helps. There may have been an incident you/the owner are unaware of which makes the cat scared to use the tray at certain times or a new cat outside has been scaring him and he needs to mark his territory. Or the litter has been changed. Who knows. Good luck.

Original poster
TaraR2020 · 05/10/2021 13:31

Thank you for your replies, I also suggested vet as I couldn't think of environmental issues that have contributed to it...

Cat has plenty of quiet places and window sills to escape to. No non residential cats visit the garden. If not a health issue I'm inclined to think he's exercising dominance but no idea how my friend would deal that Confused

Will suggest an extra litter tray- the other cats don't use them but won't do any harm to have a second.

OP posts:
Elieza · 05/10/2021 17:13

You could even try a hooded one if the others aren’t or a non-hooded one if the others are!

I like the sifting trays. They have slats so the liquid soaks through to the under tray for easy emptying and the solids stay on top to be picked out.

Theunamedcat · 05/10/2021 17:18

How old is the cat? Cold weather could be playing there joints up so it might be a case of sometimes they can make the step sometimes they can't

If he is going on the same spot it suggests its not being cleaned "properly" get a proper enzime cleaner

Original poster
TaraR2020 · 05/10/2021 17:21

As a rescue they're not sure on age but would put at between 8 & 10 years?

He started doing it during the last heatwave so not sure it's joint but you're right a medical reason needs to be looked into.

I don't know if he's been using an enzyme cleaner - I'll ask.

Good idea about the hooded litter, too.

OP posts:
icedcoffees · 05/10/2021 17:35

One litter tray really isn't enough, even if there are multiple cats. The general guideline is 1 tray per cat, plus one extra on top of that. If they remain unused, it's not a hardship to just have them filled with fresh litter just in case :)

What litter is being used?

Theunamedcat · 05/10/2021 22:09

Might be getting a bit stiff change in the weather was awful for my old man at this age

Original poster
TaraR2020 · 11/10/2021 12:39

Thanks again for replies, had a message today- he took cat to vet where they found a sore patch on his back. Probably avoiding litter tray (lidded) and cat flap because of it.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudland77 · 11/10/2021 12:41

Poor boy. Easily fixed hopefully.

Original poster
TaraR2020 · 11/10/2021 12:44

Yes absolutely should be. He doesn't like being handled or friend would have found the problem before now, think he's feeling v guilty though :/

OP posts:
GiantKitten · 11/10/2021 12:53

What size is the lidded tray? I have 2 standard and 1 jumbo and all 3 cats, even the tiniest one, prefer the jumbo one.
The other 2 are rarely used, so even when this cat’s back is better he’d probably prefer a huge one.
(Cat flap is a very tight fit here for my biggest cat but it’s literally not possible to fit a bigger one without replacing the door completely)

New posts on this thread. Refresh page