Cat keeps pooing on the floor!

[LavenderLxx]

Our 15 month old cat has recently been pooing on the floor! Not every day but probably 4-5 times in the past fortnight. He has a litter box for overnight or uses the garden if he’s outside. Nothing has changed - same litter box location, same litter, regularly cleaned etc. When he’s pooed on the floor it’s either right outside his tray or slap bang in the middle of the living room! Luckily we have wooden floors so it’s easily cleaned up. He seems well in himself and nothing new/different has happened recently. Any ideas or do we need a vet trip?

Personally I’m a vet trip person in that sort of circumstance! Especially if all else is well like eating, attitude (as much as it can be), not hiding away?

Not the living room, but is there any chance he’s just mis-angling himself in the litter tray? I have watched our boy get in, dig about, and position his bum so it’s just too close to the edge and he poos on the mat on occasion. He frequently lies too close to the edge of our bed and ends up rolling off, so I think he’s just a bit lacking in spatial awareness (he’s ginger).

He also really, really likes digging in the tray and has been known to do a poo in the tray, then immediately do a wee and fling bits of poo out as he digs. It’s a good job we love him. Our previous cat only toileted outside - although we did always have two trays for her - so this fella is something else!

Many cats don’t like pooing where they pee. I would try an additional litter tray before going to the vet.

Thank you for the replies - yes a second litter tray might help. Although it seems strange as he’s been happy pooing and weeing in the same tray for the past year…

For the sake of a few pounds, maybe try a lidded litter tray in case it is a poor angle thing. One of my cats went through a phase of “it’s close enough” (he uses a different tray to wee in, most of the time).

It doesn’t explain the middle of the floor accidents. Is it possible that other cats are getting in? Is it territory marking? One of our long deceased cats used to protest after building work/tradesmen.

We’ve got a lidded tray at the moment which he’s never had any issues with.
The poo in the middle of the floor makes less sense - no changes to the house or other cats coming in

I would have a vet check him over in these circumstances along with second litter box.

Cats will be cats 🤣

Ha ha, yes I think that’s probably the answer! He’s already cross with us that he has to come inside earlier now it’s darker in the evenings so maybe it’s just a dirty protest! 💩

Mine does this when he's badly constipated. He obviously strains for a while in the tray and then comes out and then the 💩 catches him by surprise and ends up on the floor. He does have a chronic bowel issue though (which he makes worse by eating things he shouldn't). Have you changed his food recently?

Honestly it wouldn’t remotely surprise me 🤣

My last cat had 2 trays and only tiddled in one and pooped in the other so maybe try a second tray.

For the pooping outside the tray, try changing the tray to the biggest one you can buy in case he's struggling for room and forgetting where his bum is. If they have a really furry bum, give them a bit of a trim.

For the living room pooping, move his food dish to the place he's pooping, they won't poop anywhere near their food source and it breaks the habit.

Oh, and worming, make sure you are worming regularly.

That’s a good idea with the food - will try that

Fully up to date with that