Cat using kitchen sink as a litter tray! Desperate for help!

[eyespartyparty]

We have two cats who usually go outside in the garden, and one of them has started pooing in the kitchen sink! They are shut in the kitchen with the cat flap at night, and this is when it usually happens although last night she did it while we were still up with the doors open at about 11pm.

This is horrendous!!!
Can anyone give me any advice??

There is a new cat on the block who I’m wondering whether might be coming into the garden and/or kitchen and eating scraps of food, so I have started removing their bowls before we go to bed in an effort to put it off coming over.
But I don’t even know if this is the problem.

Please help!

Do they have an actual litter tray in the house, or are they just expected to go outside?

Get a litter tray. One is clearly telling you they will not be going outside anymore!
Fit a cat flap with a sensor that only lets your cats in/out.

Our kitten started doing this so I feel your pain!
We put cardboard over the sink so they couldn’t get access to it. As pp said, you’ll need to get a litter tray as some cats won’t poo outside if they don’t feel safe out there.

Mine pee in the half sink which I think is actually not a bad thing! Very easy to clean up afterwards.
I think your cat is telling you it doesn't want to toilet outside right now. Either put a tray down or just clean up afterwards.

Get a litter tray and get a microchip catflap to stop interlopers

^this, was going to suggest the same thing.

The obvious answer does seem to be a litter tray?

Yes I have ordered one which will arrive tomorrow so I will try that, was trying to avoid though as we have a young toddler and I don’t really have anywhere suitable to keep it!

Re the catflap, again I had thought of that but the two cats chase each other round the garden and speed through it at 100mph and I am worried they will whack their heads on it as it won’t open quickly enough….

Can you put the poo on the boundary of your garden. It might stop the other cats from coming in.

My male cat likes to do this but in the bath, it does seem to happen around bigger events, new neighbours, decorating etc., he is quite a sensitive soul. I would recommend a covered litter box if you can ( I read the high sidedness of sinks and baths makes them feel secure) and a plug in like feliway to relax them a bit. Also some noisy paper or tin foil on the surface around the sink to discourage them from jumping up helps.

A friend’s cat used use the sink for wees. They found out that leaving the plug in and a few cm of water in the bottom was a deterrent. The thing is, much as it’s foul, it’s probably the easiest place indoors to thoroughly clean. So if they won’t go outside then it’s a litter tray really.

One of mine goes in the bath, even though there is a litter tray indoors.
At least its easy to clean, a lot worse places she could go

@Beamur 's reply is why you should never eat homemade cake from someone you don't know. 🤮

A cat I had years ago did this a couple of times. Started filling the sink with water at night and putting tin foil on the draining board. She used the litter tray after that!

They will learn pretty quickly.

This happened to my friend and it turned out the cat had a UTI and relieving himself in the sink was helping with the pain as it was the coldest surface in the house. I would seek a vet’s advice

Smart cat really has figured out where you can wash things away. Not good though!

I’m a big believer in all cats having access to a litter tray indoors at all times, even if they only ever use it once in a blue moon.

As others have said your cat isn’t doing it for the fun of it ,they don’t feel safe outside. Think you are right to get a litter tray . I had never heard of a cat doing this before but shows how clever they are ! Rather than just going on the floor.

Our last cat used to toilet in the bath if she couldn’t get out. She knew fine how to use the litter tray (and would do if the bathroom was closed off) and had no medical reason to do it, the vet said she saw the bath as a big litter tray with nice high sides.

I think even if cats toilet outside there should always be a litter tray - and a spare - inside. Our boy generally comes in to use the tray rather than go outdoors.