Jackson galaxy a cat behavior and wellness expert host of animal planet s my cat from hell and a new york times best selling author says that a sudden change in behavior like an elderly cat pooping on the floor can be a small hint of a larger issue.
My old cat has started pooping on the floor.
He has never had this problem before.
I have taken him to the vet and she states there is nothing physically wrong with him.
Cats don t deal well with change and they re easily stressed.
If your cat has pooped on a bathmat or inexpensive rug you might just need to get rid of the item.
Your litterboxes aren t clean enough.
Start by making sure to thoroughly clean the areas where your cat has pooped.
Your cat does not like the location of the box.
This should be temporary until the cat gets used to the new situation.
To wean a cat to poop on the floor on the carpet in the corners of the apartment it is necessary to understand the reason for this behavior of the cat.
There can be two main things behind why your cat is pooping outside the litter box.
New cat dog or human join your home.
If your cat is pooping on the floor take a look at what s new in their life.
If another cat or animal or even a new baby has been introduced to the household or if someone has moved in moved out or moved on your cat may simply be marking its territory.
Launder any items that can go in the washing machine.
As cats age they might get more particular about their litterbox setup.
You cat may poop everywhere except the litter box such as near the back door the front door on the floor etc.
Quite simply either there is something wrong with your cat or something is wrong with your cat s litter box.
If your cat is in a hurry to hang over the edge do her business and skedaddle there may be a tactile reason.
Nobody wants to have their cat s litter box in the middle of their living room but many of the tucked away spots in our homes come with scary sights sounds and smells.
What has preceded the pooping on the flooring.
If you have a multi cat household then each cat should have 2 litter boxes.
So this could be a reason why your cat has started pooping on the floor.
Many cats start peeing or pooping on the floor due to stress.
But be aware that any change to a cat s routine or environment can cause stress which may result in out of the ordinary.
If you re unable to get the area clean enough your cat will continue to be attracted to the spot.
How to wean a cat to poop on the floor.