Cats don’t usually poop outside their litter box, even if they’re not trained to poop in a litter box, as they’re one of the cleanest animals out there.
Therefore, if they’re pooping outside of their litter box, there’s something wrong with their litter box or your cat has health problems that must be handled quickly.
In today’s article, I will discuss all the possible causes of this action. I will also teach you how to stop cats from pooping on carpets using various home remedies.
For instance, you can spray the carpet with citrus juices as cats dislike citrus smells or try some of the other solutions below, so let’s dive right in.
Why Do Cats Poop Outside the Litter Box: 7 Possible Reasons
Most cats poop and pee inside their litter box. However, some untrained cats prefer carpets as they’re soft and absorbent.
If this isn’t typical behavior for your kitten, they’re probably experiencing some type of problem.
Some of the possible reasons cats poop around the home include psychological trauma, dirty litter, and health issues like diabetes mellitus, urinary tract infection, and age-related disorders.
Let’s discuss all of these reasons in detail, so you can have a better understanding of why your cat prefers your beautiful carpets over their bathroom.
1. The Location of the Litter Box
Cats prefer private areas where they can peacefully handle their business.
So, it’s recommended to have a few litter boxes spread around the home in private areas. Also, make sure they’re easy to access and quiet.
Furthermore, I suggest placing the litter boxes in areas where your cat spends a lot of time.
2. Uncomfortable or Dirty Litter Box
Cats avoid dirty litter boxes as they’re very clean pets and they can avoid their litter box if it’s not clean.
I personally clean my kitten’s litter boxes once a day, but you can step it up a notch and clean it twice a day, especially if you don’t know what’s causing your cat to skip their box. Moreover, fully clean your cat’s litter box at least once a week.
3. Not Enough Litter Boxes
If you have multiple cats and only one litter box, some of the cats might avoid the box. Why? Well, it’s simple – most cats hate sharing litter boxes.
They can feel territorial or uncomfortable about the litter box, so if you have more than one cat, provide more boxes to prevent them from pooping elsewhere in your home.
4. Not Enough or Too Much Cat Litter
In the wild, cats dig and cover up their poop, so not having enough or too much litter can make things harder for them.
The ideal amount of litter for your cat is 2-3 inches. Moreover, the type of litter being used could also make your cat avoid the litter box.
Keep in mind that most cats don’t like scented litter. So, make sure you use a regular unscented litter.
5. Wrong Type of the Litter Box
Some felines prefer covered litter boxes while others don’t.
If you’re not sure what type of litter box your cat likes, you can provide a few options to see what they pick and go with it in the future.
Moreover, make sure the box isn’t too small. Most vets suggest that the perfect tray size is one and a half times the overall length of your kitten.
6. Medical Issues
Cats that don’t have a problem with their box might be experiencing a medical issue. Therefore, if you’re certain that the box isn’t the issue, schedule a vet appointment, so you can detect any health issues early on.
Your vet might ask about other signs of a medical issue such as diarrhea, change in appetite, vomiting, or lethargy. So, make sure that you mention anything that seems out of the ordinary with your pet.
Your vet will examine your kitten thoroughly and determine the problem, if any, and provide treatment.
Some less serious health issues include constipation, pain or discomfort as a result of arthritis, etc.
Note that senior cats can develop dementia and forget about their litter box. If this is the case with your cat, don’t fret, as your vet can prescribe medications to help your feline’s condition.
7. Behavioral Causes
If you’ve determined that a health issue isn’t the cause of your cat’s new behavior, consider behavioral causes such as stress and territory marking.
For instance, if you have recently moved into a new home or someone new entered the household, there’s a chance that your cat feels stressed by these changes.
Note that even a small change in your schedule can cause stress in your cats. Also, if you have recently brought home another pet, your cat might be pooping or peeing on the carpet to mark their territory.
How Can I Get My Cat to Stop Pooping on the Carpet: Step-by-Step Guide
Once your feline has started pooping outside their litter box, it’s difficult but not impossible to break this habit. The following steps can help, so definitely take a look and take notes.
Step 1: Clean Up the Mess
First and foremost, clean up the evidence. In other words, clean all the areas where your feline has pooped and/or peed.
If you don’t clean the affected areas thoroughly, your kitten will keep going back and reusing the same spot over and over again.
Therefore, make sure you launder anything that can be washed in the washer. Also, if your kitten has pooped on a cheap rug, you can toss it instead of cleaning it.
Lastly, I highly suggest using a high-quality enzyme carpet cleaner for pet messes for the best results.
Step 2: Check the Litter Box
Since an uncomfortable, dirty, and/or wrong type of litter box can deter your cat, check if it’s ultra-clean and large enough as cats prefer clean and spacious boxes.
If you have a covered litter box, replace it with a large one without covers and place it somewhere secretive where your kitten can have privacy. Moreover, add 1-2 extra boxes in different areas, preferably near your cat’s resting and/or playing areas.
And if you’re living in a multi-cat household, make sure each cat has a separate box as cats don’t like sharing things because of territorial and other reasons.
Step 3: Try Other Types of Litter
Most kittens prefer unscented litter over scented one. So, if you’re using the former, switch to the ladder right away.
As a cat owner myself, I understand why you would prefer a scented one. It’s better at covering up odors. Unfortunately, cats don’t like it.
Most cats find any artificial scents overwhelming as they have much sharper senses of smell than people.
Step 4: Litter Train Your Cat
If you have a young cat or you have recently adopted a new kitten, they might need a second course in litter box training.
Step 5: Decrease the Stress at Home
If you have adopted a new cat, make sure you properly introduce the two felines.
Keep in mind that even small changes in your daily routine can cause stress in cats. And stress can make your cat act paranoid and forget about their habits.
Moreover, if it’s a new cat, your feline might pee and/or poop on your carpet to mark their territory.
To prevent this from happening, provide separate resting areas and litter boxes for both pets as cats hate sharing things.
Step 6: Entertain Your Feline
If you keep your kitten entertained, there’s less chance that they will act out.
You can provide a cat tree, interactive toys, and wall shelves so your cat has more places to go and stay amused. Also, play with your kitten as often as possible.
Step 7: Stay Consistent
Instead of getting angry at your cat, try to understand that they don’t have the same brain and comprehension as you. So, stay patient and consistent and you will see a result soon.
Step 8: Schedule a Vet Appointment
If you have tried everything above and your feline still poops on your carpet instead of using their litter box, there’s probably something wrong with their health.
Contact your vet right away and have your feline checked. If they’re healthy, here’s a list of home remedies to stop cats from pooping on carpets for you to try.
How to Stop Cats From Pooping on Carpet: 9 Home Remedies
The following home remedies to stop cats from pooping on carpet include strong smells that cats despise, so definitely give one or two a try.
1. Onion Juice and Water
Cats dislike sharp smells including the smell of onion. So, you can successfully deter cats with onion juice. It’s easy to make yet effective.
Instructions:
Add 3 peeled onions into a juicer. Then, pour the onion juice into a spray bottle and mix it with 1/4 cup of water. Shake the solution until combined, then spray it on your carpet.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar & Baking Soda
The pungent smell of apple cider vinegar and baking soda will keep your cat away and save your beautiful carpet from getting ruined.
Instructions:
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda and spray apple cider vinegar over the affected areas and you’re done. You can wash off both products afterward.
3. Orange or Lemon and Water
Citrus smells deter cats. So, you can either use fresh oranges or any citrus fruits you have at home to create a citrus deterrent spray.
Instructions:
Add 2 cups of water to a pot and bring to a boil, then add 1 cup of orange or lemon rind to the mixture. Let it simmer for about 30 minutes.
Take it off the heat and let it cool down before you pour it into a clean spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the affected areas.
4. Citrus Fabric Fresheners
If you don’t have any citrus fruits at hand, you can also use citrus fabric fresheners on your carpet. It’s just as effective as fresh citrus fruits.
Instructions:
Spray your carpet with a citrus fabric freshener and you’re done. You can also use a citrus fabric freshener to keep your feline off your bed and other soft surfaces.
5. Essential Oils and Water
You can also use essential oils diluted in water to make a repellant spray.
Some of the essential oils that won’t cause damage to your cat but will prevent them from pooping on your carpet include citrus oil, citronella oil, and eucalyptus oil.
Note that some essential oils work better than others. They can be toxic to cats, too, so make sure you dilute any essential oil you use in water to prevent poisoning.
Instructions:
Mix 1 part essential oil and 3 parts water in a spray bottle. Spray the affected areas of your carpet and reapply every day so your cat stays away.
6. Rosemary or Rosemary Plants
Most cats don’t like the strong smell of rosemary plants and rosemary essential oil, so you can use this to your advantage as well.
Instructions:
Place a few rosemary plants in the room or lightly sprinkle some rosemary essential oil diluted in water on the carpet.
7. Bananas
Cats also hate bananas. In fact, they hate the smell of bananas, especially ripening bananas as they release a strong smell.
Instructions:
Have a bowl of finely chopped ripening bananas on your table in the room or scatter banana peels over the carpet to stop cats pooping on the carpet.
8. Aluminum Foil or Double-Sided Tape
Other things that cats don’t like include aluminum foil sheets and double-sided tapes, so you can try both of these things to keep your feline off your carpets.
Instructions:
Scatter pieces of aluminum foil over your carpet and apply double-sided tape to the affected areas to deter cats from pooping on the carpet.
The next time your cat tries to defecate on your carpet, they will get annoyed by the aluminum foil sheets and double-sided tapes. These two things will make their paws uncomfortable.
9. Cat Repellent Spray
If nothing else works, purchase a cat repellant spray. These sprays typically contain scents that keep felines away from different surfaces including carpets.
You can also apply the cat repellent spray on your bed, shelves, and other pieces of furniture that your cat usually climbs on.
How to Punish Cats for Pooping Outside the Litter Box?
First of all, you should NEVER punish a cat for pooping outside the litter box.
Keep in mind that punishment accomplished nothing with pets, including cats. It’s a great way to destroy your relationship with your pet, though. And if you don’t want to do that, I suggest finding the problem and fixing it instead of punishing your cat.
If you can’t find the issue, consult your vet for advice and follow their advice.
Final Thoughts
Both litter-trained cats and untrained cats rarely poop out of their litter box. So, if your cat is suddenly pooping on your carpet, they have psychological or physical issues.
Psychologically, the stress in the cat’s environment stands out as the most common cause. Physically, they may be dealing with conditions that irritate their bowel.
If you can’t identify the cause of your cat pooping on the carpet, consult your vet and have your feline examined by a professional.
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*image by halfpoint/depositphotos