Cats And Their Revenge Pooping: A Myth Or A Reality

Cats are considered an intelligent and adaptable beings and are expected to go relieve themselves in their litter box but sometimes they act out and poop somewhere else which might seem like done out of vengeance or as a punishment for your any act but it isn’t true, cats being an animal doesn’t have such complex emotions. Rather it is a way of communicating any problem or issue that they are having.

The cause behind this can be as simple as not liking the litter box, dirty litter box or not liking the position of the litter box to being stressed out, having some environmental issue or a medical problem. Here are some causes and what can you do for it:
A cat can have issues with the litter’s texture or may not like the litter box shape and design or can feel the litter box is small as they outgrow it with time. You can try changing the texture of the litter or the whole box itself, with giving extra care to its design and comfort for the cat.
Issues such as upset stomach, diarrhea, constipation or inflammatory bowel disease, can make the cat avoid the litter box. Diabetes, kidney diseases or arthritis can increase your cat’s urination and challenge mobility, especially if they are old. You can place the litter box at an easy accessible spot where they can reach in time.
Dirty litter box, difficult positioning of the litter box, new home or a new setting, all can be a factor for a cat pooping outside of their litter box. This can be a major factor if more than one cats live in the same area as they might not share a litter box and even become territorial. You should move the position of the litter box and should keep it clean. In case of more than one cat, increase the number of litter boxes.

A cat can be stressed out with a new routine, new place, new person or with a fearful experience, it can also get stressed when a new pet or family member arrives. When stressed, cats can act out differently. You can try to make them calm by giving them gentle attention or toys.

If still your cat poops outside the litter box or avoids it, it maybe a sign of something serious and you should consult a vet if the problem persists.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. How often do cats pee and poop?Most adult cats urinate 2 to 4 times and poop once to twice a day but kittens have more frequency and old cats might have less. Activity and diet also plays a major factor in it.
2. What is the 3-3-3 rule of cats?This is the guideline of how a cat adjusts to a new environment, which usually takes 3 days to decompress(feel safe), 3 weeks to settle in (get used to), and 3 months to feel at home.
3. How many litter boxes should i have for my cat(cats)?There should be at least one litter box for a cat but two are recommended, one extra for a backup and also if you have a big home. In case of more than one cat (N+1) rule should be followed. For e.g.- if you have 4 cats, (4+1=5), you should have at least 5 litter boxes.