Cats are known for being very good when it comes to good potty habits. They just need a place they can bury their poop and pee whether it is outside or a litter box inside. This is why it can be so surprising, disappointing, and even worrying if you notice your feline friend pooping on the carpet.
Cats poop on carpets for many reasons including both psychological and physical distress. If you haven’t already litter trained your cat, you should do it to rule out simple behavioral issues. However, if the cat is actually trained then the best thing to do is take your cat for evaluation by a vet for underlying issues that may be responsible for the behavior changes.
In the sections below, we shall take a look at the reasons why your cat is pooping on the carpet, what you can do about it, and better yet, how you can prevent it.
What To Put Down To Stop Cats Pooping?
Pooping outside the litter box is considered bad behavior for cats as these pets are known to be very easy to potty train.
If your cat has started deviating from the path that you worked so hard to get them on, here are a few tips that should come in handy.
Cat Repellent Spray
Cat repellent sprays contain scents that keep cats away from any surface that you don’t want them to get to comfortable around. This could be furniture, your bed, or even shelves.
It is a very easy way to stop your cat from pooping outside the litter box. Just identify their new favorite spot and spray the repellent and they will want absolutely nothing to do with the place.
Aluminum Foil
The aluminum foil trick works if you want a quick, easy, and simple way to stop your cat from pooping on things like carpets or beds. Cats hate the texture and are scared by the sound created when they step on the foil.
As is the case with cat repellent sprays, all you have to do is place some foil over the edges of whatever space you want the cat to stay away from.
Double Sided Tape
Double sided tape works really well if your cat is spraying walls with pee or pooping on things like shelves and drawers. This simple form of repellent works as it is uncomfortable on the cat’s paws and discourages them from even walking near the spot you are trying to protect.
Apple Cider Vinegar
It is very important that you clean up after your cat when they have potty accidents outside the litter box to prevent them from getting too comfortable with the newly scent-marked spot. Apple cider vinegar is ideal for the job. This home remedy not only gets rid of the smell and bacteria but also leaves a smell that your cat will not like.
Why Is My Cat Pooping On The Carpet All Of A Sudden?
Cats are awesome for a number of reasons but it is their neat and self-disciplined nature when it comes to potty training that stands out the most. The best part is that they are very easy to train.
So why is your litter trained cat suddenly pooping outside the litter box? Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes of this behavior change
Incomplete Litter Training
It is relatively easy to train a cat how to use a litter box. This is because it plays to their natural instinct to hide their poop and pee. All you have to do therefore is just make sure they have easy access to a clean litter box in which to do this.
However, it is very possible to have ineffective training in which case your cat will occasionally poop and pee wherever they feel most comfortable.
Anxiety
A cat that has suffered any type of psychological trauma is very likely to start pooping and peeing all over the house even with previous successful litter box training. Anxiety in cats in particular will have them pooping as a response to triggers like loud noises and even the presence of unfamiliar individuals in the room.
Patience and gentleness are the solutions here as the cat calms down and settles into their new safe home.
Incontinence
Bowel incontinence is another possible reason why your cat is suddenly pooping all over the house. In this case, physical processes result in the cat’s inability to control the sphincters that allow them to hold bowel movements.
Something distinctive and interesting you will notice when it comes to incontinence in your cat is that they will most likely have poop leaking out in small amounts.
More Comfortable Than Litter Box
Another reason your cat may be pooping outside the litter box is that the new spots they are choosing are more comfortable. This happens a lot in cases where the type of litter used is abrasive or generally uncomfortable on the cat’s paws. It can also be that the litter box is not easily accessible to the cat.
Can You Retrain A Cat To Use The Litter Box?
Cats are relatively easy to potty train. The most important thing to remember is the importance of accessibility. If the cat can reach the litter box then they will most likely prefer to use it over any other spot in your home.
If you already trained your cat but they have fallen back into old, undesirable habits, you may want to switch things up and try a new approach. Here are 3 important tips that may help increase your chances of success.
Get The Right Size Of Litter Box
This is important for very young kittens for the sake of accessibility. If you get a litter box that is too big, they may not be able to hop on and off very easily to successfully take their potty breaks. If it is not easy to access, the cat will pee or poop wherever they can reach.
The size of the litter box is also an important consideration for older and larger rescues. In these cases, it is more about comfort and manoeuvrability.
Your cat should be able to move around or at the very least comfortably turn while using the litter box. If it feels too cramped they will find another more comfortable spot in your home.
Establish A Potty Break Routine
Timing matters a lot when potty training a cat or when retraining them how to use the litter box. Monitor them to see how long after meals and after drinking they will take before going off on their potty break.
When the pattern becomes clear, simply carry the cat to the litter box when it is time for a potty break. With time, they will know exactly where to go all on their own.
Use Paw-Friendly Litter
The type of litter you use also determines how comfortable our cat will be using the litter box. If it is rough on their paws, they may not want to use it. If you are retraining your cat, consider switching to something more gentle for the cat, such as gel litter or special cat litter specifically made for cats with sensitive paws.
How Do I Get Poop Smell Out Of Carpet?
One of the best ways to stop your cat from pooping on the carpet is by cleaning the carpet thoroughly whenever they do.
Cats are creatures of habit and love the familiar and will definitely return to drop another poop parcel on your carpet if they can still smell the last one.
So how do you get rid of the smell of cat poop on your carpet? Here are a few answers that should help.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is fantastic when it comes to getting rid of odors including smells from your cat’s poop. Just sprinkle some of the powder on the spot once you have cleaned it and let it settle for a couple of hours then vacuum it off.
We recommend the Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda Shaker if you want a pure baking soda option in an easy-to-use package.
Deep Clean Your Carpet
You can also simply get the carpet deep cleaned with hot water or steam and soap. This is great for homes with multiple misbehaving cats. It is also a good idea if you are dealing with multiple poop and pee stains from your cat’s potty mishaps.
A more effective way in getting rid of poop smell from your carpet is by setting up a basic and cleaning routine with a good steam vacuum cleaner.
Bissell ProHeat 2X Revolution Max Clean Pet Pro Full-Size Carpet Cleaner in particular is an awesome choice. This is because it is specially designed to deal with pet messes from dander and fur to odors.
Pet Odor Sprays
Pet odor sprays are designed to help mask the stink from your cat’s poop, pee, and general natural smells. They are ideally made from natural scent extracts in which case essential oil scents like lavender and strong citrusy notes like orange are the best to go with.
We recommend ANGRY ORANGE Citrus Pet Odor Eliminator Spray for great odor control as well as repelling the cat from the carpet as they don’t like the strong citrus scent.
Related Questions
Why Has My Cat Started Peeing And Pooping On My Bed? Your cat may be peeing on your bed because they have a urinary tract infection. In these cases, the infection causes irritation that makes the cat unable to hold their pee long enough to get to the litter box. It can also be that your cat has psychological issues like separation anxiety that make them unwilling or unable to use the litter box as trained.
How Often Should You Change Out All The Kitty Litter? You should change litter out of the box once every week or two. This depends on a number of factors including the type of litter, the design of the litter box, and how often your cat actually uses it. In addition to regularly changing the litter, you have to clean out solid waste and clumps at least once a day.
Do Cats Poop Out Of Spite? Cats do not poop out of spite. If they happen to poop or pee where they aren’t trained to then it is more often than not a sign that they have physical or psychological issues. Physically, you may be dealing with conditions that irritate the cat’s bowel. Psychologically, anxiety stands out as the most common cause.
