My Cat Poops on My Bed - Causes and Solutions

Content

• cats and the litter box
• Why does my cat poop on my bed?
• Problems with the sandbox
• Psychological causes for sandbox rejection
• what to do if my cat poops in my bed

Cats are animals that are always used as an example of cleanliness. Without the need for any training, from very young they use their sandbox perfectly. But sometimes, this ideal behavior may not occur and, without us knowing why, and the cat urinates or defecates out of your box and choose places that catch our attention.

In this article by PeritoAnimal, we will focus on explaining a particularly worrisome situation, which is when the cat does not need to be in the litter box and, worse than that, it makes you wonder: why my cat poops in my bed - causes and solutions. Good reading!

cats and the litter box

While many cats use their litter box without a problem, it's also true that some are extremely sensitive when it comes to fulfilling their needs. Any change, even if imperceptible for us, can cause you to ask the following question: why doesn't my cat do needs in the litter box? By answering this question, we can start preventing the cat's rejection of the litter box, respecting three fundamental keys:

• Size: The cat litter box should be of a size that matches the cat's both in length and width, as well as in the height of the edges.
• Localization: It should be placed in a sheltered location, away from traffic or noise areas and away from water and food.
• Cleaning: depending on the quality of sand chosen, cleaning will be more or less frequent, but in any case, the litter box should be kept free of faeces and urine whenever possible.

As soon as the kitten gets home we will show her his box, which is usually enough for him to use it without any problems. However, we must ensure that he always has access to the sandbox. With these bases, we take the first step to prevent a cat defecating outside the box.

In this other article you will see how to teach the cat to use the litter box.

Why does my cat poop on my bed?

Even respecting the above guidelines, we may be surprised by the cat pooping in our bed. First of all, the first thing to be clarified is that he doesn't do it to annoy us. A cat defecating outside the litter box is a sign that there is a problem. So we have to find its cause.

If my cat starts pooping on my bed, the first thing I have to do is go to the vet for a general checkup as it may be due to a health problem. For example, looser stools, diarrhea or, conversely, constipation, as well as some pain that affects defecation can cause the cat to resort to our bed.

Intestinal parasites or inflammation, inadequate nutrition or joint pain that hinders the cat's mobility can make the cat not to do its needs in the litter box, even avoiding it. You old age cats are more at risk to suffer changes in their health that can affect defecation, such as constipation or arthrosis. On the other hand, diarrhea is usually more common in kittens with parasite problems.

In any case, the veterinarian will carry out an examination and the relevant tests to reach the diagnosis, which is essential to start the treatment and correct the inadequate diet. But, in addition to the physical causes, the cat can poop on our bed due to disorders of psychological origin Or the problems with the sandbox.

Problems with the sandbox

If your cat poops in your bed and your vet has determined that your cat is completely healthy, we'll turn our attention first to the litter box. If you've made any changes recently, undo the change as it likely caused the cat's rejection. In any case, check the following points:

• Sand: some cats reject fragrant and coarse-grained sand. Put several inches so they can scrape and bury your stool. Discover the different types of cat litter.
• Tray: While some cats feel comfortable in covered litter boxes, others only accept uncovered ones. Note the height of the edges, especially if your cat has mobility issues.
• Localization: You can place the litter box close to where the cat defecates or, conversely, keep it where it has always been, if it's a sheltered and quiet place, and place the food next to your bed instead. The idea is that he will have the option of using the litter box in the place he seems to have chosen to defecate or dissuade him by putting food there, as cats generally refuse to poop near where they eat.
• Cleaning: not only is it necessary to remove stool frequently, you should also wash the litter box regularly using soap and water. Strong odors such as bleach can cause rejection in some cats.
• Number of sandboxes: even if you only have one cat, he may prefer to have more than one litter box. They usually use one for urine and one for feces. If there is more than one cat, the recommendation is to leave them always accessible so that everyone can access and use them without being disturbed.

But a healthy cat with an ideal litter box may also end up defecating on her caregiver's bed. It could be due to causes of psychological origin.

Psychological causes for sandbox rejection

Sometimes we have a cat defecating outside the litter box, such as in our bed, because it is going through a stressful situation for him that prevents him from approaching the litter box. These are some of the causes that may be involved:

• if there was any modification in routine or environment Cat effects, such as housework or the arrival of a new limb, the cat can manifest its stress by pooping in unusual places. They are very sensitive animals that are affected by changes, some of which are imperceptible to us.
• On the other hand, a negative experience using the sandbox, for example, being surprised by an unexpected noise, can lead the animal to look for another place to defecate.
• In houses where several cats live, it must be ensured that none prevents access to the resources of the rest. You problems between cats are another cause that can lead the cat to not need to use the litter box.
• It may also happen that the kitten has had some incorrect association that leads to not identifying the sand in the box as the appropriate place to defecate, relating the act to textures other than the sand.
• Finally, feces can also be used. to mark territory, although it is more common to be done with urine.

Whatever the cause, it's not always easy to determine, the cat poops on our bed because, unlike the negative feelings that the litter box arouses, perceive it as a safe place. It's loaded with our scent, which is comforting, and besides, it's usually higher than the floor where the litter box is placed. Cats tend to feel more secure in high places. Also, the bed is a soft and pleasant surface.

All these problems are solvable, but it is likely that we need the help of an ethologist or specialist in feline behavior and initiate changes in the routine, in the environment, resorting to tranquilizing pheromones or even medications, always prescribed by the veterinarian.

what to do if my cat poops in my bed

If your cat poops in your bed, regardless of the cause, you can follow some general recommendations to avoid this while it's resolved with veterinary or behavioral treatment. Are the following:

• The simplest is prevent access to bed closing the bedroom door, but of course the problem still needs to be resolved.
• Clean the bed as soon as possible so that the smell does not encourage the cat to repeat the defecation in the same place. Use enzymatic cleaners to eliminate odors.
• If you can't close the room, cover the bed with newspapers or plastic, as many cats find it unpleasant to step on these surfaces. And of course, as a precaution, protect the mattress.
• Lastly, never fight with your cat. There's a reason he defecates in your bed. The cat is going through difficult times and scolding him is therefore completely counterproductive. This can aggravate a problem that needs to be resolved with your help.

Now that you know why the cat who doesn't need to in the litter box and why the cat poops in your bed, the following video about cat accessories might also interest you:

If you want to read more articles similar to My Cat Poops on My Bed - Causes and Solutions, we recommend that you enter our Behavior Problems section.