Missing the box?

One of my three cats is periodically pooping outside the box and then taken litter out of the box and covering it on the floor next to the box. I'm not sure which one it is, but I have a good idea that is it my 8 month old female. No matter who it is, they have all been to the vet within the last 3 weeks and are all in perfect health. I've done a little research and I see I'm not alone on this. I have read that they might be hanging their butt outside the box or walking out of the box before they finish their business. Either way, does anyone else have this issue and what can I do to fix it? I have two huge boxes and I scoop twice a day, sometimes three.

Also, does anyone have cat(s) that use the box every time with no accidents? Everyone I seem to talk to says their cats sometime go outside the box.

Thank you in advance.

One of our cats went outside the box when it wasn't a health-related problem. Her issue was stress. But otherwise we've never had any accidents, though it can easily happen.

But this sounds like she's accidentally going outside the box - because it's so close to the box she can bury it with litter.

It is actually highly recommended that you have one more litter box than you have cats. If she's accidentally going over the side, however, I don't know that adding another box or two will solve the problem.

What you should consider is changing the boxes you use (in addition to adding one or two more new ones). You should also consider adding covered litter boxes. This would likely eliminate the problem.

You can try using a large plastic storage container instead of a litter box. They can still hop into the box, but the sides are too tall to accidentall poop or pee over the sides of the box: http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid...d=HPProd100241

With a "Booda Dome" box, however, there's no way to accidentally pee or poop over the sides - a large litter area is next to steps (also helps prevent kitties from tracking litter out of the box), all of which is covered. These are what we use in addition to 2 automatic litter boxes. http://www.amazon.com/Booda-Clean-St.../dp/B00068K8H6

This is the automatic litter box we use: http://www.litter-robot.com/default.aspx?ac=1 (Many people have a lot of problems with the automatic boxes available in most pet stores).

Here's another type of litter box - peeing or pooping outside the box would be impossible as it is a top entrance box: http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...N=2033737&Ne=2

You can also consider this type of covered box - you just roll it instead of scooping: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

Hope these ideas help address your problem.

Laurie

If you do decide to use a new type of litter box, whatever type it is, it is best to place it next to an existing box. Leave it there for a week or so until they're using both regularly - then remove the old litter box.

Also, found a "universal" litter box cover: http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...N=2047564&Ne=2

Another type of covered litter box: (you can always just remove the door if they don't want to use it with the door on it) http://www.petsmart.com/global/produ...N=2047564&Ne=2

How deep/big is the box? If its on the small side and the cat is on the larger size, you'll have problems. Charlie's a digger and I'm so glad he's decided to use the covered litter pan instead of the smaller one.

Thank goodness Ling has no objections - I did have both side by side for a few weeks but they are using only the covered one.

Perhaps a deeper covered pan will work for your cat.

One of my girls does it every once in awhile. I'm pretty sure I know which one it is and that she just misses. She likes to go very, very close to the edge of the box and if the spots near the back are already "full" then it seems she miscalculates a bit she she uses the front area near the box opening (covered boxes).

However, I know that she'll do it also when she thinks I've let the box go too long without being totally cleaned out and the litter replaced. I've also noticed this happens less now that I'm using Swheat Scoop and not clay anymore. Not sure if that's related or not.

Maia is just under a year old and she has never gone outside her litter. She even goes with me to other places over night and I am proud to say not once has she done that. Pandi, previous female, had purposely pooped and peed on my bed twice in her 16 years. Both times I had left her in the care of someone else for over 1 week, she was extremely upset with me and decided to get me back! I've never had a problem with that, but I have also only had 2 cats at the most. This really seems to be more of a problem with multiple cats..........