Cat missing litter box?

felineempathy · Feb 17, 2015

I don't know if this is anything to worry about but I heard some things regarding this subject. Shanoah has been missing the litterbox for a couple days in a row now. She's not urinating outside of it, just pooping. I mean it's not like she's pooping far away from the box, it's only a couple of inches outside of it. It doesn't really bug me but I'm just a bit concerned about this behavior and why she's doing it?

Could this have to do with the type of litter? Food I'm giving her? She's 2 years old and still growing so maybe she's adjusting to her body growing? Maybe I should clean the litter more often?

Thoughts?

Norachan · Feb 18, 2015

My first thought would be that she needs a bigger litter box. She needs to be able to get in there and dig and turn around. A box that's one and 1/2 times her body length is best.

Is she long or short haired? My long hair cats quite often get poop stuck to to their butts and it drops off as they jump out of the box. Could this be what's happening with Shanoah?

felineempathy · Feb 18, 2015

Shanoah is actually a medium furred cat but her tail and butt area are fluffy like a long furred cat. So that could be the problem.

Her litter box is 18 inches by 14 inches so that might be a little to small.

losna · Feb 18, 2015

Cleaning the litter box more often isn't a bad idea.

But have you seen how she uses her box? I ask because Tempest occasionally misses hers, but it's not intentional. She doesn't like to stand in the litter so she climbs onto the box and uses it while balanced on the rim. Then she buries it by reaching down with one paw to carefully scoop. She never fails to land her pee into the box, but sometimes she isn't standing close enough to the middle since she perches on the corners and some of her poop falls to the floor.

I keep thinking I should lay a board over the middle so she has somewhere to perch.

Could your cat be doing something like that?

felineempathy · Feb 18, 2015

Losna said:
Cleaning the litter box more often isn't a bad idea.

But have you seen how she uses her box? I ask because Tempest occasionally misses hers, but it's not intentional. She doesn't like to stand in the litter so she climbs onto the box and uses it while balanced on the rim. Then she buries it by reaching down with one paw to carefully scoop. She never fails to land her pee into the box, but sometimes she isn't standing close enough to the middle since she perches on the corners and some of her poop falls to the floor.

I keep thinking I should lay a board over the middle so she has somewhere to perch.

Could your cat be doing something like that?

Problem is, I haven't really caught her using the litter box. The only time I have is when I accidentally walked in the atrium area her litter box is and saw her peeing in it. She seems to stand in the very middle and go to the bathroom. It also seems like she only goes poop in the middle of the night because the poop would show up on the floor next to the box in the morning. Maybe I'll try to make more of an effort in seeing how she uses it.

So I think I'll clean it more often and I might try a different litter. I noticed she doesn't bury her pee or poop when she does get it in the box.

losna · Feb 18, 2015

@FelineEmpathy How often do you clean it? Also @Norachan had some likely answers, too. Poop sticking to kitty's bum or a too small box are more likely to be the culprit than acrobatics like Tempest. I think.. I know I've never seen anyone suggest something like rim climbing before, but I've seen Tempest doing it so I know that's how it happens when her stool is outside the box.

felineempathy · Feb 18, 2015

I clean it twice a week but I'm going to bump it up now to possibly everyday or every other day.

detmut · Feb 18, 2015

FelineEmpathy said:
I clean it twice a week but I'm going to bump it up now to possibly everyday or every other day.

do this and get a jumbo box about 22 x 16

felineempathy · Feb 19, 2015

Losna was correct about one thing. Shanoah does not like to stand in the litter. Or she may have a had time fitting in it and turning around like Norachan said. I saw her today using it and she was sitting half in the box with her rear legs and her front legs outside the box on the floor. I think I'll try getting a jumbo and a better litter, I've been using a litter I got at the grocery store.

losna · Feb 20, 2015

@FelineEmpathy Try one of those large plastic storage bins that you can buy at a hardware store or target/walmart. Pricing is better and they work just as well.

I'll also recommend a litter if you're looking for a new brand. I love this stuff:

http://www.pioneerpet.com/product/6...ural-clumping-litter-by-pioneer-pet-20lb-bag/

No smell, no dust, it's great. I've found it also stretches further than the generic stuff like fresh step. The bags are pricier but I buy fewer of them so it evens out.

rlavach · Feb 20, 2015

I agree with the suggestions to get a bigger box. I caught my Shizu once with her front half in & her back half out! Obviously, everything ended up on the floor. She seemed really confused when she realized it. Hopefully a bigger box helps!

felineempathy · Feb 24, 2015

Mission Accomplished!

I got a jumbo box with tall walls around it and a new type of litter called Integrity. I put the box in place of her old one and she jumped in before I even poured the litter in. After putting in the litter she jumped in right away and successfully went #2 inside the box. I'll have to see how she does after a number of times but I don't think it'll be a problem.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

Norachan · Feb 25, 2015

FelineEmpathy said:
Mission Accomplished!

I got a jumbo box with tall walls around it and a new type of litter called Integrity. I put the box in place of her old one and she jumped in before I even poured the litter in. After putting in the litter she jumped in right away and successfully went #2 inside the box. I'll have to see how she does after a number of times but I don't think it'll be a problem.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

That's great! I hope she adjust to her new box and litter.

banffbunny · Feb 25, 2015

Hi,

My cat Ripley used to do that because I didn't clean the box often enough. I now clean it everyday and she hasn't done that since. She was very picky about having a clean box and that was her way of protesting!

Robyn :-)

felineempathy · Feb 25, 2015

Banffbunny said:
Hi,

My cat Ripley used to do that because I didn't clean the box often enough. I now clean it everyday and she hasn't done that since. She was very picky about having a clean box and that was her way of protesting!

Robyn :-)

Yeah I'm taking that into account. That's why I'm cleaning it more often.

I noticed since she's on canned food she goes #1 a lot more so it stains the litter faster so she probably doesn't like the smell.

Cat missing litter box?

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