Cat Defecation Behavior

Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine considers house soiling--defecating in places other than the litter box--as the most common cat-owner complaint. Understanding cat litter box and defecation behavior is the first step in resolving this issue. (See References 1)

  1. Typical Behavior

    • Defecating in a litter box is a natural instinct for cats--they prefer eliminating in soil or sand, according to PetEducation.com. (See References 2 and note A in comments.) Cats normally dig, defecate, then cover up their feces. (See References 2 and note B in comments.)

    Aggression

    • Some cats use defecating as a sign of aggression. In multiple-cat households, aggressive cats may mark spots so that other cats avoid the area, according to PetMD. A cat may defecate on the carpet or in other inappropriate locations if an aggressive cat prevents him from using the litter box. (See References 3)

    Health Problems

    • Health problems such as intestinal parasites, an inflamed colon or rectum and intestinal tumors may cause pain when a cat tries to pass stool. This may make the cat avoid his litter box and defecate in other locations. Older cats may have less control of their bowels, which leads to inadvertent house soiling. (See References 1)

    Litter Box Aversion

    • Cats may grow averse to using a litter box if it isn't kept clean, or if you use smelly soaps to clean it. Some litters contain strong smells that may repel a cat. If a cat does not like the texture of the litter in the box, or if the sides of the box are too high to make climbing in comfortable, the cat may defecate elsewhere. (See References 1)

    Warning

    • Since unusual behavior while defecating can indicate a serious health problem, take your cat to a veterinarian at the first sign of trouble. (See References 1)