This habit of an animal can become a real problem, since the smell of urine is persistent and difficult to remove. Before you figure out how to stop a cat from shitting in the wrong place, you need to understand what caused this behavior, otherwise the measures taken will not bring the expected result.
Why did the cat start shitting in the room?
The first thing you need to understand is why the cat began to upset its owners:
- This may be due to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or genitourinary system.
- It is possible that the animal attracts attention in this way, showing that it needs help.
- Sometimes a cat’s toilet begins to be associated with pain. In this case, any attempts to return it to the tray will remain in vain until it is completely cured.
Important! If a cat experiences pain, pain or simply unpleasant sensations, if it cannot restrain involuntary urination, then educational measures are useless. In this case, urgent assistance from a veterinarian is necessary: a timely diagnosis and proper treatment will help solve the problem.
Main reasons not related to health:
- a significant change in the situation (moving, renovation, buying new furniture);
- non-acceptance of the premises where the toilet is installed;
- aversion to the smell of the material from which the tray is made (or its shape);
- antipathy to the filler (or its rare replacement);
- conflict between cats living together;
- lack of attention from the owners.
Sometimes an animal takes revenge for an insult in this way or protests if it doesn’t like something. This is his way of “explaining” to the owners: something is not as the cat wants. But there is no need to look for human logic and conscious behavior in such actions: everything is spontaneous, situational and subordinate to instincts.
Our article – rating of trays for cats – can help you with choosing the right accessory.
The reason can be elementary:
- the toilet was moved (turned);
- another cat went into the litter box;
- there is not enough food in the feeder and not enough water in the drinking bowl;
- The family pet is old, and these are age-related problems.
Sometimes a cat stops going because something startled her during a previous trip to the toilet: for example, someone suddenly walked by while the cat was doing her business.
A separate block is the natural need to mark the territory, protecting it from the encroachments of other animals or even guests who come to the house. And also in an effort to attract sexual partners. This is a powerful animal instinct, which cannot be overcome by educational measures.
Is your kitten healthy?
The most common ailment that leads to ignoring the tray is urolithiasis. Practice shows that urolithiasis is extremely rare in kittens. It is much more likely to ignore the tray due to a cold or cystitis. If your kitten suddenly stops using the litter box, you should take him to the vet before taking any action.
Analyze after what events the kitten began to crap in the house. Perhaps we bathed him, took him to the veterinary clinic, treated him for fleas or worms. Taking any medical or preventative medications can have side effects. Failure to completely dry the coat after bathing can lead to hypothermia. A visit to the veterinary clinic may result in a viral disease, especially if the kitten has not received vaccination.
How to prevent cat misbehavior
You can never be sure of anything with a pet: it is a living creature that may have its own problems and its own views on how its living environment should be arranged. In order to protect your home as much as possible from surprises, the conditions for keeping the animal are thought out even before the mustachioed friend is brought into the house.
The cat loves cleanliness, order and clear organization of space. It would be wise to position the toilet in a way that she likes. Then she will agree to do her business where it is convenient for the owner.
Misbehavior in a cat can be prevented if:
- choose a toilet that your pet will like (even if you have to change several in a row);
- When purchasing a tray, take into account the size of the animal;
- place the tray in a secluded corner with 24-hour access to the room;
- place the feeding area away from the toilet;
- Do not place anything with a strong smell next door.
It is extremely important to clean your cat's litter box frequently:
- every time you change the filler;
- as soon as the smell appears;
- Trays used without filler are washed after each cat’s visit to the toilet.
The litter you choose is the one that suits your cat. They change it without waiting for a strong smell to appear, which is individual for each animal.
Sometimes a cat shits in the room because of helminths: the pain and itching force her to look for a place where she can wipe off the remnants of the discharge. Often she looks for something soft - a carpet, a bed or a sofa. To prevent this from happening, even a healthy cat needs to be given anti-worm medication from time to time.
If your cat has urinary incontinence caused by illness or old age, you can only protect your floors and carpets by buying her diapers. This decision will be the only correct one; it will completely eliminate hassle and dirt in the house.
Methods for weaning a cat from bad habits
Method 1
This method can be called psychological. It is relevant for animals defending their leadership in the family.
Watch your pet. Have you noticed that he is trying to settle down in a secluded corner? Approach the cat, grab him by the collar, and lift him slightly above the ground. The animal immediately tucks its tail. This is a sign that it is ready to submit to you and will not have any territorial claims. The next step is to take a T-shirt that you don’t mind throwing away. The main thing is that it has your scent. Wipe the areas where the cat has marked. This way you cover the cat's marks with your own.
Method 2
Castration. A fast, almost 100% working method. “Almost” because individual individuals do not lose territorial claims even after castration. The claim that the urine of a castrated animal does not smell is a myth. Its composition remains the same. However, such cases are fortunately rare.
Method 3
The use of special chemicals, which are commonly called “anti-nasties”. Using these means, you achieve a persistent aversion in the cat to places chosen for intimate matters. High-quality products contain disinfecting ingredients that eliminate the “aroma” of cat feces. Thanks to the “anti-nasty”, the pet develops a conditioned reflex: it is forbidden to approach places where it has previously shit. The effect is enhanced if you simultaneously take measures to attract the animal to the tray.
When choosing a commercial chemical composition, you must consider:
- Age and health status of family members. Particular care must be taken if there are children under 3 years of age, elderly people, or those suffering from allergic reactions in the apartment.
- Experience in using such tools.
- Having other favorites. In this case, it is advisable to purchase a universal product suitable for different animals.
You can buy antigadin at a pet supply store.
The most popular means of this format:
- “Don’t shit! Don't tag! " Budget tool. A bottle of 120 mg will cost you 1.5-2.5 USD. e. The main ingredients are water, glycerin and a set of essential oils. The smell of the spray is sharp, unpleasant, reminiscent of oil and its derivatives. Therefore, it is not suitable for families with allergies or people sensitive to odors. The product is universal: equally effective for dogs and cats.
- Biospray "Antigadin ". Available in 100 and 150 ml bottles. There is a convenient sprayer. The smell of biospray is imperceptible to people, but extremely unpleasant to cats. Cost 2.5-4.0 USD. e.
- “ Shit? No !". This is a spray lotion from the Russian company BioVax. The composition of the lotion includes an extract of red pepper, so the smell is noticeable to humans. Allergic reactions to the components of the composition are possible.
- « Mr. Fresh . Unlearning to shit.” Products from the Russian company EcoProm. Spray the drug with a dispenser pistol. Fragrance type: citrus. The product is produced in 200 ml bottles. Cost 2-2.5 USD. e.
- Beaphar Stop-it Cat (Holland). The main component is methylnonyl ketone, which irritates the upper respiratory tract of the animal. Compliance with the dosage is important. Otherwise, the product causes discomfort in people. Can only be used in well-ventilated areas. Price 10-12 USD. e.
- Happy Cat. Product of Japanese manufacturers. Like the Dutch “anti-dirty”, it will cost 10-12 USD. e. The product is packaged in 200 ml bottles. The liquid contains menthol, catechin and pepper extract.” The advantage of Happy Cat is that it effectively eliminates odors. The drug is universal. Suitable for cats and dogs.
An important point when choosing a specific option is the animal’s individual reaction to odors. For example, if the owner likes alcoholic drinks or is a heavy smoker, then it is unlikely that the cat will be scared off by a strong smell. The same goes for pets whose owners use strong-smelling perfumes.
Observing the animal helps you choose a specific remedy. You can easily determine which smell your pet hates.
Don't forget to encourage the animal and praise it for going about its business correctly. Forget about the “stick method”. You cannot punish an animal. Moreover, the bulk of the “ugliness” occurs instinctively.
Method 4
It concerns natural odors that the cat does not like.
Cats cannot tolerate the following scents:
- Onion . Place a saucer with onion pulp in the “cherished place”. But you will have to make sure that the animal does not accidentally rub its nose into the source of the unpleasant aroma. Onions cause burns to the nasal mucosa, so caution must be exercised.
- Vinegar . A 5% solution of acetic acid, almost imperceptible to people, will repel the pet. Don't forget to make sure that the surface being treated is resistant to acidic environments.
- Citrus fruits . The smell pleasant to most people for cats is an unbearable stench. It is enough to place fresh or dried pieces of orange or tangerine peel on the surface so that the animal avoids these places. A solution of freshly squeezed citrus juice sprayed from a spray bottle is suitable. Do not spray this spray on your animal!
- Coffee, pepper . Place a container with holes in the desired location containing a mixture of ground coffee and black pepper. Do not pour the mixture on the floor under any circumstances. If an animal accidentally inhales it, it can cause health problems.
Methods to Avoid
Measures for raising an animal must be completely safe for its health.
Absolute taboo:
- beating;
- poking your nose into a puddle or pile;
- dousing with water;
- rough pushing towards the tray;
- shout.
All this will only frighten, provoke stress and ultimately have the opposite effect. The cat will become insecure and begin to look through all corners in search of something for which it will not be punished.
A little scolding is necessary, but only if the cat was caught “doing this.” Delayed punishment is pointless, because the cat will no longer understand what the owner’s aggression is connected with.
Sometimes it is advised to lock the cat in a cramped room with a litter tray: if it cannot find another place, it will begin to go there. But this method is also quite cruel. Such treatment can frighten, offend the animal and cause a persistent aversion to the toilet.
How to stop a cat from peeing in the wrong place
To accustom a willful cat to the toilet, be patient and calmly persistent: eliminate as much as possible the factors that the fluffy beauty doesn’t like or that bother her.
But if you notice strange behavior and urinary incontinence in your kitty, then this could be feline urological syndrome (FUS). It's better to go to a veterinary clinic.
Experienced breeders and veterinarians advise using behavior correctors at the initial stage of potty training. There are different drugs. They are based on a smell that can attract an animal or, quite the opposite, scare it away. In this way, the pet develops the correct conditioned reflex to go and poop in the designated area.
Owners make scented mixtures themselves or buy ready-made ones at a pet store.
How to stop a cat from pooping all over your apartment: proven methods
It is not at all difficult to train a small kitten to use a litter tray. But if an adult cat suddenly changes its habits, or the animal is taken from the street, only those who show patience and love will achieve success.
The owner needs to show the cat that he is against him shitting anywhere and take care of cleanliness:
- the dirty floor is immediately washed and disinfected;
- it is possible to use an odor repellent;
- soiled shoes are thoroughly cleaned and put away.
Many cats urinate in one litter box and defecate in another. In this case, the problem can be solved in the easiest way: just place two containers next to each other.
If the cat is left alone for a long time, you will have to get another potty, because this animal will not go into a dirty container.
Sometimes it is enough to change the brand of litter to the one the cat is used to. If there is a need to accustom the cat to a different litter, the change is made gradually, mixing the new brand with the old one in increasing proportions.
After making sure that the animal is healthy, you can apply educational measures:
- give a treat every time the cat goes into the litter box: to positively reinforce correct behavior;
- put a bowl of food where it is pooped: cats do not go to the toilet where they eat;
- in cases where “you can’t stock up on any bowls,” you can lay out dry food in areas that have been thoroughly washed of urine or feces beforehand.
If the cat gets into the habit of walking on any object that can be removed for a while (a rug, a chair), then it is better to take the thing out altogether or stop the cat’s access to the room. But it cannot be guaranteed that, having stopped shitting in the wrong place for some time, even for a long time, the cat will not eventually begin to use this thing as its toilet again.
A very effective way for a small kitten is to soak a cloth in his urine and put it in the tray. The smell will point the animal to the right place. The same can be done for an adult cat brought from the street.
A good method is to place the tray where the cat began to shit, gradually moving it to where the owner needs it. Often the cat obeys or does not notice the change in the position of the potty. But sometimes you have to come to terms and permanently move the tray to the corner chosen by the animal.
You can make a place favored by a cat inaccessible:
- cover with something that is better unpleasant for the paws;
- fence with a strip of double-sided tape;
- make inaccessible (fence, cover).
Sometimes it turns out to be effective to create a situation of discomfort at the moment when the cat settles down in the corner of its choice (unexpected appearance, clapping of hands). But the animal always understands that it is doing something bad, and tries to do it when no one is around. The owners will have to keep watch, and perhaps more than once.
To prevent a cat taken from the street from marking the entire apartment, you can collect its scent on a porous fabric (by rubbing it on the fur, for example) and spread its pieces around the apartment. Then the animal will understand that this is its territory, which does not need to be marked.
To prevent pets from spraying gonad secretions and urine around the apartment, males are castrated and females are sterilized. But if this is done late, when the behavior has already become entrenched, the operation will not get rid of the marks. Your veterinarian will help determine the correct age for this procedure.
An animal that shits in the wrong place in order to find a sexual partner can simply be given the opportunity to satisfy its instinct, and silence and cleanliness will return to the apartment.
There is one more absolute rule: a cat’s misdeed, committed in front of the owner, should never go uncondemned. Because the cat must clearly understand what is acceptable in its behavior and what is not.
What shouldn't happen
You should not use bleach, because it does not discourage the cat from the wrong place, but, on the contrary, attracts it.
Do not use perfume or cologne as a repellent. Many products contain substances that can poison your pet. In addition, the “cocktail” of the aromas of perfume and cat urine is difficult to tolerate.
Physical punishment or “poking your nose” into piles and puddles will not have any effect. The cat will do the same, but out of spite.
Be persistent. As soon as the cat is about to sit in the wrong place, let him know that this should not be done. Gradually you will be able to solve this problem.
Protecting your home with special tools
The industry produces many products for correcting animal behavior. At the pet store you can choose them in the form of a spray, powder, or emulsion.
There are drugs whose composition:
- attracts to the tray;
- scares away from the wrong place;
- deodorizes, neutralizes odors;
- disinfects;
- calms during heat.
If in doubt, you can contact your veterinarian, who will advise the most suitable drug for a particular breed and age of the animal. The fact is that some of them act differently on young or old, healthy or sick, castrated or giving birth animals. Only a specialist can choose an effective and harmless remedy for a specific pet.
General recommendations
- Let your cat sleep on your bed (unless you are allergic, of course). The animal will feel protected.
- Run the wet cloth over the cat's neck several times, then wipe the areas where the cat poops with the same cloth. An animal will not defecate in a place saturated with its pheromones.
- Gastronomic trick. Place bowls of food in places “mined” by your pet. You will have to come to terms with the fact that you have to constantly bump into cat bowls for a while. A cat will never shit in the place where it eats.
- Place food foil in the “spontaneous toilet” areas. A rustling surface will scare away the kitten. He will not do his business in a suspicious place.
- Chemical method. There are many Antigadin products on sale in the form of aqueous solutions or sprays.
- The above methods don't help? You will have to lock the animal in a small room for several days. Place a tray with filling, bowls with food and water there. 3-4 days is enough to develop the desired reflex.
Traditional methods of dealing with the smell of cat urine
Cats have lived alongside humans for about 10,000 years. During this time, people managed to pick up odors that discourage cats from shitting where they shouldn’t. Not all of them are effective in our time. Moreover, each cat’s sense of smell is individual.
But you can, hoping for a positive effect, spread it out in places that have been washed from excrement:
- lemon, orange (you can put the peels in flower pots);
- mustard or very hot pepper;
- burnt paper or ashes;
- the owner's sweaty clothes.
Cat urine odors from objects, furniture, clothing and shoes can be eliminated using:
- iodine;
- alcohol;
- hydrogen peroxide.
As for bleach and vinegar, they are dangerous to health and completely useless: most likely, they will attract the pet even more to their favorite corner. Simply because they enhance the smell of urine.
Handy means for treating the area where a cat shits
The purpose of the treatment is to permanently discourage the cat from pooping outside the litter box. To do this, you need to thoroughly wipe the floor, walls, all corners and shoes with one of the products suggested below. These products are especially often used to eliminate the smell of urine on the sofa. But first you need to conduct a test on an inconspicuous area of furniture.
How to treat the area so that the cat no longer craps anywhere:
- Vinegar or potassium permanganate
- Ethanol
- Peroxide
- Iodine solution
- Ground allspice
- Laundry soap
- Lemon juice
- Ammonia
Now let's look at each of the tools in more detail.
No. 1. Vinegar or potassium permanganate
Make a solution from table vinegar (for 1 liter of water there are 2 tablespoons of 9% vinegar) or potassium permanganate (you need to get a pink liquid). Treat all the places where the cat has made a toilet for itself. Repeat the steps until the animal stops shitting anywhere.
No. 2. Alcohol
All animals, including cats and cats, cannot stand the smell of alcohol. Therefore, you need to take advantage of this. Soak a rag in undiluted alcohol and go over the areas where the animal has pooped. After drying, you can repeat the treatment. Wiping is carried out daily.
No. 3. Hydrogen peroxide
Peroxide works as an antiseptic and is good for whitening dirty areas. Peroxide should not be used on areas of dark fabric or varnished or polished surfaces. If a cat shits on a bed, carpet, or sofa made of light materials, peroxide is suitable for use.
No. 4. Iodine solution
When a cat shits anywhere, you need to know what to do. Prepare a saturated iodine solution, but no more than 15 drops per 1 liter. water. Put on gloves, take a rag and wet it. Squeeze it lightly and begin treating the area where the cat is accustomed to shitting. Repeat the manipulations the next day.
No. 5. Ground pepper
If the cat walks under house plants, it is recommended to sprinkle the soil in the pots with ground allspice. You can also mix it with water (1 tablespoon of pepper per 0.5 liter of water) and treat the dirty area of your apartment or house with the product.
No. 6. Laundry soap
The smell and traces of cat urine can be easily removed with laundry soap. Contaminated surfaces should be thoroughly wiped with soap foam. You will get rid of the corresponding smell, and the cat will no longer have the desire to shit on the bed, sofa, carpet and other places not designated for the toilet.
No. 7. Lemon juice
Make freshly prepared juice from 2 lemons. It acts as an odor absorber, antiseptic and stain brightener. You can dry the lemon zest or spread it fresh at crime scenes.
No. 8. Ammonia
Cats absolutely cannot stand the smell of ammonia. A solution of 1 ampoule of ammonia in half a glass of water can be used up to several times during the day as a remedy against stains and to prevent new cases.
When to litter train a kitten
You need to carefully prepare for the arrival of a domestic kitten. Buy several trays and place them in different corners. Absorbent diapers may be required. It is necessary to begin training immediately. When the baby starts fussing, you can pick him up and carry him to the container.
In the end, he himself will choose a container to relieve his needs. Extra trays are removed, and the ones you like are moved to the toilet. The pet must understand that if he did something correctly, he will receive a reward treat.
Imitation
Finally, another reason is what I call “imitative behavior.” Was the cat allowed to see how people wash themselves in the bathroom, the water that cats hate so much is flowing in streams? But now, when it’s quiet there, a cunning cat sneaks in and tries to “win” it all. The cat often sees his owners in the bathroom and believes that he has a place there, too.
However, let's summarize. What would I advise you to do? First, get another tray. Look, suddenly his fate will turn out much more “successful”. Secondly, why not place this tray right in the bath? Or, at worst, put an empty box or drawer there? If the cat loved doing his business there so much, then why not meet him halfway? After all, cleaning the tray, whatever one may say, is much easier than the bath itself. The main thing is to remember to take it out before you start washing! Good luck!
Original publication: Why Is My Cat Pooping in the Sink and Bathtub? Author: Amy Shojai Source and photo:
