Is My Cat Spiteful?

Your Cat Pooped On the Bed! Why would he do such a thing? While it’s true cats are usually very clean pets, stress can make your cat poop on the bed and in other odd places.

Written by Rita Reimers, Multi Cat Behavior Expert

At the end of a long hard day, there are two things most of us look forward to: a good meal, and getting a good night’s sleep in our comfy beds while our purry pals slumber next to us.

But wait, what is that smell… And what is this on my bed!

Nothing could be more distressing than discovering that your cat has pooped on your bed. Especially if your kitty seems to be a happy well-adjusted cat in other ways, this behavior can cause you to wonder if your cat is mad at you or if he has lost his mind.

Why Would a Cat Poop On the Bed?

Such was the case with a couple who called us one weekend. They sent us photos and videos of two very happy rag doll siblings, playing and grooming each other, seeming to not have a care in the world.

Except, suddenly, one of them decides to poop in their bed! It’s not everyday, but it is happening enough to cause stress in the household.

After meeting the family and the kitties, and asking a lot of probing questions, we began to understand just was going on.  We’ll talk about that below as we describe some of the reasons your cat may decide your bed makes the ideal litter box.

Causes of Inappropriate Defecation

While a cat pooping outside the litter box is not as common as urination outside the box, it is not unheard of. The two have some similar reasons that could lead to such behavior. Knowing what is triggering it is the key to correcting your cat’s conduct.

We can assure you that this is definitely NOT done out of spite. In our opinion, there are just a few things that would motivate the usually fastidiously clean feline to do such a nasty thing.

• Illness: A clean bill of health from your veterinarian is the very first step on the road to behavior correction. Diseases such as IBS (Irritable Bowl Syndrome), Cancer, or even intestinal parasites can lead to a cat find a new place to poop. Often the pain associated with these illnesses cause cats to associate the litter box with pain, so they will avoid going there. Also, in our anecdotal experience with cats, we believe when a cat has an illness, he will instinctively eliminate elsewhere. Cats do this in nature to keep the illness away from the other members of his cat colony.
• Situational Unhappiness: This is a tricky one to detect. Cats are very sensitive to environmental changes, and sometimes act out their unhappiness in some very odd and unpleasant ways. In questioning the couple, it was discovered that often when the cat poops on their bed, it is after one of them has returned from a business trip. Their cat is letting them know that the absence was keenly felt and caused him much stress.
• Stress or Insecurity: It sounds like this is the same as situational unhappiness, and often the two do go together. However, this one is slightly different. Again referring to the same couple, it was further discovered through questioning that these cats had only recently joined the household. The kitties came from a reputable breeder and have only been in this home for about two months. While the couple didn’t think this was significant information, we sure did. These cats are still getting to know their new home and humans, having been removed from the only home the had known. There, they had a person, a cat mommy, and kitty siblings to whom they were emotionally attached. The separation anxiety, stress, and insecurity they were already feeling was further fueled when one of their new human parents was absent from the home.
• And finally, the big cause – Litter Box Problems: Litter and litter boxes can be a separate topic unto it’s own. Cats can be very finicky about where they will “go” so often it takes trial and error before finding just what appeals to your cat. Some cats aren’t as choosy as long as you keep consistent, but others can really put you through your paces! Litter components to keep in mind:
  • Type of Litter – this can be a huge issue for your cat. Soft sandy litter is usually preferred over big chunky pieces that can have sharp edges, which may hurt tender toes.
  • Type of Litter Box – some cats like a lidded box, while others prefer the wide open spaces of the non-lidded box. Also choose a box that is appropriate for the size of your cat. A tiny Munchkin or Singapura may do well with a small box, but a Rag Doll, Bengal, or Pixie Bob will need much more room to maneuver inside. If his rear end hangs over the side when he is standing in it, then the box needs to be larger.
  • Litter Box Placement – placement of the box can be almost as important as the box and litter itself. Putting the boxes in highly trafficked areas with no privacy will almost guarantee a problem. A nice quiet corner that is easily accessible to your cat with no obstacles preventing easy access (and escape) is the best bet for box placement.
  • Cleanliness of Litter – perhaps the most significant of all, a cat box must be scooped and cleaned daily. We used to own a cat sitting company, and have seen countless people who do not even own a scooper! Letting the debris build up for days before tossing it all and starting fresh out does NOT make for a clean box. Think of it this way: how do you feel when you use an outhouse? ‘Nuff said!
  • Litter Box Bullying – if your cat is being bullied by another cat, or the other cat is “resource guarding” and not letting him get in or out of the box, he will choose to “go” in a place that feels safer for him. Your bed is an ideal place; it’s up high, there are multiple entry and exit points, and your scent makes him feel secure up there.

How to Stop Inappropriate Pooping

Now that you have (hopefully) pinpointed your cat’s specific problem, the next step is not only to correct the problem, but to also break your cat’s habit of pooping on your bed (and other no-no places).

4 Simple Steps to Cure the Habit

1. Vet Visit: get that clean bill of health from your veterinarian to be sure there is no underlying medical reason for his pooping behavior. And if there is, you and your vet can work together to correct it.
2. Identify the Issue: if there is no medical issue, identifying then resolving the issue triggering your cat’s pooping behavior is the next step. If it’s litter box related, make whatever changes are necessary. Placement, box type, litter substance, or cleanliness, make those essential changes to create a litter box your cat will find appealing. If it’s stress related, pinpoint the sources of stress. Does your cat need more playtime and one-on-one time with you? Do you need to add more cat trees and places for him to act like a cat? If he is new to your household, perhaps he just needs more time to settle in and adjust to everything, and to you.
3. Make Naught Zones Unappealing: make that no-no pooping place unpleasant for him to be in. On the bed, you can place scents such as peppermint or orange on your bed and other no-no places. If scents don’t help, use of a Soft Scram Sound-Producing Scat Mat or the SSCAT Air Blaster Can. These items will have your cat avoiding the area at all costs!
4. Reward Proper Pooping: whenever you see your cat using his litter box, give him lots of praise and perhaps a yummy goodie. He will get the message that he has done something to please you, and that he gets a reward for it, too!

Follow these simple steps and it won’t be long before you and your cat can once again snuggle together in the bed… and without finding any unpleasant surprises under the covers!