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
- 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.
- 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 ca
t? If he is new to your household, perhaps he just needs more time to settle in and adjust to everything, and to you.
- 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!
- 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!
HELP! We have a brother & sister duo, adopted close to 2 years ago. The male has a habit (2+ times a week) of pooping outside – literally, JUST outside – the litterbox. Sometimes, he doesn’t step far enough into the box, so his turds do not fall into the box. Other times, he doesn’t even go into the box, just poops somewhere close to it. Luckily, never elsewhere in the house. We originally had a Litter Locker, and I thought maybe the bucket style was simply too small – he is a rather long cat – so I bought the longest litterbox I could find. It hasn’t helped! We use wood pellets for litter, as the rescue organization told us that’s what the siblings were used to (not to mention, it’s MUCH cheaper than any kitty litter on the market). I am close to re-homing these cats because of this issue, which is a shame, as there are no such problems with the female, and they are otherwise enjoyable pets.
Hi Leanne,
Pooping outside of the box is usually how cats self soothe themselves if they are feeling anxious. How is his general demeanor? Have there been any changes to the household (people leaving, people added, pets added or passed). Any outdoor cats causing him stress?
I would suggest that the first step would be to rule our intestinal issues, as parasites and other illnesses like IBS can cause litter box avoidance. I know, taking cats to the vet can be difficult. This company sends tests you can do at home, https://affordablepetlabs.com/, and the results are sent to you and your vet.
Another thing to check, is his sister cat bullying him or causing him to not go into the box? Cats who are being prevented or entering or exiting the box will do this, too.
Is the litter box lidded? Try taking the lid off to see if that helps. How many boxes do you have; for 2 cats, ideally 3 is the right number, but 2 will do if they are large and scooped at least once per day.
It could also be the wood pellets. Many cats don’t like how those feel on their paws. Try adding a box right next to the box with the wood pellets, but put a soft, sandy type of litter in it. If he uses that one, that’s the answer…
Should you need more help pinpointing and correcting the problem, we’re here. I believe this would only need our 30-minute session.
Keep us posted,
Rita
I have had a roommate move in and my cat is now pooping on my bed. I have made sure her box is clean I have taken her to the vet and have even given her a special area in my room
Jus for her but she’s still pooping on my bed. Please, what do I do?
Hi Stephanie,
It sounds like the changes in the household have created some anxiety for your cat, which is fairly common. Kitty is pooping on your bed either because she is mixing her scent with to self soothe.
Does she have a good relationship with your roommate? Encourage your roommate to offer kitty some treats, soothing sweet talk, take over some of the feeding duties, and perhaps engage in play to help your cat associate good things with the new member of your household.
Let us know how things are going, and feel free to book a session with us should you need more specific guidance. I think a 30-minute session would be purrfect for you and your cat. https://catbehavioralliance.com/cat-behavior-consultations/
Rita
Hello! My sweet cat has been pooping on my bed a couple times a week now. I’m really struggling with this as cat odors are very hard to get rid of and is such a hassle to wash all of my bedding so frequently.
She is kept in my room as we do have other animals in the house. She has her own large litter box. She doesn’t get along with one of the other cats in our house which is why she is kept in my room with the door closed at all times. They haven’t had any encounters for weeks (they did encounter each other accidentally 2-3 times this year) so I am not sure why she is doing it now. We do have a dog that gets on her nerves sometimes. So I know there are some stressors for her, but they have been present for quite some time so I am not sure why she is acting out now. I will take her into the vet to check her health, although I have not noticed any concerns in that regard. She gets lots of time outside in the backyard, and cuddles with me at night. Not sure what to do! Please help!
Hi Lauren,
Without a full behavior session, my educated guess is your kitty is pooping outside her litter box to self soothe her anxiety. Being kept in one room, not getting along with the other cat and knowing (and smelling) the other cat is in the rest of the house can often cause cats to regress to their primitive kitty instincts to try to claim territory and protect themselves. I don’t believe this is a litter box issue, so “fixing” the litter box really won’t do anything to improve the behavior.
It would be great if you could schedule a behavior session with us. Getting to the root cause of her anxiety and stress, building her confidence, getting the cats to peacefully coexist are all things that will greatly improve her litter box habits. Feel free to schedule a free pre-consultation to meet us first so you feel more comfortable booking a full session: https://catbehavioralliance.com/cat-behavior-consultations/
You may want to also consider attending our upcoming class, “Cat” We All Just Get Along, where we teach our method for helping cats have a better relationship with one another. The class is being held via ZOOM on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 4pm to 6pm Eastern Time. Early Bird registration is just $35 until September 15, when we go up to full price of $40: https://calendly.com/catbehaviorallianceinc/cat-behavior-webinars?month=2023-09&date=2023-09-23
Linda and I look forward to solving this problem for you and your kitties,
Rita