Sometimes, due to psychological or physical discomfort, a pet stops defecating in the litter box. A person’s screams or poking his muzzle into the tray are ineffective in this case, but the attentive attitude of the owner will help correct the situation as soon as possible - this will be discussed in the article.
Representatives of felines are classified as affectionate, clean animals, for this reason many owners are happy to have a cat. Each pet has its own character. The owner will need a little time to help the animal form the right habits. The most crucial moment is to teach the cat to go to the litter box. If you do not do this on time, then in the near future a problem will arise, how to wean a cat from shitting in the wrong place.
Why does a cat shit in the wrong place: reasons
Before taking any action, you need to find out why the cat began to shit anywhere. Let's look at several common reasons why a cat shits in the wrong place:
Physical discomfort.
- With inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system, cats experience discomfort when defecating. Repeated repetition of the problem creates a negative attitude towards the litter box.
- The pet begins to look for new places to defecate, causing a lot of trouble for its owner. In some situations, this cat behavior can be regarded as a signal for help.
Finding a solution
Psychological discomfort.
- If a cat began to shit during a period of dramatic changes in the personal life of the owners, then this behavior, when the kitten shits in the wrong place, is associated with the psychological discomfort of the animal.
- Cats sense the situation in the house well and get used to the usual way of life of their owner. Home renovations, the arrival of a new family member or other living creature, cause stress in the animal, which affects its behavior.
Lack of attention.
- Like any pet, cats require attention. If the owners are ruthless towards the animal, then characteristic cats change their behavior. They are capable of holding grudges and doing mischief in order to attract attention.
- The simplest thing is to start shitting in the wrong place. The owner obviously won't like this.
It is important to eliminate psychological discomfort
New location of the cat litter box.
- If your pet is used to going to defecate in a specific place, then changing the position of the toilet causes him stress. If you want to rearrange the furniture, it is better not to move the animal's tray. Buying a new litter box or changing the brand of litter also often causes a negative reaction from the animal - the cat shits in the wrong place.
- When moving to a new apartment, the cat needs to get used to the new territory. Owners must be patient and help their pet, including weaning the cat from shitting in the wrong place.
Let's stop marking our territory
Domestic cats, like any other animal, mark their territory. They also mark all the corners in the apartment, thereby additionally attracting individuals of the opposite sex.
Some experienced cat breeders recommend influencing your pet psychologically and proving your superiority over it. You need to wait for the cat to settle down near some corner to complete its furry business, then grab it by the scruff of the neck and hold it suspended for several minutes. You can sharply flick your pet on the ears. At the same time, he will tuck his paws and tail, thereby submitting to the owner.
We reduce sexual activity with special drugs so that cats do not mark their territory
If a cat applies marks, it is advised to reduce the pet’s nervousness and sexual activity. For this purpose, specialized drugs are used (Gestrenol, Kot Bayun, etc.). The last resort and most effective measure is castration.
Why does a kitten shit in the wrong place?
- The appearance of a little kitten brings owners a sea of positive emotions. Before getting a pet, you need to properly organize its time in the new territory . The most important question is how to train a kitten to go to the litter box?
- The first days of being in a new family are stressful for a kitten. You shouldn't expect him to obey on the first day. Don't start getting to know your animal with punishments.
Could be stress
- A small kitten does not understand where to relieve itself, especially if it was born on the street. In the first days of developing the territory, it is necessary to help the animal form the right habits.
- Observing his behavior, you can notice fussy behavior when he wants to go to the toilet. Transfer the kitten to the litter box. Even if the hint doesn’t work the first time, in the future the animal will understand what you want from it.
- If the kitten has taken a liking to a specific corner from the first day and the place allows you to place a tray there, then he will definitely take advantage of this opportunity, otherwise you will not be able to stop the kitten from crapping in the wrong place.
What aerosols are best to use for repelling?
When folk remedies don’t help and the owners are completely desperate, aerosols and special chemicals can come to the rescue that can scare away both an adult cat that is shitting and a kitten that cannot remember the location of the potty.
There are two main types of sprays which are:
- scare away cats;
- attract cats.
You can choose your own litter box training tactics. It all depends on whether you want to attract the cat with a smell to the place where he should directly do his business, or whether you want to discourage him from all his “favorite” places and simply leave him no choice.
The cost of such toilet training products is quite reasonable.
When a pet categorically refuses to go to the toilet and at the same time spoils property and things, the owner can often reach a state of despair.
However, you should not rush to conclusions and think that your cat is doing his dirty tricks to spite you. It is quite possible that a specific reason led to this behavior, which must be identified.
A cat shits in the wrong place: how to train it to the litter box?
Give the animal a choice.
- The location of the cat litter box is of fundamental importance for many pets. Cats are predators by nature and they have their own natural instincts.
- The first thing to do is to ensure that the animal has constant access to the tray. The toilet or bathroom should not be tightly locked with a door, so it is quite possible to wean a kitten or cat from shitting in the wrong place.
- Sometimes cats themselves suggest where it is best to place the tray. Most often they choose secluded places. There is no need to resist this state of affairs.
In the wrong place
Proper arrangement of a cat's litter box
- train your cat to use the litter box for a long period of time then perhaps your litter box does not meet the animal’s requirements.
- When wondering which cat litter to choose, pay attention not to the purchase price, but to the correct parameters of the litter box. A small tray with low sides will bring a lot of inconvenience to both the owner and the pet.
- There should be enough space in the cat litter box so that an adult cat can freely turn around and settle into a comfortable position. The height of the sides should take into account that a third of the space will be filled with filler.
- The filler for the tray is selected through experimentation. Instead of granular filler, regular finely torn paper may be suitable. Changing the usual litter can be one of the reasons why an animal shits past the tray.
Failure to clean the litter tray in a timely manner may repel the animal. So make it a habit to keep your cat's litter box clean. If you are away for a long time, you can arrange two trays side by side.
Methods of rewarding an animal for correct actions
- Cats cannot speak the language of people, but at the level of instincts they are able to perceive our requests and appeals. Praise your cat for being obedient.
- Treat your pet with his favorite treats. Perhaps the cat will thank you for your attentive attitude with good behavior and affection.
Reasons for incorrect behavior
If a kitten trained to use a litter box begins to shit in the corners, then there are logical explanations for this behavior:
- Did not have time. It happens that the baby simply does not reach the stationary toilet.
- Got lost. A relatively small living space turns into a real labyrinth for a kitten, so it is difficult for him to get to the tray on time.
- Paid back. Cats are touchy animals. Typically, vindictiveness develops with age, but kittens can also demonstrate their displeasure by choosing an unconventional place for the toilet. The reasons for such revenge may be a dirty tray, stale litter, or the behavior of the owner.
- Got sick. Having been poisoned or contracting a bacterial or viral infection that affects the intestines, the pet cannot always run to the toilet. As a result, a corner convenient for the cat becomes a substitute for the tray.
How to train a cat to use the toilet?
- To stop your cat from pooping in the wrong place, you can try teaching it to defecate on the toilet.
- It is easier to train him to use the toilet after using the litter box. To begin with, the habit of defecating without litter is formed. The amount of bulk material gradually decreases. Replace a regular trough with a mesh tray.
- At the second stage, the tray is raised daily to a certain height until it reaches the level with the toilet. It is important to take care of the stability of the structure. After a few weeks, the tray at height is removed, and a special tab with a small hole is placed on the toilet. Another option is to cut an oval hole in the toilet lid.
- If the cat is scared by the noisy sounds of the toilet , then try flushing while holding the pet in your arms. He must see that he is not in danger. If you notice that it is difficult for your cat to sit on the new device, then help her take the correct position.
Training
It will take about a month to train your cat to use the toilet after using the litter box, so be patient.
Cat Urine Odor Eliminators
To prevent your cat from defecating again in the wrong place, it is necessary to completely eliminate the smell of the animal.
How to remove the smell of cat urine? You can use improvised and special tools.
Oxidizing agents will help eliminate the smell of pet feces:
- hydrogen peroxide;
- iodine solution – 10-20 drops per liter of liquid;
- water with lemon juice;
- concentrated soda solution;
- alcohol solution.
Getting rid of the smell
Professional products that help remove the smell of cat urine:
- DezoSan and Zoosan
- UrineOff
- Complete Pet Stain&Odor Remover
- Pet Stain&Odor Remover
- Bio-Vax toilet deodorants.
High-quality chemical products must contain enzymes. You can identify stained areas using an ultraviolet lamp. This way you can definitely stop your cat from shitting in the wrong place.
How to stop a cat from shitting in the wrong place: folk remedies
Aromatic irritants are used as folk remedies for re-educating a cat. To stop a cat from shitting in the wrong place, several unpleasant combinations for animals are used.
Any of the following remedies will help stop your cat from shitting in the wrong place:
- Fresh mint aroma. A bunch of fragrant plant retains its aroma for a long period and creates a pleasant atmosphere in the room.
- Citrus. Don't rush to throw away fruit peels. Place it on pieces of furniture, on the windowsill, near the carpet. Lubricate furniture with citrus oils.
Cats can't stand the smell of citrus fruits
- Sprigs of dried rosemary. Make small bouquets of rosemary and lavender. The cat will not want to be in this room.
- Cinnamon. Spicy seasoning can be diluted in containers with water or purchased cinnamon oil.
- Onion and garlic. Ideal for the kitchen. Cut the bulbs into several pieces and place them in places where the cat defecates. The garlic clove can be ground into a paste. Lasting aromas will repel the animal and will not irritate the owner.
- Concentrated perfumes. Choose a perfume with a strong smell and treat the area where your cat likes it. Even if it doesn't work the first time, continue with your idea.
You can experiment with any strong-smelling products, including household chemicals. You can try to re-educate the animal using gentle methods. Transfer the cat's excrement into the tray with him, gently point his muzzle into the pot, have regular conversations, place the animal and the pot in an isolated space.
If your pet is acting inappropriately, we also recommend reading the following topics:
- How to stop a dog from littering the house?
- The cat climbs on the table: how to wean it off?
How to stop a cat from shitting in the wrong place: reviews
Reviews from those who managed to wean porridge from shitting in the wrong place:
- Anna: A cat has been living in my house for more than a year. From the first day I went to relieve myself in the litter tray in the bathroom. Then she suddenly started peeing in the tray and pooping on the tiles next to it. The reason turned out to be her excessive cleanliness. We placed two trays side by side, and the cat began to use both. The problem has disappeared.
- Inna: Once every six months I go on a business trip. The cat stays with her husband. After a long absence, the cat begins to shit in the wrong place. His behavior can only be leveled out with the help of additional attention. When I hear scratching in the corners, I change my intonation. After defecating in the tray, I praise him. A week later the cat gets better.
- Evgenia: I came to visit my grandmother. After visiting for a week, I noticed that the cat sometimes relieves itself in the corner behind the TV. I purchased Zoosan odor eliminator from a veterinary pharmacy. I processed the corner and covered the floor with foil. The cat stopped shitting there.
- Andrey: Our cat got into the habit of peeing in a flower pot. We changed the soil - it didn’t help. The citrus peels in the pot didn't scare me away either. They put this pot in another place, the cat shit in another place. The only thing that helped stop the cat from shitting in the wrong place was double-sided tape on the windowsill. She stomped on the adhesive tape once and now walks around the window sill.
Mechanical methods
If rats appear in the house, the thought of using traps and traps comes to mind. Mechanical control methods were the first inventions that made it possible to cope with rodents on the territory of one’s own property.
Modern devices for mass disposal of rats are sold in specialized stores. You can make rat traps with your own hands.
There are pros and cons to using mechanical methods of fighting. A rat caught in a trap emits shrill screams, thereby scaring away other rodents. In the future, several options for events are possible. Rats leave the room or simply avoid traps.
The same goes for rat traps. An animal caught in a trap becomes a warning to others. The exception is camouflaged traps, the existence of which rodents are not aware of. A row of plastic bottles under the steps, with the neck cut off, greased with vegetable oil is a good protection against rats. Rodents fall into a bottle and cannot get out of it.
Mechanical methods of control include making loops for rodents. They are made from nylon cord, flexible wire. Tighten the loop and place it in places where rats were seen, against their movement. Rodents often move along the walls in the darkened part of the room. The head gets caught in the noose. They try to move forward, they show effort. The noose is tightening.
You can also catch a rat with a towel if you have the time and desire. They wait quietly in a dark place, and when the animal appears, they quickly throw on a towel. This method has several disadvantages - you need to waste time and be able to react quickly. There is a human smell in the room; a rat can smell it without getting out of the hole.
Gel traps
Common products for mechanical trapping of rodents are traps made from an adhesive gel base. Within 14 days, the anti-rodent glue does not lose its properties and instantly fixes everything that gets into it. One touch of the paw is enough for the rat to firmly stick to the trap.
The methods for exterminating rats are impressive in their variety; the gel trap is one of the most effective among them. There are several advantages:
- you can catch a whole brood of rats;
- does not contain toxic substances;
- used in any room.
Glue is applied to cardboard, plywood, and plastic. Fixed to the floor using screws and nails. The size of the trap should be within 50*50 cm. The glue is applied in a continuous line with 3-5 cm indentations between the rows. The glue strip should be 5 cm wide.
You need to check it every day. Throw away the trap, make a new one, or get rid of stuck pests, renew the layer of glue. It is possible to kill rats using this method in a few weeks. To lure into a trap, a fragrant bait is placed in the center.
Rats are attracted by the smell of smoked meats, fish, meat, fried lard, chips, cheese, and seeds. Large rodents react less to flour, cereals, grains, and sweet foods.