8 month old spayed kitten keeps pooping outside her box

by Nessa S.
(Dayton, OH)

My 8 month old black kitty keeps pooping in precarious places in my carpeted house even when I have just cleaned her box.

She will poop most times in the box, but sometimes she will find somewhere inconspicuous like under my desk or right under my dining room window in the corner or the worst, behind my gigantic entertainment center!

I've heard they will do this when they are upset with their owner, I'm not sure if this is the case.

She wants to go outside, but I will not let her because I have severe allergies to the elements and allowing her to go and come as she pleases will present a big issue for me.

I do let her explore on the porch from time to time and I will hold her when I go out sometimes... but between her pooping and the destroying of my household items, she's on a fast track to adoption-ville!

Please help if there is anyone who has had this same issue. Thank you so much.

My thoughts:

I'm sorry to hear that your cat is having problems. When a cat consistently uses the box to urinate, but only intermittently uses the box to defecate, it often turns out to be:

An undetected medical problem.

Or...

An expression of stress, fear, or dominance, although given she's using out of the way places, I doubt dominance is the problem.

Before I continue, however, it's possible she may be one of those cats that prefers one box to pee in and another box to poop in. Adding another box (technically, the experts tell us one cat should have two boxes) is never a bad idea, in my opinion, and it can sometimes change the game. Moving on...

I'd like to clear something up. You said:

"I've heard they will do this when they are upset with their owner, I'm not sure if this is the case."

This is an important point but I'd like to make a distinction. I would word it differently. Cats sometimes defecate outside the box when they are upset, not with their humans, per se, but with their situation.

In other words, something about the conditions of the kitty's life (house, litter box/litter, housemates, etc.) are not right at those times.

Illnesses that could cause a cat to stop using the box could be directly bowel related, such as constipation, or some other condition with a bowel problem as a symptom. For example, the flu can lead to dehydration, and dehydration can lead to constipation. Problems due to worms or other parasites, infection, and kidney problems are all suspect.

Has she been checked by your vet recently? If your vet gives the all clear, here are some examples of things that might upset your cat or cause stress...

Cats or other animals outside the house that are threatening her, even though she stays inside.

Changes in the household or immediate environment.

Lack of adequate resources or needs not being met (lack of vertical or horizontal space, not enough exercise/attention, etc.).

Fighting with another cat or pet or not getting along with a human household member.

I hope that you'll work with her to determine what's causing her problem.

-Kurt