Why does my cat keep pooping under my bed even after I've vacuumed with the special pet carpet powder?

Question

My kitten is about 6 months old and she keeps pooping under my bed. That's the only spot in the house she poops and she is litter box trained. Her litter box is on my closed in back porch where she also eats and sleeps. How can I get the scent out of my carpet (or should I say my landlord's carpet) and get her to stop pooping anywhere but her litter box. She does it even when her box is fresh and clean.

Answer 1

cats are very clean animals, i would suggest getting kitty to the vet because most pf the time when the cat doesn't use a litter box it is the sign of some type of health problem. also are you gone alot? do you spend time with your cat? most people don't realize that cats can suffer from separation anxiety just like dogs and people do.

Answer 2

Try the litter box buffet...several different types of litter, scented, unscented, clumping, non-clumping, crystals, covered box, open box, large, small, different areas in the house, maybe too much traffic in her potty area.

Answer 3

My cat poops in the bedroom whenever I'm gone for more than a day or two.  (No, I don't leave him unattended -- I have a friend who comes to feed him, give him fresh water, and pet him.)  I assume it's his way of being pissed off at me for leaving him.  But in your case...I don't know.

Answer 4

Having her litter box in the same place as her food and bed is more than likely the problem. Cats are very clean creatures, as I'm sure you've found out. You wouldn't want to eat and sleep in the same place as a toilet, now would you? Cats feel the same way. It is an instinctual effort to keep food and sleeping areas clean and safe, so she wants to use the bathroom somewhere -away- from them. Try moving her litter box to a different area, and repeatedly show her where it is. 6 month old kittens still have a rather short attention span, so it may take a few weeks for her to use it consistently. Also try using a different type of litter, perhaps unscented or finer grain of gravel, because she may not like the scent or the feel of the gravel beneath her feet.



As for the smell, I've found that fresh oranges or lemons/lemon juice works wonders, besides cleaning the carpet. Just squeeze a goodly amount of citrus juice over the stain or where the smell is, let it sit for a few minutes,  then clean with paper towels or a cleaning rag. Sometimes a little dishwashing liquid on a wet rag in addition to the citrus helps too, especially if your carpet is the thick nappy kind. Most cats don't like the smell of citrus, either, so it will repel her from your bed. (and make your bedroom smell great, too!)

Hope this helps a bit. [:

Answer 5

In addition to some of the excellent suggestions already given, try cleaning the spot under the bed with a bacterial-enzyme cleaner. First make sure that any residues of the "carpet powder" or other cleaners have been removed; as these often impede the action of the bacterial enzymes.

You might also try placing a temporary litter box (of the style and type of litter she finds acceptable or attractive) in the bedroom. Surround it with a larger cardboard box with an opening cut into one end, which will greatly reduce stray litter getting into the carpet or possible damage from near-misses (those who have had cats pee or p**p on the *sides* or *edges* of a low-sided cat box know exactly what I'm referring to here!).

As she gets used to using this box (and not under your bed), gradually move the box back out to a more desirable location.

Answer 6

Cats tend not to p**p in the same area that they eat in - cats are clean animals and they prefer to have the litter box in a quiet place where there isn't alot of traffic (movement) they are in a compromising position when they are going p**p - the oder in the carpet, try baking soda then scrub it clean and  after you've scrubbed away the stain,the urine  goes to through the carpet to the floor so after you have cleaned it try some fabric softener or lysol! Move the litter box or take a Rubbermaid container, cut an opening and placing it over the box , or you could put a table over top of it and put a table cloth over top of the table - cats wont privacy to go like we humans do.  

Answer 7

yes cats don't like their litter box to be in the same area as their food, so maybe try putting the litter box under your bed for a few days until she gets used to using it (if you don't mind the smell!) and then put it somewhere else. or you could move her food inside away from the litter box and just have water outside for her if she sleeps out there at night time.