Owning a cat has taught us that we can never know what the cat will do next. We can never predict the action of a cat, and every cat has its quirks and traits.
We have received complaints about the cats creating an unfortunate condition by pooping inside a bathtub.
You can only imagine how horrifying and uncomforting it can become for the cat owners after finding such excrements in the bathtub.
You cannot hold the cat against it as this behavior can indicate a plethora of problems in their physical and mental health.
This article will first explore the possible reasons behind this behavior and then find several solutions to mitigate the situation.
Why Is My Cat Pooping In The Tub?
There can be several plausible causes for the cat to show this kind of unwanted behavior. You have to look at the action of the cat to understand the underlying fault in this scenario.
Most of the time, you will find that the cat is unhappy with the litter box or going through an emotional time.
However, it can also be indicative of something sinister. We will go through all the possibilities one by one to give you a deeper understanding of the situation.
1. Litter Box:
Litter boxes are shrines to the cats. It may sound absurd to any regular person, but a cat owner would surely understand the litter box’s significance for an indoor cat.
Cats use the litter boxes as their version of the toilet, and they spend a considerable amount of time by themselves.
There can be several possible scenarios for which the cat can decide to stop using the litter box. Some of them are:
- You have to scoop out the excrements from the litter box every day. Otherwise, the litter box will be full of foul-smelling substances soon, and cats don’t like their private place to smell bad. They can choose any part of your house to perform their deeds, and the bathtub probably seemed a cleaner place to them.
- There is a rule of thumb about the number of litter boxes you should keep in the house. You have to keep one more litter box than the number of cats in the household. You can also make sure that you distribute the litter boxes all over the house to find it convenient.
- You can choose from a variety of types of litter boxes for the cat. The most appropriate litter box will depend on the nature of the cat and its behavior. You can never be sure in that respect. So, the cat might disregard the litter box entirely.
- The location of the litter box is a crucial aspect of the cat’s preference. If you have chosen a closed, small, and damp space for storing the litter box, the cat will not use it.
- The litter can also be a deterrent for the cat from using the litter box. There are several types of litter that are available all over the world. Primarily you can choose from regular clumping or non-clumping litter initially. If your cat prefers a particular kind of litter, then you can try several varieties of that type of litter.
2. Behavioral Issues:
Defecating inside the bathtub is unnatural behavior for any cat. You can observe the cat spray at different corners of the house, primarily because of their marking behavior.
This undesirable behavior can be an effect of deep-rooted anxiety or depression. Cats could suffer from mental health issues if their surroundings went through a significant change.
Cats are creatures of habit, and any deviation from their well-defined schedule can trigger these habits. You have to find any change in their program or the environment that may have caused it.
Introducing a new pet in the house, changing your work schedule, or moving to a new home can trigger your cat’s behavior.
Hence, you have to make sure that the cat is comfortable with the house’s new rules. A little bit of patience will be necessary for your cat to return to its regular habits.
3. Health Issues:
This behavior can also be a result of some underlying disease in your cat. The cat may have a case of Cystitis or bladder stones in their body that force them to defecate or urinate at unusual places.
Cats are incredibly intelligent creatures, and they will make sure that they make their problems apparent to their owners.
If the cat is suffering from pain or disease, it will defecate in front of the owner. In those cases, take your cat to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
The cat can also have a severe case of constipation, which makes elimination extremely painful. There are other diseases like diarrhea, kidney stones, etc.
Can I Stop My Cat Pooping In The Tub? If So, How?
The first step to mitigating this situation is to take the cat to a veterinarian and have a close look at the cat’s health in question.
If the veterinarian assures you that the cat does not have any underlying health issue, you can use the following ways to eliminate this behavior.
1. Modification to the Litter Box:
Litter boxes play a vital role in your cat’s elimination habits. You have to make sure that the depth of the litter box is sufficient for the cat.
The litter box should be big enough to hold the cat’s entire body and give it movement space. You can choose to purchase a plus-sized litter box if you have a cat like Maine Coon, Ragdoll, etc.
The position of the litter box is also crucial for making the cat comfortable to use it. It is better to avoid closed, damp, and noisy places in the house.
You can choose an open and lit location for the litter box. You also have to keep the litter box clean enough for the cat.
2. Change The Environment:
If you went through a drastic change in your surroundings, it might affect the cat a lot more than you think.
You have to give sufficient time to the cat for them to get accustomed to the new environment.
If a cat is defecating inside the bathtub, you can always keep some water in the tub. Most cats do not like water, and it will keep the cat away from the tub.
3. Behaviorist:
If the cat is persistent with its behavior after all your effort, you can take the cat to a feline behaviorist. They can help the cat to get rid of this foul habit and suggest several ways to keep this problem at bay.
Conclusion:
You never know what a cat might bring to your household. If the cat did not have behavior training when it was a kitten, it would likely have some unfortunate traits.
You cannot turn aggressive towards the cat, as it will be detrimental to your relationship with the cat.
You have to be patient with it and check with a veterinarian if it adopts this behavior. You have to take care of the beloved cat, and you can solve any problem with a little bit of care and love.
Related article:
- Know how often should you change the water of your cats here
- When should you let the kitten roam your house?
Hi There, AJ Oren here. I am the founder of this amazing pet blog & a passionate writer who loves helping pet owners to learn more about their pets through my articles. I am also the content manager of this blog. I have experience in pet training and behavior, sheltering, and currently working for a veterinary clinic.