7 Crazy Answer to Why Does My Cat Poop on My Bed (and How to Solve Them)
A couple of days ago, I got a hysterical call from my friend about her cat. She nearly blew my ear off when she practically screamed this question over the phone: “why does my cat poop on my bed?”
Sounds far-fetched? Overly dramatic? Not really.
In fact, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, at least 10% of cats experience some form of elimination problems. These can range from peeing on clothes to pooping on your bed and other places in the house.
Common as it may be, it can still be a frustrating and extremely annoying situation. I remember how I nearly flipped when my cat did the same thing on my bed.
That’s why in this article, I will be sharing with you the different reasons why your cat would decide to make your bed into a soft toilet as well as some tips to help you deal with this.
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7 Reasons to why does my cat poop on my bed
Reason #1: Your cat can be sick
According to Dr. Chris Miller, a veterinarian at AtlasVet (and the proud owner of two cats), when your cat poops somewhere other than the kitty litter box, it’s possible that it’s because of a medical condition.
Veterinarian at AtlasVet
Any issue with the gastrointestinal tract like diarrhea and constipation, or problems that can cause pain or strain while defecating may cause a cat not to make it to the box, or to avoid the box altogether
Other health conditions that can cause your cat to poop on your bed can include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), intestinal parasites or cancer.
What to do about it:
Before you start attempting to do any behavior modification on your cat after pooping on your bed, make sure that you first get a clean bill of health from your cat’s veterinarian. That way, you can immediately address any health concerns your cat is experiencing, and get rid of the problem.
Reason #2: Separation anxiety
If you think that the reason why your cat pooped on your bed is a sign of rebellion, you’re gravely mistaken! On the contrary, your cat pooping on your bed is a sign that your cat is extremely devoted to you.
As it turns out, your cat pooping on your bed can be a symptom of separation anxiety. Simply put, separation anxiety is a condition where your cat doesn't want to be separated from you for a very long time. In fact, some cats that have a nasty case of separation anxiety that they insist on being with their owner at all times.
This turned out to be the reason why my friend’s cat started pooping in her bed. Recently, my friend took a job that required her to travel quite frequently. While chatting on the phone, she pointed out that her cat would often greet her with this very unpleasant surprise whenever she comes home from a business trip.
What to do about it:
The first thing to do is to get rid of the scent of poop on your bed. More than the fact that it just stinks, the lingering presence of your cat's poop on your bed can encourage your cat to do it again.
After getting rid of the unwanted package, clean the area with a cat poop enzyme cleaner. This will not only get rid of the odor, but also any bacteria that may have made its way from your cat’s poop to your bed.
Cats seem to be turned off by the smell of orange and peppermint. That said, you can diffuse some peppermint oil in your room to keep your cats out of your room and your bed.
Also, if you're going to be away for an extended period, make sure that you lock the door to your bedroom and other parts of the house. Unless you've trained your cat to open locked doors, this will help keep your cat away from these areas.
Finally, if separation anxiety is the reason why your cat is pooping on your bed, make it a point to increase your play time and amount of attention that you give to your cat, especially before you leave and immediately after. This can help your cat be more at ease.
Reason #3: Stress brought about insecurity
Another reason that why your cat poops on your bed can be because your cat's incredibly insecure about his or her surroundings.
There are lots of things that can cause your cat to become stressed out. Some of these include:
What to do about it:
Creating a less stressful environment is the best way to deal with this is to pacify and soothe your cat by increasing your play and cuddling time. Make sure that your cat has easy access to quality food and water. Getting your cat a towering perch fitted with scratching poles will also alleviate his or her stress levels.
Calming products can also help. I usually give NaturVet Quiet Moments Calming Aid Plus Melatonin for Cats chewables whenever we go traveling or during storms.
If these still don't work, try talking to your vet. Your vet can teach you some additional calming techniques. In some cases when the stress level of your cat is too extreme, your vet may also prescribe some anti-anxiety medications to help your cat calm down.
Reason #4: Your cat’s kitty litter box is the wrong size
Cats are finicky creatures, especially when it comes to doing its own business. Each has his or her preference when it comes to the type of kitty litter box that they use. If it's too small or if your cat is uncomfortable pooping in the kitty litter box, then he or she will go someplace where he or she will be more comfortable, like your bed.
One way to find out if your cat’s outgrown his or her kitty litter box is if he or she starts scratching outside the box or if his or her behind hangs over the box when he or she tries to poop or pee.
What to do about it:
If you think your cat’s kitty litter box is the reason why your cat’s pooping on your bed, the best way to go about this is to is to get your cat a larger kitty box.
As a rule of thumb, your cat’s kitty litter box should be at least 1 ½ times the length of your cat and at least 6 inches in height. This will give your cat enough room to maneuver around and poop comfortably.
Reason #5: No sense of privacy
Believe it or not, your cat still wants a bit of privacy and quiet when he or she needs to go to the toilet. Putting your cat's kitty litter box in place in your house where there's a lot of traffic passing through is a recipe for disaster.
What to do about it:
Put your cat’s kitty litter box in a place that’s quiet and offers your cat some privacy. At the same time, the area should also give your cat easy access in and out of the box.
Buying more than one kitty litter box may sound a bit extravagant, but this is another effective way to get your cat to stop pooping on your bed. By giving your cat with many options, your cat will be able to choose where he or she is most comfortable that he or she will forget about your bed.
Reason #6: Wrong type of kitty litter
This turned out to be another reason why does my cat poop on my bed.
Apparently, cats can be just as choosy about the kitty litter you use as they are about the size of their box and where it’s located. Cats prefer soft, fine-grained kitty litter because they have a softer feel.
As I discovered, they are not a huge fan of changes. They will know if you changed kitty litter brands. If they don’t like the brand that you got, that will give your cat a good reason to go and poop elsewhere.
What to do about it:
In my case, going back to the old brand of kitty litter did the trick. However, if you just newly adopted a cat, choose a natural clumping kitty litter. These types of kitty litter have very fine grains that cats prefer.
Also, make sure that you avoid getting scented kitty litter or those with deodorizers. Cats have a very keen sense of smell. In fact, their sense of smell is 14 times stronger than humans. What’s pleasantly smelling to us can be overpowering for your cat, which may be the reason for him or her to avoid the kitty litter box.
Reason #7: A dirty kitty litter box
Would you ever use a filthy public toilet? Well, neither would your cat use a dirty kitty litter box, which could very well be the reason why your cat pooped in your bed.
What to do about it:
Make it a point to scoop out the clumps from your kitty litter box at least once a day. Dump out the contents of your cat’s kitty litter box and replace it with a fresh batch every week.
If you’ve got a busy schedule or you frequently take long trips, try investing in a self-cleaning kitty litter box. That way, you can be sure that your cat's litter box is welcoming for your cat to use when he or she needs to go.
Conclusion
So there you have it: the answers to the timeless question, “why does my cat poop on my bed?”
As you can see, there are a lot of reasons why your cat will choose to poop on your bed instead of the kitty litter box. Taking your cat to your vet must be the very first thing to do above all the other ways to stop your cat from pooping on your bed. Otherwise, you can be putting your cat’s health at risk.
Whatever the reason is for your cat pooping on your bed, make sure that you don't yell, scold or punish your cat. Finding poop on your bed is frustrating and annoying, but it must never be a reason to take it out of your cat. In fact, doing this can just make things worse.
Have you ever experienced your cat pooping on your bed? How did you get your cat to stop doing it? Share it with us in the comments below.
