I have read this question, but no answer seems to help here.

My cat is an eight-year-old neutered male, and I have had it for five years.

He has always used the litter box, but sometimes defecated outside of it (always just in front). I figured that he didn't like the box (too small), and fixed it years ago. Also, I did some tests with different types of litter to see which he was comfortable with (the one I currently have is really efficient at neutralizing the smell).

Until then, when he did defecate in front of his litter-box, it was always related to one of two causes:

  • He was not happy (we sometimes lock him up inside the bathroom when we clean up the flat; it is his way to say that he disapproved of it)
  • Because the litter is dirty and/or smelled bad

But for the last month or so he refuses to use the box to defecate at all, even if the box is clean and the litter is new. He always defecates just in front of the box. Thankfully, urination has never been a problem.

I haven't changed the litter brand, the "cleaning stuff" brand, location of the box, or anything that could have disrupted him. I know cats can easily be stressed by small environment changes, but I can't see anything that could have stressed him.

I don't think my cat is doing this out of anger, but what my cat does really look like a "I show you I am not happy" behavior. Maybe he is stressed when we lock him up and stress leads to this behavior?

I will bring my cat to a veterinarian next week if the problem isn't solved by then. I didn't do it yet, because "health problem" seems like an unlikely cause (apart from that, his behavior didn't change at all).

Except for unforeseen health problems, do you know of anything else that could bring a cat to change this kind of behavior? Can a cat suddenly not like a litter brand anymore, for example?


An anal gland infection/impaction may cause him to associate pain with the litter box. In the early stages, there will be no evidence of a problem.


Other than the issues noted already, this is the only thing I can think of that would cause your cat to avoid the litter box.

  • This happened with my cat who got a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Even after recovering he associated the litterbox with painful urination and won't use it. Or so my vet suggested.
    – JohnFx
    Jan 31 '15 at 17:07

I have seen cats not like using the litterbox for a variety of reasons.

  • Do not want to share with another cat
  • They do not like the litter - smell, touch, etc.
  • They do not like the location of the litterbox
  • Litterbox is not clean enough
  • They dont like the litterbox cover
  • Not big enough
  • Too hard to get in to - either they are too small to get in, or arthritic
  • various others

The best thing to do is talk to your vet and see what he/she says

  • 1
    While all of that is true, this question asks about a change in behavior. These things were (according to the OP) all fine before and haven't changed; further, the cat uses it for urination. May 21 '14 at 19:46
  • perhaps one of these apply
    – Keltari
    May 21 '14 at 20:03
  • 4
    @MonicaCellio there hasn't been a change that we know of. For example, if he was startled in the box while defecating, he may be hesitant to put himself in that position again. Basic troubleshooting (including vet visit, adding additional boxes in new locations/shapes/litter/etc) is still required for this case.
    – Zaralynda
    May 22 '14 at 0:06

I finally succeeded in changing this behavior by breaking the routine.

I had seen a vet that said my cat is perfectly fine, and just after that I went on vacation and for 10 days a friend looked after him in his own place.

When I got home and took my cat back, he was back defecating in his box normally.

I don't know why he began to defecate out of the box on the first place, but it seems he continues just for the sake of routine...

Thank you everyone for your help!


My vet advised me to add a thin layer of "Dr Elsey's CatAttract" to the box. This is a litter designed (as I understand) to smell like the kinds of places favored by feral cats for their function.

It hasn't helped much, yet.

LATER: What worked, it seems, was cleaning the box more often (I had been doing it once a day). I'll continue to add CatAttract until it runs out.

  • How long have you been using it? Have you used it as directed? Jun 8 '16 at 16:41

I continued with the Prozac 5 mg a day (Vet prescribed). I bought a 3’ long x 2’ high x 2’wide wire dog kennel for $65 at Walmart. Put the litter box at the back of the kennel, and made a bed for him in the front of the kennel by the door.


I think Keltari has some good ideas....

A cat can change its "taste" in litter material.

Also arthritis can make a cat not want to step into the box.

Straining can make a cat not want to use a box (but in that case the poop would seldom be near the box... more likely on some soft comfy surface).

Dementia can make a cat poop outside, again typically not near the box...
