Where Do Kittens Poop – What To Expect

The youngest kittens actually can’t pee or poop on their own; their mothers have to help stimulate them to help them go to the bathroom. Sometimes if they aren’t litter trained, it may be confusing to know what location they are doing the deed. This might leave you wondering, where do kittens poop?

Kittens poop wherever their mom decides they should, often in their nesting or bedding material. As your kitten gets older, they may poop wherever and may not care about cleaning up after themselves at first. It’s only as your kitten starts to become more independent and is closer to 8 weeks, or adoptable age, that they’ll start going to the bathroom intentionally or in a litterbox. 

Here’s what you can expect if you’re raising young kittens and when you can start training your kitten to use a litterbox. 

Why Does My Kitten Keep Pooping Everywhere

The exact reason that your kitten is pooping everywhere probably depends on their age and situation. A kitten eight weeks or older should have pretty good bowel control so that pooping may be more in their control. But for younger kittens that can poop on their own but don’t yet have reasonable bowel control, they may not mean to poop where they do. 

Kittens usually start to gain bowel control around five weeks old, so before that, they won’t have much control, and you or their mother will probably help them go to the bathroom a lot of the time. 

For kittens this age and younger, it’s best to keep them contained in a single room since they are likely to have many accidents. Ideally, it would help if you put down mats or rags that can absorb the accidents without causing damage and that can be laundered and replaced as they get soiled. 

Once your kitten is litterbox trained, pooping everywhere is probably a signal. Most often, pooping everywhere is a sign that your kitten is stressed or is trying to spread its scent. Pooping like this is most common right after bringing a kitten home when they aren’t used to your home and are still learning where everything is. 

Keeping your kitten in a single room for a few days can help them overcome that discomfort and get them back to using the litterbox like normal. 

But pooping everywhere can also be a sign that something is wrong with their diet or having a medical issue. It’s a good idea to consult with a vet if you suspect your kitten is having dietary or medical problems, especially if they are pooping more often than normal or having diarrhea or struggling to poop. 

Is It Normal For Kittens To Poop On The Floor

One of the facts of owning a kitten is that they’ll probably poop somewhere you don’t want them to at least once. Litterbox-trained kittens are less likely to poop on the floor, but that doesn’t mean they won’t do it every once in a while. 

A stressed kitten, for instance, is more likely to poop on the floor than a happy kitten. Kittens may also poop on the floor if they feel sick, startled, or if their litterbox is too dirty. 

The best way to help your kitten poop in the litterbox is to make sure there are plenty of litterboxes available, so your kitten doesn’t have to go very far to reach one and keep them clean and healthy. 

How Do You Get A Kitten To Stop Pooping On The Floor

There are a lot of tricks to getting a kitten to stop pooping on the floor. Ultimately, it’s up to your kitten to decide that they don’t want to poop on the floor, and most will do that naturally. Cats have an instinct to always poop in the same place since it helps them limit fecal contamination of their territory in the wild. 

So, in your home, the trick is to convince your kitten that litterboxes are the best place for poop and urine to go. 

One trick is to pick your kitten up while peeing or pooping on the floor and place them in the litterbox. Don’t yell at your kitten or get upset while doing this; that will just stress them and make them want to avoid the litterbox. 

Praising your cat for using the litterbox, whether you put them there or went there on their own, is a good trick. 

You can also help young kittens by moving them to a litterbox as soon as they stop eating or drinking during mealtimes. Kittens often poop right after they have a meal, so putting them in the litterbox will help them make the association, assuming they are old enough to poop on their own. 

Why Won’t My Kitten Use The Litter Box

Kittens may not use litterboxes because they are afraid, stressed, or don’t know what it’s for. Thankfully you can usually correct those issues pretty quickly, and your kitten will start using the litterbox instead of the floor or your furniture.

How Long Does It Take To Train A Kitten To Use The Litter Box

There isn’t any one set timeline for litter training kittens. Some kittens are entirely litter trained at eight weeks old, while others take up to 6 months to train fully. Others may relapse and need additional litter training at a year old or even as full-grown adults. 

The trick is to be patient, not get mad at them, and let your cat take the time they need to use the litterbox. 

How Do I Stop My Kitten From Pooping Outside The Litter Box

Unfortunately, the truth is that there is no way to keep your kitten from ever pooping outside of the litterbox. Some products can help discourage peeing and pooping on furniture or carpets, and keeping your litterboxes very clean can help, but you can’t guarantee that your kitten won’t have accidents. 

Things To Consider

Pooping problems with your kitten can be severe, both for your health and happiness and theirs. If you’re struggling to litter train your kitten, it’s alright to contact your vet for help. Vets can give you great advice and may be able to identify medical reasons your cat isn’t taking.