My new kitten has started pooping on my bed!

by Phylis
(Palatine, Ill)

June Bug is the newest kitten in the house. We have one other cat who is under a year old. Within the last 2 weeks, June Bug has been pooping on my bed.

I have tried changing the litter type, adding a box and having her checked by the vet. She was just spayed, but she had done this before her surgery. Could that be connected?

My Thoughts:

I'm sorry to hear that your cat is having troubles, Phylis. Having her checked by the vet and adding a box are things I would have suggested, so you're ahead of me there. I wouldn't normally change litters right away, though, if it's the same litter you've used all along.

If she started doing this prior to the surgery, then the surgery itself obviously didn't cause it. I'm wondering how her relationship with your other cat has been developing, and whether or not there was a slow introduction process.

It can sometimes be subtle (or not), but if the cats aren't getting along well enough, or the introduction process was too quick, that could be the cause.

You might want to try confinement retraining to get her back on track. I would also go through the usual checklist and make sure her needs are being met.

For example, does she have a stable routine? Are you exercising her daily, grooming her, and giving her enough attention, etc.? Have there been any changes in the household?

If her needs aren't being met in some way, or there have been disruptions, that might be part of it.

I hope that helps and please let us know what happens.

-Kurt