Cat has taken to relieving herself on the lawn

kiss_me_now9

Just wondered if there's any thoughts on this?

One of our (elderly, 14 this year) cats has seemingly taken to pooping on the lawn. It's not a massive lawn and it seems to have started quite recently - or at least, she wasn't doing it last time the lawn was mown! There's now a patch of about 20 perfectly normal poops in the top corner of the grass.

It's not that the litter box is too far away - it's about a 20 second walk, and she will wander along the top of the garden for a few minutes before she does it, doing the typical turning and digging. If she's in, she uses the litter box, but if she's out then she just doesn't bother coming back in for it. Any suggestions for why she's changed her behaviour?

tanith

My elderly cat used to do this, I just think she couldn't be bothered especially in the Winter when the ground was waterlogged to dig in the mud and get her paws wet and mucky... its was a real pain and nothing I did stopped her... I had to go pick it up and dispose of it couldn't bear to see it lying there...... sadly she's gone now .

kiss_me_now9

It does seem definite nonchalance, if you see her walking along and turning etc. and call her name she'll look at you and then carry on. Sigh. We've always said she's senile, lol

SmartPricePoster

If she can't be bothered to go to the litter tray, it's up to her - some cats don't like litter trays when they're slightly dirty, etc.

Why is it an issue?

Fire_Fox

Any new cats in the area or any cat challenging for her territory? Pooping in public/ a prominent place can be marking behaviour, dominance or even stress.

tanith

SmartPricePoster wrote: »

If she can't be bothered to go to the litter tray, it's up to her - some cats don't like litter trays when they're slightly dirty, etc.

Why is it an issue?

So you wouldn't mind cat poo all over your lawn? :eek:

SmartPricePoster

No? They often bury it anyway and it's good for the soil. We all gotta poop somewhere.

kiss_me_now9

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Any new cats in the area or any cat challenging for her territory? Pooping in public/ a prominent place can be marking behaviour, dominance or even stress.

None that I know of, she's very placid anyway and doesn't get into fights at all - bit of a wimp, runs away!

SmartPricePoster wrote: »

No? They often bury it anyway and it's good for the soil. We all gotta poop somewhere.

She's doing it straight onto the grass, not making any attempt to bury it and it's a massive change in her behaviour, which as an old cat we try and keep an eye on. If it was peeing then it could indicate a bladder problem so I wondered if it was similar with pooping.

Fire_Fox

For veterinary advice you really need to see a vet as per the MSE forum rules.

SmallL

You do not want to mow over cat poo, i have first hand experience and its not something i wish to repeat!

spike7451

It could be anal glands & the grass is 'scratching' the itch when she goes.