Why Do Cats Pee & Poop in Shoes?

#1 Litter Box Aversion

Cats are naturally clean animals. If their litter box is too dirty for their liking, they might decide to toilet elsewhere. Cats instinctively prefer to cover up their pee and poop so shoes might be seen as a good alternative to a litter box because their excrement is hidden from sight.

Cats prefer choice when it comes to their litter box. The golden rule for the number of boxes you should have in your household is one box per cat plus one extra. Place the boxes in different locations around the house, preferably somewhere quiet and away from the hustle and bustle of the home. It might be tempting to put a litter box in a utility room but bear in mind that some cats might be put off using it if there is a nearby noisy washing machine or boiler system.

Your cat might be deterred from using their litter box if you use a different kitty litter than normal. Different cats prefer different substrates and in particular, might avoid using a scented litter. Remember, cats have extremely sensitive noses so a perfumed litter will smell much stronger to them than it does to us.

#2 Medical Conditions

Sometimes, a medical condition might be causing your cat to pee or poop in your shoes rather than use their litter box.

Urinary Tract Disease

Conditions that affect the bladder can be painful, causing cats to associate the litter box with discomfort.

One of the most common causes for cats peeing outside their litter box is feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). This is the term given to a group of diseases that cause urinary problems in cats. The most common one is feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC), which can cause pain while urinating and increased frequency of urination, often in places other than the litter box (for example shoes). It can be exacerbated by stress, amongst other reasons.

Urinary crystals and stones can be another cause of inappropriate urination and these can be life-threatening if they cause a urethral obstruction. This is where a blockage prevents your cat from being able to pass urine and is a medical emergency. You should take your cat to the veterinarian immediately if you suspect they are unable to pass urine.

Arthritis

Pain from arthritis can mean that your cat is more reluctant to use the litter box and more likely to look elsewhere for a place to pee and poop. Litter boxes with deep sides can mean your cat has difficulty getting in and out so try swapping the box for one with shallower sides to see if this helps.

Diseases That Cause Increased Urination

Medical conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease can cause your cat to drink more and subsequently urinate more frequently. Your cat might choose to use your shoes as a second litter tray if she’s passing urine more frequently.

Cognitive Dysfunction

Older cats with feline dementia might suffer from confusion and forget where their box is.

Senior cats can develop cognitive dysfunction, similar to dementia in humans. This can cause them to forget to use their litter tray and toilet in strange places such as your shoes, as well as resulting in other odd behaviors.

#3 Stress

Seemingly small things can be a source of stress for cats and a stressed cat can exhibit all sorts of unwanted behaviors from excessive vocalization to pulling out their own fur. Stress is a very common reason for inappropriate toilet habits such as peeing and pooping in shoes. Sources of stress for a cat could include things such as a new baby in the household, noisy builders next door, a new cat in the neighborhood, or too much-unwanted fuss and attention from a person.

Underlying medical conditions need to be ruled out by a veterinarian before assuming that your cat’s inappropriate shoe toileting is down to stress. Where possible, eliminating the source of stress will usually fix the problem. Sometimes this isn’t possible, or you might not be able to figure out what is stressing your cat. In these cases, using calming supplements or plug-in pheromone diffusers can help to relax your cat and make them feel safe.

#4 Conflict With Another Household Pet

Cats do not always enjoy living with other cats. Multi-cat households can be a source of stress for some cats, particularly if the home is relatively small and there aren’t large open spaces for cats to avoid each other if they wish. Even if haven’t witnessed any fights, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have a harmonious group of cats.

Watch closely and you might notice that there is a more assertive cat bullying a more nervous cat. Cats can sometimes block other cats from gaining access to their resources such as the litter box, causing them to choose to toilet elsewhere, such as in your shoes!

Sometimes, the stress alone of living with another cat can result in your cat using your shoes to pee and poop in, even if the other cat isn’t directly blocking their access to the litter box.

#5 Territory Marking

Cats usually mark their territory through urine spraying, rather than peeing while squatting or defecating. Some cats will spray urine on things in an attempt to attract a mate.

Urine spraying is performed while a cat is standing up and holding their tail vertically, usually against a vertical surface. As a result, you would be more likely to find your shoes covered in urine, rather than a pool of urine inside the shoe.

Neutering your cat usually prevents them from marking their territory or trying to find a mate through urine spraying. Occasionally if it has been a long-standing behavior, it becomes a habit and can continue even once a cat is neutered. If this is the case, you might need to consult your veterinarian for advice or referral to a cat behaviorist.