The cat is usually fastidious about its toilet habits and will consistently use a litter tray indoors, if it is provided, or soil in the garden. If she is soiling indoors it can therefore be very worrying.

Occasionally a one-off accident can occur if a cat is ill, trapped in a room or suddenly frightened. If inappropriate defecation in the home persists it should be investigated for the health and welfare of the cat.

Whatever the cause, punishment is not the answer. This will only make the cat fearful and the problem worse. Deterrents, such as tin foil, pepper, citrus peel or a water pistol will merely redirect the behaviour to another site, cause further anxiety and delay investigating the root cause for the behaviour. Despite the unpleasant nature of this problem it is important to remember - this is not a dirty protest! The cat is not seeking revenge or making a point; something has gone wrong in its world and a certain amount of detective work is required to find out what.

Cleaning soiled areas

Whether a genuine accident or not, once the cat has defecated at a particular location its sensitive nose will encourage it to use that place as a regular toilet.

The best way to break the habit is to keep the cat away from the area as long as possible, remove any smell that the cat can detect and change the geography of the location by using pieces of furniture to block access. Wash the area with a 10% solution of biological or enzymatic washing powder and then rinse with cold water and allow to dry.

Why does my cat soil indoors?

There are numerous reasons why an individual cat would start to soil indoors. Listed below are the most common reasons together with possible solutions.

Illness Urinary tract disease or diarrhoea: can cause soiling as the cat is either in discomfort or just couldn't make it to the litter tray or outside. Possible solution: Treatment by a veterinary surgeon will usually return the cat's habits to a normal acceptable pattern. Occasionally cats will continue to soil if they have experienced discomfort on the tray so it may be necessary to provide an additional tray elsewhere to encourage use.

Old age: An older cat may not want to venture out in bad weather or may be have problems using the cat flap because of stiff joints. As a cat gets older it becomes more insecure and it may feel threatened by the presence of other cats in the territory. Possible solution: It is almost inevitable that, at some stage, elderly cats will require safe and accessible toilet facilities indoors. The provision of an indoor litter tray often resolves this problem. It is always important to rule out medical causes for soiling in the elderly.