Cat Peed and Pooped in Carrier (What Now? & Prevention)
If your cat has peed and popped in your carrier you may be wondering why this happened, and what you can do, going forward, to prevent it (Click here to see my best solution, on Amazon #Ad).
Why did your cat pee & poop in your carrier?
Cats will pee or poop in their carrier if they are scared, or if they are suffering from anxiety. This is often going to be the case if your cat is not used to being inside of a cat carrier, or if they are not used to traveling long distances in one.
My best prevention for cat pee & poop in a carrier
| Description | Image | My Rating |
| 01. Feliway calming supplement (My Best) Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad |
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| 02. Training pads Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad |
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| 03. Cat Toys Click here for the price on Amazon #Ad |
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So, now you why your cat has peed and pooped in your carrier. But, how can you clean this up? How long can a cat be expected to go without a litter box? How can you get your cat used to your carrier? Keep reading for these answers, and much more.
Could your cat just have held in the poop & pee too long?
Cats will rarely pee or poop in their carrier because they held it in too long. Cats are incredibly clean animals, and they do a brilliant job of holding it in for long periods.
The only way your cat is going to do their business in a carrier because they need to go is if they have been inside it for more than 24-hours. Hopefully, you will not be leaving them inside the carrier for that long.
How can you clean up the mess?
How you clean the cat carrier will be dependent on the material that it has been made from.
Hard Carrier?
If you have a hard cat carrier, then it is a bit easier to clean. All you need to do is scoop the mess out and wash the area down with lukewarm water and some soap.
Soft Carrier?
With a soft cat carrier (Click here to see if a hard one is best), you will need to scoop out the mess. The entire carrier will then need to be cleaned with detergent. You will then want to wipe down the sides and the floor with some pet wipes (Click here to see the price, on Amazon #Ad). After this has been done, you can leave it outside to dry. This may take a while.
How can you prevent your cat from peeing & pooping in there?
If your cat is peeing or pooping in its carrier, then there are a couple of methods that you can use to either reduce the chances of it happening or eliminate it. You may have to experiment with these methods to find one that works for your pet.
01. Feliway Calming Supplement
Click here to see the price, on Amazon #Ad
If your cat is in a carrier indoors, then you may want to use the Feliway Calming Supplement. This is a product that you plug directly into the wall. When it is switched on, it will release calming pheromones for your cat which will help to reduce their anxiety.
The brilliant thing about this calming supplement is that only cats will be able to sense the pheromones in the air. You won’t even know that it is turned on. There is no smell, and it has no impact on humans.
If you are traveling in a vehicle, then there are similar products on the market that take the form of a cat collar. You put it on your cat, and the pheromones will be released that way.
02. Reduce Food /Water Intake
For a cat to pee or poop, then it needs to have food or water inside of it. For this reason, many people will reduce their pet’s food and water intake shortly before travel.
We are not suggesting that you should eliminate their food and water. This could be dangerous to the cat. You just need to cut back a little bit from what they would normally consume.
If you do this, then the chances are high that they will not pee or poop in the carrier. Although, do make sure that you provide them with food and water as soon as you have arrived at your destination. Your cat is probably going to be quite hungry and thirst after a few hours of not being able to tuck into anything.
03. Puppy Training Pads
Click here to see the price, on Amazon #Ad
If you can’t eliminate your cat peeing and pooping in their carrier (Click here to see if they will clean themselves off), then you can at least make them clean up a little bit easier with puppy training pads.
Although they are designed for dogs, cats should be more than fine with them. The purpose of the training pads will be to absorb anything that your cat ‘deposits’. This will reduce the risk of a smell. It also means that the only thing you need to do is remove the puppy training pad when you remove the cat from the carrier.
04. Put Her Favorite Cat Toys in the Carrier
Click here to see the price, on Amazon #Ad
To help to reduce the chance of anxiety, you may want to put some of your cat’s favorite cat toys into the carrier. This will not only help to create a distraction but also help the cat feel a lot more comfortable.
05. Get a Deluxe Pet Carrier and add a Litter Tray
Click here to see the price, on Amazon #Ad
You could also purchase a quality deluxe pet carrier. These are comfortable for your feline friend, and they will help to keep them calm. These carriers should also be large enough to add a small litter tray to as well.
This means that your cat should have somewhere to do their business. This will help to keep the rest of their carrier clean.
Use a cat diaper
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A cat diaper is a way to make sure there is no poop in the carrier. However, it is still messy having to change and clean up the diaper itself.
These are the same concepts as a baby diaper. So, you will need to remove the soiled diaper, clean up and replace it. Therefore, there is an ongoing cost.
How long can a cat go without a litter box?
This will be dependent on the age of the cat. Most cats can go up to 24-hours without needing a litter box. Although, at the upper end of the scale, it can get rather uncomfortable for them. It is best to ensure that they are left with a litter box for as little time as possible. It is much healthier for the cat.
How long can a cat stay in a carrier?
The maximum length of time you should be keeping your cat in a carrier will be 8-hours. If you can give them frequent breaks, then this would be better for the cat. However, if you have no choice but to leave them in the carrier for 8-hours, it should be fine.
Is a hard or soft cat carrier better?
In most cases, pet owners should opt for a soft cat carrier, particularly if their cat is suffering from anxiety. They will be a lot more comfortable for the animal. This can help them to relax a little bit more. They are also a lot more breathable, which will help to keep your cat at the perfect temperature.
The main advantage of a hard cat carrier is the fact that they are easier to clean, which may be good if you can’t quite get the pooping and peeing under control.
What are the disadvantages of a soft carrier?
The major disadvantage of a soft carrier is that they are not all that secure. If your cat really wanted, it could escape. Some soft carriers will counter this by making them hard to escape from, but they will still be less secure than hard cases. They will also be a bit harder to clean than hard carriers.
How do I get my cat used to a carrier?
It will take a while to get your cat used to the carrier, particularly if they are quite fearful of it.
One technique that people often use is to keep the cat carrier accessible to their cat at all times. Even if you are not traveling, you should leave the cat carrier out in your home.
Because cats enjoy ‘secure’ places, there is a strong chance that they will crawl into it at some point.
If you do this for a few weeks, your cat will start to realize that there is nothing that they need to be worried about when it comes to the cat carrier.
Eventually, they will be more than happy to travel about in it. Even if they do suffer from anxiety when traveling, the fact that they have become used to the cat carrier will ensure that they become used to traveling in it eventually.
We won’t lie. This is going to be a very long process, but there are very few cats out there that will never become used to traveling in a carrier. As we said; they do enjoy smaller spaces, and they can feel quite secure in them. It is just that some spaces take a bit longer for them to warm up to.
How long can a cat hold in her urine?
In theory, a cat can hold in its urine for 24-hours. However, it is not recommended that they go this long. While how often a cat pees (Is this bad for pregnancy? Click here) will be dependent on the cat and their age, most should be urinated at least once or twice per day.
If the cat goes less frequently than once per day, then it could indicate a serious health issue.
How long can a cat hold in her poop?
A cat can hold its poop in a little longer than urine. It should be pooping at least once every 2-days, although cats will often be a lot more frequent than this. A lot of it will be very dependent on their age.
How can I keep my cat calm while on the move?
The best way to keep your cat from messing up the carrier is to keep it calm while you move it around. Therefore, I will share some solutions with you…
Treats in the carrier
Having some treats in the carrier itself, or offering it treats during your journey can help. This can keep your cat happy and looking forward to its next treat, rather than dreading the journey.
However, it is important to not give it too much. Because you want to avoid the chance of it getting sick while you travel.
Familiar blanket
A simple blanket that your cat is familiar with can be a big help. If you use the same blanket it sleeps with it will have its scent on it.
And, as you may know, cats rely heavily on their scent. Therefore, they will appreciate this blanket because of this.
Make regular stops
Just making regular stops along your way can help your cat to feel calm. During these stops, it’s important to make some verbal contact with your cat.
This does not need to be much. It could just be making eye contact and asking if it is OK in a loving voice. Little things like this can help.
Make sure its a snug fit
A snug-fitting carrier is important to keep your cat calm. The carrier needs to be big enough for it to move, for example, enough to turn around inside.
However, it can’t be too small or this will make them feel constricted. So, it’s important to keep the balance.
Temperature control
The temperature in your car is important. You should avoid keeping your cat in a car that is too hot but also avoids extremely cold conditions.
If possible, avoid using the heater or air conditioner because it can make loud noises that may unsettle your cat.
However, if this is the only way to regulate the temperature in a hot or cold location you may have no choice.
Control the noise
It’s important to make sure there is not too much noise while you are traveling with your cat. For example, your car radio should not be loud. Also, you should avoid keeping the window wide open.
Some sounds, such as the car radio on a low volume can help. This can help to block out the noise from outside your vehicle.
Careful driving
This should go without saying, as they say. But, driving carefully is a must. So, avoid erratic steering, abrupt braking, sharp turns, etc.
All these kinds of maneuvers can unsettle, or scare your cat. Therefore, if you want a peaceful journey you should avoid these problems at all costs.
Should my cat’s carrier be covered?
Yes. It can help to keep your cat’s carrier covered. This can work well in situations such as traveling in a car or waiting in the vets’ surgery.
This will help to keep it from the unknown sounds and faces that may make it feel anxious or scared.
What should I cover my cat’s carrier with?
The ideal item to cover the carrier with is an old blanket that was used by your cat. This will have your cat’s scent on it. The scent can make your cat feel more settled because it is familiar.
Failing that, you can purchase carrier covers, or use an old t-shirt. In fact, an old t-shirt may be more favorable because your scent may be on it.
