Conditions that affect the bladder can be painful, causing cats to associate the litter box with discomfort. You’re strolling along, enjoying a wonderful walk outdoors, when the inevitable happens, and you step in a pile of dog poo. As you lift your foot from the ground and the smell of pet waste rises to your nose, you begin to wonder how you’ll possibly get the disgusting mess off your shoes. Before you toss them in the trash, find out how to get dog poop out of shoes with ease. Simply put, dogs love poop. So if your dog is suddenly pooping in your Pradas, something else is going on. HOW TO SPOT IT: If it’s not revenge, then what is it?

Any sudden alteration in behavior in a dog suggests that something has changed either in the dog’s body or in his environment,” Bloom told us. If the answer is no to the above, an underlying medical issue could be at the root of the behavior. Yup, it’s time for a trip to the vet. Now you understand some of the reasons that your cat could be peeing and pooping in your shoes, hopefully, you can figure out the cause. As with any problem, there are solutions so don’t despair. Cat behavior can be complex so consult your veterinarian if you find the problem isn’t easily fixed. If, however, this is happening as part of a pattern, make an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out other issues. HOW TO GET HELP: Questions to ask veterinary and behavior professionals This can happen due to changes in weather (too hot, too cold, too wet, too windy, etc.),” says Irith. “It can also happen if something scary (to the dog) happens while the dog is outside. 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 UrinationWash or spray your shoes with an enzymatic cleaner. Normal detergent won’t cut it—cats have such sensitive noses that they can still smell traces of urine scent on your shoes, even after washing. Enzymatic cleaners break down odors so that no trace is left behind. Instead, Bloom suggests you, “clean up the mess and then think about whether this is a pattern or a one-time thing.” Try and determine why your cat is toileting in your shoes. It might not be easy but usually, you can uncover a reason for your cat’s bad habit.

Waggoner reinforces how sudden behavioral changes should include a medical rule-out as a first step: “Always, always, always assume that there may be a medical reason behind sudden behavior changes. Any shelter worker can tell you that the saddest surrenders are those of dogs that ‘are stubborn and will not be house trained’ only to find a bladder stone, tumor, or infection was the cause of the behavior.”

Nikki Wardle of Intermountain Pet Hospital doesn’t think your dog is revenge pooping either. But notes it could indicate: First, remember dogs view poop differently. “Poop would be the last thing that came to [a dog’s] mind as an item of revenge,” writes faculty and enrollment coordinator at the Victoria Stilwell Academy, Christina Waggoner. “If they had opposable thumbs and theory of mind, they would be more likely place a nice poop specimen in a box, tie the box with a bow, wrap it in gold foil and present it to you as a gift. Happy Birthday!” Pet parents sometimes say that the way their dog acted when the parent discovered the “misbehavior” was a clear sign of guilt. But science is saying otherwise.