Sarah-Jane White So Why Did My Cat Stop Using The Litter Box? Let’s find out
It’s true that cats are finicky creatures with an attitude to match. However, don’t mistake their pooping/peeing next to the litter box as a way to annoy you.
Cats don’t purposely do that. If your cat has recently developed a habit of avoiding the litter box, it’s likely because of underlying health, behavior, and litter box problems.
Scroll down and find out the potential causes of why your cat might be struggling with using the litter box.
Possible Causes for Your Cat to Skip the Litter Box
1. Litter-Box Management Problems
One of the main reasons your cat avoids using the litter box could be directly linked to the litter box itself. The following litter box problems might cause your cat to skip the litter box suddenly:
- Your cat does not like certain litter.
- Your cat’s litter box isn’t suitable for your cat’s size; too small.
- The level of cat litter in the box is either too shallow or too full.
- Each cat needs one litter box as they prefer to have space so you’ll need more than one box if you have more cats.
- A hooded or covered box with plastic lining makes many cats uncomfortable, and they’ll seek to take their business elsewhere.
- Cats develop preferences, and a replacement box might not get their approval.
- The new litter might contain chemicals or perfume that many cats dislike.
- Old cats might dislike a new box, or need fresh litter more frequently.
- If you live in a multilevel home, make sure you have litter boxes on each floor.
- Further, this new behavior may be a sign of the cat’s health or territorial animal behavior.
If any of the reasons listed above are causing this, there’s help to fix that!
2. Location Preference or Aversion
Avoid placing litter boxes in a new location and interrupting your cat’s routine. When your cat is used to a designated area, change can be challenging to overcome. Remember, you can’t reason with a cat, you’ll lose every time!
Once you ruled out that it isn’t the new clumping litter, the plastic liners, or other cats in the house, try helping your cat overcome this problem. Try coaxing your cat into the box with a favorite treat.
3. Inability to Use the Litter Box
Like people, not all cats like technology, and some cats might struggle with technologically advanced or automated litter boxes. The automatic litter boxes make noise that can be overwhelming for your cat. Cats have sensitive hearing, and this might explain why the cat stopped and going potty became a problem.
Older cats might find it difficult to climb in and out of small covered enclosures, or it could be too high for them to reach. Though typically, this is not a problem for young felines.
Your cat might be unhappy with the design of the new box. If you switched to a covered litter box or switched to clay litters, it’s your cat’s way of sending you a message.
If you ruled out that new litter isn’t the issue, what about the cat’s food? Did you move or change the food bowls?
Further, the inability to use the litter could be a sign of health feline interstitial cystitis or other health issues that a vet can help you with.
4. Negative Litter-Box Association
Cats are sensitive to change, and litter box use might signal that something dramatic happened if your cat was using the same spot but suddenly stopped. Perhaps something fell and spooked it while doing its business, and is now coping with a negative litter box association.
People often place litter boxes in laundry rooms which can be a catch-all for appliances like vacuums that many cats dislike.
Also, did you recently add pet doors or plastic carpet runners that lead to the box and are making the cat uncomfortable?
Aside from health concerns, adult cats with difficulties eliminating faeces end up associating that pain with the litter box experience. Ask your vet for tips to help your cat eliminate easier.
5. Household Stress
All cats have unique habits and personalities, and some share common litter box problems. The open litter box works for most felines. However, if there were household changes, cats notice. Did you, by any chance, add a new member, like a kitten or dog? A boyfriend that isn’t cat approved?
Cats become anxious and stressed if they’re exposed to too much stimulus. Some cats accept change, while others struggle and show anxiety by sending you clear messages that you can’t miss.
Cats are creatures of habit, and they get used to routines. Most often, owners adapt their schedule to meet the cat otherwise, they develop bad habits like spoiling the house. It’s best to help cats stop this behavior. Instead of getting angry, focus on what your cat needs.
Moreover, stress directly impacts the digestive tract.
6. Behavioral Issues
Some cats are stubborn (their cuteness compensates for it) and refuse to be cooperative when it comes to using the litter box. However, this is unusual as most kittens take to using the facilities easier than other animals.
Punishing them is not a good solution as it will add another element to the negative association. You’ll never win an argument against a cat.
Try placing multiple litter boxes around the house, but not too close. Experiment with litter substitutes like wood pellets, or pine wood shavings, that might just be the cat’s meow.
7. Multi-Cat Household Conflict
Emotional issues can erupt as minor conflicts (hoomans will never know what sets a cat off) if you have multiple cats. Cats prefer to do their business in peace, alone, in a clean litter box. In multi-cat households, that can lead to aggravation.
Felines aren’t used to waiting their turn to go potty. If they find dirty litter, or someone else using it, they’ll explore the area for a convenient place to go.
Medical Issues
Failure to use the litter box isn’t always limited to the litter box and behavioral problems. Sometimes, cats eliminate outside the litter box due to underlying and serious health conditions. Please have a vet examine them right away.
A good tip is to confine your cat to one room separating it from the main house with baby gates.
Urinary Tract Infection
Urinary tract infections in cats are characterized by an unusual straining posture while it’s trying to pee. They’ll also need to urinate frequently, or won’t urinate because it’s painful.
Look for urine tinged with blood. UTIs are uncomfortable, and while the kitty can’t share its symptoms, if it begins peeing around the house, it could be an infection.
Felines link the pain with their toilet and will avoid using it.
Kidney Disease
Although not common, kidney diseases (associated with Diabetes Mellitus) can cause an increase in thirst and excessive urination. The ability to hold urine because of a compromised micturition reflex can result in peeing outside the litter box. Address this issue immediately.
Arthritis
Arthritis refers to a medical condition identified by the inflammation of one or more joints. Cats with arthritis find it difficult to move and resist climbing or using stairs. Movement becomes painful, and if the potty is too far, you’ll have a problem. Arthritis is more common in older cats and shouldn’t be confused with laziness.
Therefore, it’s essential to comfortably accommodate adult cats. Use open or low-surface litter boxes that are easy to enter.
What to Do If Your Cat No Longer Uses the Litter Box
We have discussed several potential causes of why your cat is avoiding the litter tray. These are the key tips to keep in mind.
- Start With a Trip to the Vet
Don’t wait around assuming it’s a phase. Visit the vet as soon as you can and spare the cat the agony and you the hassle. - Look for Recent Box Modifications
If the vet can’t find any serious medical condition, then start looking at any modifications or changes you made. Most commercial litter boxes don’t distress most cats, however, did you clean the litter box properly?
It’s possible one of the litter box modifications caused the problems. Switching back to the old method will likely fix this issue. Again, confine the cat to a smaller space until the problem is fixed. - Increase the Number of Litter Boxes
Have one litter tray for every cat in the house, that makes your cat happier. That means you need one extra litter box, it will save you on cleaning the house. - Clean the Litter Box Regularly
Everyone gets busy, and because the cat litter is out of the way, we sometimes neglect to clean it. Cats are finicky, and don’t like dirty boxes to relieve themselves, and neither would you. Besides, cat urine has a strong ammonia scent that isn’t healthy.
If cleaning isn’t your thing because you’re too busy, switch to an automatic litter box. - Try Out Different Litter Box Placements
Some cats aren’t shy about using the facilities in full view, while others prefer privacy. Do a few experiments and relocate the box to different areas, but always introduce your cat to the new location. Remember, where you think is a good idea to poop and pee, might not be the cat’s idea.
If you are using a storage closet or basement, did you put the vacuum or other noisy appliance next to the box? What about old chemical cleaners or paint cans? Dedicate the cat’s litter area as the kitty loo until they become comfortable. - Experiment with Different Types of Litter and Litter Boxes.
Cats are one of the pickiest creatures ever! If your cat declines to go into the litter area, try replacing it with a new model. But leave the old one for the time being.
Try replacing the litter too. Scented litter or chemical litter causes discomfort in some cats. It’s better to avoid scented litter. Soft paper litter is excellent in the cat’s litter box, and declawed cats whose paws remain sensitive might prefer it. - Cats are very choosy about the objects of their affection.
Felines are divas by nature, and they don’t like the look of the litter box area or the design, you can’t change their minds. On the other hand, many cats are happy using a cardboard box fastened with double-sided sticky tape to hold it in place.
Conclusion
Hopefully, after reading this article, you’re less frustrated with your cat. There’s also a difference between failure to use the litter tray to urinate and spraying. They are giving you clear signals, and your cat feels you should do something to fix the problem.
Consult your vet if you suspect a medical problem. If it’s due to a litter box problem, don’t leave your cat in such a vulnerable position and find a solution to make it purrrfect!
Don’t forget to shower your cats with love and cuddles!
This is a guest post.
