Why Did My Cat Stop Using Her Litter Pan?

Medical

• If you hear your cat cry when she urinates or if she strains and nothing comes out, take your cat to the veterinarian as soon as possible. According to The Humane Society of the United States, a cat with a blocked urinary tract can die in just a few hours. If not death, then she can suffer permanent organ damage. It is better to get her checked than to assume that your cat is just complaining.

Litter

• A cat may stop using her litter pan if the litter company changes its ingredients. Your cat may notice the change refuse to use it. Some cats do not mind scented litter, but other cats may be irritated by it. Some cats dislike certain types of granules. The litter may be too rough on her paws or she may not like the way it feels when she digs. Try different brands to find the one she will use consistently.

Cleanliness

• Cats are very clean animals. They groom themselves fully every day from head to toe. When their litter box is not kept to the same standards they set for themselves, you may see problems. If she feels that she cannot find a clean place to deposit her excrement in her litter pan, she will find another place to do so. If it smells bad to her, she may refuse to go near it as well. Scoop the litter at least once per day for one cat, and more often if you have multiple cats.

Box

• Cats do have preferences when it comes to box style. Some prefer private quarters, while others prefer doing it out in the open. If the box is too small for her, she will not use it. The box should be big enough for her to turn around in comfortably. She should not have to keep her head low as she squats. For larger cats, the commercial cat boxes are generally too small. You may have to make your own by cutting an entrance hole in a big plastic storage bin.

Environment

• Cats generally do not like to be bothered when they are doing their business. If their litter pan is in a busy area, they may feel too exposed to use it. If it is located in a hard to reach area, she may not have time to reach it before she needs to go. She may not want to expend the energy it takes to get there when she can scout out a more accessible area. If you have multiple cats, another cat may be preventing her from using the litter pan. For multiple cats, it is ideal to have one more litter pan than you have cats. They should all be placed in an easy to reach and quiet location.

Trauma

• If a cat experiences trauma while doing her business, she may connect the trauma to using her litter pan. If she had a painful urinary tract infection, she may associate the pain with the box. Likewise, if the box is kept near an appliance and the appliance makes a noise while she does her business, it may startle her and she may form a negative connection to the location and box. Change the box and the location completely to get her to again use the litter pan.