Cat Litter Box Problems

Cats make excellent pets, partly because most take little or no training to use a litter box. Unfortunately, in some cases, cats will stop using their litter box, and this can cause a big problem for pet owners. There are many reasons a cat might do this, and there are many relatively simple methods for retraining your cat to eliminate where she is supposed to.

  1. Understanding Your Cat's Reasons

    • Getting to the bottom of why your cat has stopped eliminating in her litter box is the first step in solving the problem. According to the Humane Society of the United States, cats often stop using their litter boxes as a reaction to environmental stressors, illness or traumatic experiences associated with the litter. Taking your cat to the veterinarian to rule out medical problems is a good first step.

    Medical Problems

    • Several feline medical problems can result in litter box avoidance. According to the ASPCA, these problems include urinary tract infections, interstitial cystitis and kidney stones or blockage. All of these are painful conditions that make urination difficult and can result in incontinence. Additionally, cats may come to associate the pain of the condition with the box itself. This means that even after the condition has been treated, your cat still might not be eliminating where she should.

    Trauma or Conflict

    • In households with multiple cats, in-fighting can result in litter box avoidance, according to The Cat Fanciers' Association. Providing multiple litter boxes in different rooms can help cats separate themselves and choose their own preferred locations. Additionally, if a cat associates pain or trauma with a particular litter box in a particular room, this method can provide a haven for the cat and a solution to the problem.

    Litter Preference

    • Different cats have different preferences when it comes to the kind of surface they prefer for elimination. Some cats have an aversion to the texture of a particular kind of litter, and prefer the soft sensation of a carpet or blanket, or the smooth, hard surface of a kitchen floor. According to the Humane Society of the United States, if you provide a similar litter box surface to the one your cat prefers, she will be more likely to use it.

    Keep it Clean

    • According to the ASPCA, often the problem of litter box avoidance can be solved simply by keeping things clean. Scooping out the box daily and replacing the litter entirely every couple of days can help your cat feel more comfortable. Cats have much more sensitive senses of smell than we do, and a dirty litter box can be extremely offensive to some animals.