Finding Out Why Your Feline Won't Use the Litter Box
Most cats have an easy time learning how to use a litter box and normally don't have problems using the litter box. If your cat has suddenly stopped using the litter box, there may be a few things you can do to find out why they stopped using the litter box.
One of the first things you need to do is take a look at your cat and consider their health history. If the cat hasn't had a problem with the litter box in the past, they may be sick. Urinary tract infections and other bowel problems cause a lot of cats to stop using their litter boxes. Make an appointment with the veterinarian to rule out any illness or problems the cat may be having.
If your cat is not neutered or spayed, it may be marking its territory. A new cat may be in the home, or a cat in the neighborhood might be in heat. The cat is simply spraying urine around the home to tell the other cats that this is their territory. If the cat is young, you should have them spayed or neutered. Even older cats will decrease their problems with spraying if they are neutered or spayed.
One of the common misconceptions humans have about cats is that they think they do things out of revenge or spite. A cat that has stopped using a litter box is not doing it to punish their owner. There is something wrong with the litter box or it can be from stress. Cats tend to take on the behaviors and emotions of their owners. If you come home stressed, the cat may be feeling the energy and acting out. Speak to your veterinarian about possible stress-related problems with your cat.
Another way to find out why your cat stopped using the litter box is to look at the cat litter. The texture of the cat litter might bother their feet and they simply do not want to use it. A cat that has recently been declawed may have problems with the litter box because they were used to scratching and clawing inside the litter box.
If you have cleaned the litter box and replaced the cat litter and your cat still refuses to use the box, you may need to move the litter box to another room. Some cats simply do not like their surroundings and they may feel threatened or scared when they are using the litter box. If you have other cats or small children, watch them to make sure they do not ambush the cat when they are using the litter box. One traumatic experience with the litter box will cause the cat to avoid it altogether.
If you have tried everything and the cat still won't return to the litter box, you may need to consider purchasing a new litter box. Some cats simply cannot fit inside their litter box because it is too small. The bigger the litter box, the more attractive it is to the cat. Some cats like to urinate the same way they mark their territory, which is standing up. If the cat does this in a hooded litter box, the urine will not leave the box and it will eliminate the need to scrub the urine stains out of the carpet.
Some cats just don't like using the litter box. If your cat stopped using the litter box and refuses to go back, you may consider teaching the cat to eliminate waste outside or your you can toilet train your cat. Toilet training isn't as hard as it sounds, but it does take some time and patience on your part.
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