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There could be a number of reasons why your cat quit using the cat litter box.
Here are the ten steps to solving the mystery
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Sometimes you have to practically be a seasoned detective to figure out why your cat isn't using the cat litter box. Simply read down the list to see if there is anything you haven't tried. Even if it doesn't solve your dilemma, you may at least turn up some useful clues along the way.
#1 - My cat was never litter trained.
Well if your cat doesn't know how to use the litter box then the mystery is solved right here at step #1. There are a number of online sources that talk about litter training your cat. Here are just a few: Litter Train Your Cat | Cat Litter Box Training | Purina's Litter Box Training Page
If your cat is already trained then proceed to #2
#2 - My cat litter box hasn't been scooped!
Who wouldn't have guessed this one? Of course, just scoop the box frequently and add fresh litter. You should also completely replace the litter periodically.
If you are already cleaning the box frequently and replacing the litter, then try #3...
#3 - My cat box container hasn't been thoroughly cleaned!
There's literally more to this than meets the eye. Lots of people, including myself most of the time, will scoop the box and add more litter, etc. It may smell better to you at the time but when your cat scratches in the box it's basically stirring-up the odor from bacteria that exists on the inside of the container itself or from the bottom liner area. You need to frequently empty-out all of the cat litter, discard it, and then scrub the entire cat box (interior and exterior) using a powerful household cleaner. Then, refill the box with completely fresh cat litter.
If that doesn't do the trick, try #4...
#4 - The floor and surrounding area has not been thoroughly cleaned.
I realize this is pretty much common sense. However, sometimes we can all get a little case of tunnel vision in our quest to solve the mystery. This needed to me mentioned for this reason. Make sure the floors are scrubbed and mopped.
Didn't work? try #5...
#5 - The cat litter is a new brand.
Sometimes switching cat litter takes some time for a cat to adjust to. It may seem like a trivial thing but for many cats this is a major ordeal and a routine breaker! There's nothing more you can really do other than encouraging your cat to use the box. Eventually they tend to catch on and will deal with the new brand. If the problem persists then consider using a second cat box. Use one box with the old litter but keep the box with the new litter near their food source or in an area that they frequent the most. This sometimes works.
It's not a new brand of cat litter? try #6...
#6 - There was a break in my cat's routine.
This is similar to #5. Cats adapt pretty fast to changes in routine depending on their personality. Generally a little time is all that's needed. However, if you have just recently moved into a new home it will understandably take some time for your cat to adjust. A good idea is to cordon-off a smaller area in the house in close proximity to the cat box and keep them there for a period of time. Their food and water should also be placed in the same general vicinity. You should plan it so this area ends up being the permanent place where their cat box will be located. After some time has passed and they appear calm, open the area to allow them to gradually explore the rest of the house. This method will allow your cat to explore new territory in small increments. Most cats respond well to this incremental method. Another common routine breaker for cats are when there are strangers in the house. You should try and introduce your cat to your visitors to get them used to new faces. Sometimes having new people in the house is enough to make your cat avoid using the box altogether. If this happens consider also either cordoning-off an area for your cat where it can access the cat box without being disturbed by new people.
If there wasn't an obvious break in routine, try #7...
#7 - The cat litter box was recently moved.
Try applying the same approach used in #5. Encouragement can go a long way. Remember too that the close vicinity of food and water to the cat box is important to consider. They WILL find the food no matter where you put it. So use that as a helpful lure to get them to discover their litter box.
If the litter box wasn't recently moved, try #8 then...
#8 -
There's a "scary thing" near the litter box.
We may never truly understand the complexities of feline behavior. They often play by a set of cat rules or use certain cat logic that defies all reason. They are on a completely different mental wavelength than any other creature on earth. If you have a cat then you probably know what I mean. The flight response (survival instincts) in our garden variety of house cat is highly developed in its own unique cat way. They are hypersensitive to things that to us might seem absolutely absurd. A "scary thing" to a cat could range from a rubber band on the floor, to a sweater folded over the back of a chair. These things may suddenly and unexpectedly trigger a flight response and/or prolonged anxiety for a cat. In my case, my cat had anxiety over a broom hanging near the litter box. This was making him pee on my bed and poop throughout the house! Since having removed the broom, my cat has been using the litter box consistently. So, never dismiss possibilities like this. If you are using a covered litter box sometimes it helps to remove the cover.
There are no monsters near the box, try #9 then...
#9. My cat is unhappy because he/she lacks enough attention/affection.
Yes your cat could be unhappy. This point goes along with #6 and #7. Attention/affection may be part of a normal routine as well. Is he/she getting enough of your love and attention? That's something you should think about. Do you have any reason to believe your can is unhappy? If there are other stress factors present then you might need to compensate by providing more attention.
My cat gets sufficient attention and should be happy, try #10...
#10 - There is a medical problem that needs attention.
Sometimes cats will quit using the litter box when they have a urinary tract infection. It can help to move the litter box to a new location or to add a second litterpan in another room. Urinary tract infections often occur with kidney failure. It can also occur with healthy kidneys. The infection can be very painful when urinating so your cat may cry out. Male cats can develop a blocked urinary tract due to crystals in the urine. This is very serious and needs to be treated by a vet as soon as possible. In any case, it's never a bad idea to consult a veterinarian if you suspect your cat isn't using the cat litter box due to health reasons.
My Cat Quit Using the Cat Litter Box
There could be a number of reasons why your cat quit using the cat litter box.
Here are the ten steps to solving the mystery
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sometimes you have to practically be a seasoned detective to figure out why your cat isn't using the cat litter box. Simply read down the list to see if there is anything you haven't tried. Even if it doesn't solve your dilemma, you may at least turn up some useful clues along the way.
 |
#1 - My cat was never litter trained.
Well if your cat doesn't know how to use the litter box then the mystery is solved right here at step #1. There are a number of online sources that talk about litter training your cat. Here are just a few: Litter Train Your Cat | Cat Litter Box Training | Purina's Litter Box Training Page
If your cat is already trained then proceed to #2
#2 - My cat litter box hasn't been scooped!
Who wouldn't have guessed this one? Of course, just scoop the box frequently and add fresh litter. You should also completely replace the litter periodically.
If you are already cleaning the box frequently and replacing the litter, then try #3...
#3 - My cat box container hasn't been thoroughly cleaned!
There's literally more to this than meets the eye. Lots of people, including myself most of the time, will scoop the box and add more litter, etc. It may smell better to you at the time but when your cat scratches in the box it's basically stirring-up the odor from bacteria that exists on the inside of the container itself or from the bottom liner area. You need to frequently empty-out all of the cat litter, discard it, and then scrub the entire cat box (interior and exterior) using a powerful household cleaner. Then, refill the box with completely fresh cat litter.
If that doesn't do the trick, try #4...
#4 - The floor and surrounding area has not been thoroughly cleaned.
I realize this is pretty much common sense. However, sometimes we can all get a little case of tunnel vision in our quest to solve the mystery. This needed to me mentioned for this reason. Make sure the floors are scrubbed and mopped.
Didn't work? try #5...
#5 - The cat litter is a new brand.
Sometimes switching cat litter takes some time for a cat to adjust to. It may seem like a trivial thing but for many cats this is a major ordeal and a routine breaker! There's nothing more you can really do other than encouraging your cat to use the box. Eventually they tend to catch on and will deal with the new brand. If the problem persists then consider using a second cat box. Use one box with the old litter but keep the box with the new litter near their food source or in an area that they frequent the most. This sometimes works.
It's not a new brand of cat litter? try #6...
#6 - There was a break in my cat's routine.
This is similar to #5. Cats adapt pretty fast to changes in routine depending on their personality. Generally a little time is all that's needed. However, if you have just recently moved into a new home it will understandably take some time for your cat to adjust. A good idea is to cordon-off a smaller area in the house in close proximity to the cat box and keep them there for a period of time. Their food and water should also be placed in the same general vicinity. You should plan it so this area ends up being the permanent place where their cat box will be located. After some time has passed and they appear calm, open the area to allow them to gradually explore the rest of the house. This method will allow your cat to explore new territory in small increments. Most cats respond well to this incremental method. Another common routine breaker for cats are when there are strangers in the house. You should try and introduce your cat to your visitors to get them used to new faces. Sometimes having new people in the house is enough to make your cat avoid using the box altogether. If this happens consider also either cordoning-off an area for your cat where it can access the cat box without being disturbed by new people.
If there wasn't an obvious break in routine, try #7...
#7 - The cat litter box was recently moved.
Try applying the same approach used in #5. Encouragement can go a long way. Remember too that the close vicinity of food and water to the cat box is important to consider. They WILL find the food no matter where you put it. So use that as a helpful lure to get them to discover their litter box.
If the litter box wasn't recently moved, try #8 then...
 |
We may never truly understand the complexities of feline behavior. They often play by a set of cat rules or use certain cat logic that defies all reason. They are on a completely different mental wavelength than any other creature on earth. If you have a cat then you probably know what I mean. The flight response (survival instincts) in our garden variety of house cat is highly developed in its own unique cat way. They are hypersensitive to things that to us might seem absolutely absurd. A "scary thing" to a cat could range from a rubber band on the floor, to a sweater folded over the back of a chair. These things may suddenly and unexpectedly trigger a flight response and/or prolonged anxiety for a cat. In my case, my cat had anxiety over a broom hanging near the litter box. This was making him pee on my bed and poop throughout the house! Since having removed the broom, my cat has been using the litter box consistently. So, never dismiss possibilities like this. If you are using a covered litter box sometimes it helps to remove the cover.
There are no monsters near the box, try #9 then...
#9. My cat is unhappy because he/she lacks enough attention/affection.
Yes your cat could be unhappy. This point goes along with #6 and #7. Attention/affection may be part of a normal routine as well. Is he/she getting enough of your love and attention? That's something you should think about. Do you have any reason to believe your can is unhappy? If there are other stress factors present then you might need to compensate by providing more attention.
My cat gets sufficient attention and should be happy, try #10...
#10 - There is a medical problem that needs attention.
Sometimes cats will quit using the litter box when they have a urinary tract infection. It can help to move the litter box to a new location or to add a second litterpan in another room. Urinary tract infections often occur with kidney failure. It can also occur with healthy kidneys. The infection can be very painful when urinating so your cat may cry out. Male cats can develop a blocked urinary tract due to crystals in the urine. This is very serious and needs to be treated by a vet as soon as possible. In any case, it's never a bad idea to consult a veterinarian if you suspect your cat isn't using the cat litter box due to health reasons.