Not many things can be more frustrating to a Pet Parent than a kitty who STOPS using the litterbox…especially if your cat is several years old and has been using the litterbox faithfully up until now. What has caused this sudden departure from proper feline bathroom etiquette?
There are several reasons why your cat would suddenly abandon everything he learned in Litterbox Training 101 and choose your homemade quilt in the guest bedroom as his new port-a-pot of choice! It may take some detective work on your part to figure out what exactly is going on behind your cat’s peculiar behavior.
The very first thing you should do, however, when such a change takes place in your cat’s behavior is take him to your veterinarian as soon as possible. There are numerous medical reasons why your cat would stop using his litterbox, and the main reason he does so is to make his Pet Parents aware that something is definitely wrong. Cats are not dumb! What better way is there to tell you there’s a problem than to leave a “kitty calling card” in an obscure location? Now he has your attention!
Finding kitty piles in strange places
First of all, every Pet Parent should know that it is a cat’s natural instinct to bury its waste in soil or litter so, believe it or not, you won’t have to “teach” a feline how to use the litterbox. If your cat has seen the veterinarian and received a clean bill of health, then something else (either psychological or environmental) is causing kitty to shun the litterbox.
One thing is for certain, however, it is absolutely contemptible to rub your feline’s nose or face in his accidents (as some people have done in the past) to try and stop this behavior. Cats do NOT understand punishments such as this and it will only encourage your cat to try and hide his accidents in hard-to-reach places which, obviously, is not in your best interest.
Any changes in litter brands or even location of the litterbox might “freak” your cat out and cause him not to use the box anymore. In cases such as this, the main objective is to retrain your feline to use the box again. One proven technique is to put your cat’s food bowl in the location where he has been having his accidents (cats usually will not defecate where they eat) and, if you have to, place him in a small room with nothing but food, water, and his litterbox so he will learn to use the box again. And, you should never place a litterbox in a heavily traveled or busy part of the house. This only causes a shy or skittish cat to look for a more private potty spot.
Also, remember that cats are fastidiously clean animals. A dirty, smelly litterbox will most definitely make kitty look for cleaner quarters. Anything and everything that you can do to encourage your cat to use his litterbox should be a priority to keep everyone in your home as happy and comfortable as possible. Cat scoopers are available so that you can scoop out and dispose of any solids without changing the entire box each day.
Stepping in strange puddles
There is not an odor on earth quite like it…the smell of cat urine has an odor much like that of a harsh ammonia. Fortunately, kitty litter has been designed to soak up the pungent smells of cat urine and absorb them. What if, however, your cat isn’t using the place in which you put your absorbing cat litter? What if kitty is urinating somewhere (or everywhere) other than the litterbox?
As stated earlier, an ill feline will most likely try to communicate his pain by inappropriately eliminating (whether defecating or urinating) away from the litterbox. In fact, the number one reason cats STOP urinating in their litterboxes is because they are sick, usually with a painful lower urinary tract infection. By urinating in strange places, your cat is trying to tell you something.
If it hurts him to urinate, he cannot verbally tell you that. Unfortunately, the only way he can get your attention is by changing his litterbox habits and hope you figure out that something is indeed very wrong. Do NOT punish him for his actions. Just like cats who defecate outside the litterbox, if your veterinarian gives kitty a clean bill of health, you will have to look elsewhere for the cause, which is most likely psychological.
Of course, any of the reasons listed above for cats who inappropriately defecate away from their litterbox is also true for inappropriate urination problems. Also, a new addition to the family might upset your cat enough to change his behavior. Whether the addition in a puppy, another person, or a fellow feline, kitty’s confusion at this change may lead him to eliminating in other places. This is especially true if another feline begins using the cat’s litterbox, which is a very territorial piece of equipment. The general rule for this problem is to have one litterbox per cat. Of course, that won’t stop the dominant cat from “marking” all the litterboxes in the house. Hopefully, the adjustment period will be short for your non-litterbox-user!
So remember, If there have been any changes in your household, including new additions (either animal or human), if you’ve recently moved, changed brands of litter, haven’t cleaned the box, or perhaps you’ve had a slight change in your schedule or routine, it can cause your feline to develop stress-related litterbox issues. As long as your closely observe your cat and try to understand the source of his problems, then together, as a Pet Family, you can hopefully conquer those bathroom blues!
