Cats are known to be clean animals, because of their habit of dumping their waste in separate and secluded areas. Some cats are fussy, and minor changes in their routine can make them opt for a different place than their normal litter boxes. And knowing the reason can help you understand your cat’s behavior and liking.
What can you do if your cat does not use a litter box anymore? Let us learn a few of the most common litter box problems your cat may have.
In The First Place, Eliminate Health Concerns
Many health-related reasons may stop your cat from avoiding the litter box for urinating or defecating. Immediately consult your veterinarian when your cat changes its potty habits. It may be due to a urinary tract infection, arthritis, or major diseases like Diabetes, feline cystitis, or cancer.
Getting your cat medically examined will rule out any health issues. If any disease is diagnosed, the veterinarian can start with an appropriate treatment.
Non-Health Reasons Your Cat Doesn’t Use a Litter Box
There are reasons other than health your cat is not using the litter box. Here are some of them:
Lack of Litter Boxes
Some cats like using one litter box to urinate and another to defecate, so if there’s only one litter box, your cat may start using different places to do its business. In the same way, cats don’t like to share their litter boxes with other cats. Hence, if you have more than one cat, make different litter boxes available to each cat.
Not Comfortable With the Litter
Cat paws are very sensitive and if a box size and texture do not feel right, they start avoiding it. Even a litter box from a different brand can make your cat stay away from it. Some scented boxes can be too strong for your cat and this could be a reason your cat stays away from the box.
Inappropriate Box Size
A small-sized litter box may be spacious enough for your little kitty, but as she grows, the same box may not be as comfortable as it was before. Even the area where the litter box is kept may be inappropriate for your cat to use with ease.
No Privacy
Cats are not comfortable using litter boxes that are kept in noisy or high-traffic areas and even in general areas at home. Litter boxes should be kept in sheltered and private areas so they feel secure, but not surrounded that they feel like being trapped.
Unhygienic Litter Box
A dirty litter box can upset your cat and it may avoid using the box, if not cleaned regularly. This is especially applicable when multiple cats use the same litter box as it will collect odor more quickly.
Frequent Changes in the Household
Disruptions like adding new pets to the home, renovations, moving litter boxes, changes in the mealtime, or maybe just rearranging the furniture could cause anxiety and stress to your cat. This can also disrupt a cat’s normal routine and make them avoid using the litter box.
Now we are aware of the possible non-health reasons a cat can stop using the litter box, here are a few tips to help your cat continue with the habit of using the litter box.
Ways to Make the Litter Box Cat-Friendly
Despite the reasons your cat abandons using the litter box, these simple tricks can help you make the litter box tempting for your cats to use and avoid them littering in different parts of your home. Consider the following tips to make your cat comfortable with the litter box:
- Choose a box as per the size of your cat. Avoid litter styles with covers, and make sure the sides are low enough so the cat can enter the litter box quickly.
- Keep multiple litter boxes accessible in different areas of your home which are safe and comfortable for your cat.
- Position the litter box away from your cat’s food and water bowls to a quiet space in the house.
- Use the litter box material that your cat prefers.
- Avoid using large and noisy plastic litter boxes. You can use one or two newspaper sheets at the bottom of the box.
- Keep litter about 1-2 inches deep in the box.
- Clean the box regularly. Scoop out the waste multiple times a day and change the litter weekly.
- Clean up any out-of-box pooping using cleaners to eliminate the odor, so your cats will not consider the spot right to do their business.
- Minimizing household stress can reduce a cat’s anxiety and may simplify its bathroom habits.
Conclusion
There are no fixed reasons that your cat stops using the litter box. But making your cat’s box more comfortable and creating a comfortable environment will eventually discourage box littering. This will keep your cat at ease and you will have no extra cleanups due.
