Did Your Cat Stop Using The Litter Box? These Are The Reasons Why

Did your cat stop using the litter box? There are several reasons why cats might not use their litter box for elimination. These include problems with the litter box or litter, dissatisfaction or unhappiness with the box placement, insufficient number of boxes, environmental changes, and medical problems. You might have to investigate the matter a bit before you are able to pinpoint its cause, but, thankfully, the remedies to most problems are pretty straightforward.

Keep in mind that your cat does not stop using the litter box simply because she intends to irritate or annoy you – which is why scolding or punishment will not help at all. If your cat has stopped using the litter box due to stress or anxiety, punishing or scolding will only add to this and end up exacerbating your problem. 

We will discuss a few possible reasons why did your cat stop using the litter box in this article. 

1. Reasons why did your cat stop using the litter box

1.1 Health Problems

In case your cat doesn’t use the litter box as often as she should, the first thing to do would be to take her to a vet and perform a physical examination. Several medical conditions might be forcing your cat to eliminate outside the litter box – these conditions include:

• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
• Bacterial cystitis
• Diabetes
• Liver disease
• Kidney failure

Some signs that your cat might require a visit to the vet include:

• Straining while urinating
• Peeing small amounts of urine
• Excessive licking of the genital areas
• Blood in their urine

If your cat is aging, a decline in cognition or mobility could also be the reason behind her inability to use the box. 

Thankfully, the vast majority of medical conditions that force cats to avoid using the litter box, can be inexpensively and easily treated. 

1.2 Household Changes

Cats, much like humans, are often apprehensive of change – especially if it is abrupt. So, if you are moving to a new house or getting your current house remodeled, it might trigger your cat’s anxiety and cause her to stop using her litter box. Similarly, if your cat notices the addition of new family members or pets or can see outdoor cats lurking outside the door all day, it might make her anxious and stressed. 

1.3 Issues with the Litter Box

If you have ascertained that it is not a medical condition causing your cat not to use the litter box, you might want to focus a bit on the box itself. Below are some common problems with the litter box that makes cats stop using the litter box:

1.3.1 The quantity

Remember that you should have one more litter box than the number of cats you have in your house (so, if you have one cat, you should have at least two boxes). Sometimes, cats prefer one box for urination and the other for defecation, so it is always beneficial to have more boxes than you have cats. 

1.3.2 The litter type

If you find that your cat stopped using the litter box shortly after a change in the type or brand of litter, you know where the problem likely lies. Cats’ noses are highly sensitive and do not appreciate perfume or chemical scents. There are plenty of studies that suggest that clumping, unscented litters are the most preferable for cats. You should try purchasing different kinds of litters and place all those next to each other; this way, your cat will be able to show you her preference, and you will know the kind of litter you need to stick with in the future.

Some types of litters you can try out include wood pellets, sawdust, shredded paper, clay litters, or even dirt or sand. If you do want to change the litter type, make it gradual: introduce a little bit of the new litter at every change so that your cat is not surprised by the sudden switch. 

1.3.3 Preferences

A lot of commercial boxes available these days are not large enough for cats. Maybe you and your cat will be better off with a storage box – as the lack of room might be the reason your cat is reluctant to use the litter box. Moreover, if you have a cat that is aged or overweight, she might not be able to get inside high-walled boxes. Also, covered boxes might make a cat feel confined or cornered, so removing those covers might also help the cause. Moreover, as convenient as plastic liners might feel to you, there is a high chance that your cat does not appreciate them. 

1.3.4 Location

Cats enjoy predictability; so, if you have an established spot for the litter box, make sure that you are not changing it overnight. Once again, gradualness is the key; moving the box a few inches every day will allow your cat to get used to the new location. 

Ensure that the litter boxes are placed in quiet situations offering sufficient privacy without cornering or restricting your cat. The litter box should also be at an adequate distance from where the cat’s water and food bowls have been placed. Steer clear of noisy spots. Some cat owners use pet doors or baby gates to keep people and animals from intruding and giving their cat the privacy they require. 

1.3.5 Cleanliness

Your cat, much like most cats, is probably extremely meticulous, which means that she would want her litter box clean and spotless at all times. In fact, some cats want litter boxes to be cleaned after every use, and hence, you should make regular scooping a priority. 

Use low or mild fragranced soaps to scrub the boxes out weekly – you might have to do this more often for your cat’s favorite or preferred boxes. Avoid using products made of ammonia; if you wish to remove the odor, you should use vinegar water to soak the litter box.

1.4 Tips for Cats that Prefer Eliminating in Inappropriate Places

If your cat would rather ‘do the deed’ in different spots throughout the house, there are a few tips that might help steer your cat back to the box. Firstly, make sure that you are setting up multiple boxes in areas that are accessible and appealing. If the cat does use an inappropriate spot, make sure that you thoroughly clean the area and get rid of any smell so that the cat is not drawn to that area the next time it wants to eliminate. Finally, to deter the cat from coming back there, you may want to arrange food, water, or treats. 

Covering any problematic areas with plastic wraps or aluminum foils can also make them undesirable to your cat. If you want to cover a large area, you can get a carpet runner and put it upside down. Make sure that you are generous while covering the area; for instance, if the area to be covered is approximately two feet wide, your covering material should be at least four feet wide. After you enjoy a successful few weeks, you can start to uncover the areas that the cat is not bothering with, and focus more on the problematic spots. 

Using outdoor cattery in spots that your cat prefers for elimination is yet another option that you can use. You can get a cattery in any shape or size, ranging from large ones containing shelves that your cat can use to relax or play, to small ones that are only spacious enough for a single litter box. Nevertheless, you must still maintain the cleanliness, location, and preferences of the litter boxes. 

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How Do I Keep the Litter Box from Smelling in My House?

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What Type of Litter Box Do Cats Prefer? (Open or Closed)

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2. Final Word

In the case of a cat, there can be many reasons why the cat stops using the litter box. Fortunately, most of them are easy to address, especially with this guide to assist you. First, getting to the root cause of your cat’s inability or unwillingness to use the litter box, then treating that, will help. Remember, shouting, scolding, or punishing them will yield nothing at all.