Oh No! My Cats Stopped Using the Litterbox!
The top issue many owners of indoor cats have is usually that their cats have stopped using their litter boxes. This is not only aggravating, but can be extremely expensive as trips to the vet's and cleaning expenses can add up very quickly.
If this is happening, your cat is trying to tell you that something is wrong. It's up to us as our pet's caretaker to understand what exactly is wrong and then fix it! To do just that, let's consider a lot of the common reasons cats stop using their litter boxes.
Dirty Cat Litter Box. Indoor cats are extremely particular with regard to having a clean litter box. If you've not been on the ball about keeping your cat's litter box fresh and clean, then you can definitely expect elimination problems from your cat. After all, we've probably all opted at some time to go in the great outdoors as opposed to using a dirty outhouse or a service station bathroom. It's the same for your cat.
If the box is dirty, then you'll need to thoroughly clean it, as well as the area around it. Dump out all the dirty litter, wash the box with a cleaning solution like diluted bleach, and refill the box with clean cat litter. Use Nature's Miracle, a product that kills odors, to decontaminate the area all around the cat litter box, to include wall surfaces. A black light will show you where the stains are. Clean and/or replace any cat litter box rugs or mats you may keep outside the box.
Scoop out the litter at least once or twice daily, and change out the cat litter - taking care to completely clean the cat litter box - at least once per month.
Illness. Indoor cats often develop kidney and urinary tract infections. These are usually painful for cats and can lead them to eliminate outside the cat litter box. It's hard to tell when a cat is sick because cats are very good at hiding their symptoms. Therefore, if you in the least bit suspect your cat may be ill, please seek immediate attention from your veterinarian! Just as with humans, the longer a problem goes undetected and untreated, the more difficult it is to cure.
A good way to help keep your cat from developing urinary health problems is to make certain your cat gets an ample amount of water on a consistent basis. Feeding your cat a diet of canned food with high water content and providing your cat with a fountain are a couple of the best approaches to be sure your cat's water intake is sufficient on an continuing basis.
Location: Cats need tranquility while they use their litter boxes. Maybe the litter box is next to an appliance which makes intermittent sounds, or maybe your cat needs to walk past an ornery dog. Consider this from your cat's perspective so you can choose a better location. Make sure your cat has free entry to the location at all times (i.e., if it's in the basement, be sure that the basement door is constantly open). Also, be certain the litter box is not close too your cat's eating area.
Types of Litter and/or Litter Box: If you are using scented cat litter, switch immediately to unscented cat litter. Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat is an excellent choice, and so is ScoopAway's unscented clumping cat litter. There are other types of litter out there, including corn or pine based cat litters. Many cats do not like these other types of litter. If uncertain, go with clay.
Enclosed cat litter boxes trap odors and dust, which can bring about respiratory problems; boxes that aren't big enough are hard for cats to use; and automated boxes can malfunction and startle your cat. If any of these scenarios fit your situation, change to a roomier, uncovered litter box.
Going Forward Since everyone understands that bad habits are hard to break, a defensive approach to creating good litter box habits is the way to go. Here are seven things you can do to prevent future cat litter box problems: 1) Always keep the box fresh and clean. 2) Buy an extra litter box. 3) To help prevent urinary illnesses, ensure that your cat drinks enough water by feeding canned food and supplying a fountain. Get your cat regular health check-ups. 4) Use unscented litter. 5) Switch to a large, open litter box. 6) Look for a quiet spot for the cat litter box far away from your cat's eating area. 7) Praise your indoor cats for using the box! Develop a code word, like "litterbox" and use it with your cat as you praise him so he learns what that means. Then you can remind him if troubles do arise later on.
If this is happening, your cat is trying to tell you that something is wrong. It's up to us as our pet's caretaker to understand what exactly is wrong and then fix it! To do just that, let's consider a lot of the common reasons cats stop using their litter boxes.
Dirty Cat Litter Box. Indoor cats are extremely particular with regard to having a clean litter box. If you've not been on the ball about keeping your cat's litter box fresh and clean, then you can definitely expect elimination problems from your cat. After all, we've probably all opted at some time to go in the great outdoors as opposed to using a dirty outhouse or a service station bathroom. It's the same for your cat.
If the box is dirty, then you'll need to thoroughly clean it, as well as the area around it. Dump out all the dirty litter, wash the box with a cleaning solution like diluted bleach, and refill the box with clean cat litter. Use Nature's Miracle, a product that kills odors, to decontaminate the area all around the cat litter box, to include wall surfaces. A black light will show you where the stains are. Clean and/or replace any cat litter box rugs or mats you may keep outside the box.
Scoop out the litter at least once or twice daily, and change out the cat litter - taking care to completely clean the cat litter box - at least once per month.
Illness. Indoor cats often develop kidney and urinary tract infections. These are usually painful for cats and can lead them to eliminate outside the cat litter box. It's hard to tell when a cat is sick because cats are very good at hiding their symptoms. Therefore, if you in the least bit suspect your cat may be ill, please seek immediate attention from your veterinarian! Just as with humans, the longer a problem goes undetected and untreated, the more difficult it is to cure.
A good way to help keep your cat from developing urinary health problems is to make certain your cat gets an ample amount of water on a consistent basis. Feeding your cat a diet of canned food with high water content and providing your cat with a fountain are a couple of the best approaches to be sure your cat's water intake is sufficient on an continuing basis.
Location: Cats need tranquility while they use their litter boxes. Maybe the litter box is next to an appliance which makes intermittent sounds, or maybe your cat needs to walk past an ornery dog. Consider this from your cat's perspective so you can choose a better location. Make sure your cat has free entry to the location at all times (i.e., if it's in the basement, be sure that the basement door is constantly open). Also, be certain the litter box is not close too your cat's eating area.
Types of Litter and/or Litter Box: If you are using scented cat litter, switch immediately to unscented cat litter. Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat is an excellent choice, and so is ScoopAway's unscented clumping cat litter. There are other types of litter out there, including corn or pine based cat litters. Many cats do not like these other types of litter. If uncertain, go with clay.
Enclosed cat litter boxes trap odors and dust, which can bring about respiratory problems; boxes that aren't big enough are hard for cats to use; and automated boxes can malfunction and startle your cat. If any of these scenarios fit your situation, change to a roomier, uncovered litter box.
Going Forward Since everyone understands that bad habits are hard to break, a defensive approach to creating good litter box habits is the way to go. Here are seven things you can do to prevent future cat litter box problems: 1) Always keep the box fresh and clean. 2) Buy an extra litter box. 3) To help prevent urinary illnesses, ensure that your cat drinks enough water by feeding canned food and supplying a fountain. Get your cat regular health check-ups. 4) Use unscented litter. 5) Switch to a large, open litter box. 6) Look for a quiet spot for the cat litter box far away from your cat's eating area. 7) Praise your indoor cats for using the box! Develop a code word, like "litterbox" and use it with your cat as you praise him so he learns what that means. Then you can remind him if troubles do arise later on.
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