Fresh Start Pet Coaching

Every cat owner can recognize it, and no cat owner wants to come across it anywhere but appropriately designated areas. It is the very distinctive and highly unappealing smell of cat urine.

I’ve been a cat owner since I was 4 years old and a tiny kitten crawled under our freezer in the garage during a rainstorm. The garage door, which was usually kept shut, had for some reason been left open.

Midnight, as the kitten came to be called, developed over time the unpleasant habit of occasionally using someone’s bed as her litterbox. I can’t really confirm this, too many years have passed, but I believe there was a direct correlation between the frequency of litterbox cleanings and her urinated on the bed. What can I say, I was a kid and I often forgot about the litterbox chore.

Why does your cat refuse to use her litterbox?

The reality is that there are many reasons that a cat might start refusing to use the litterbox, only one of which is dissatisfaction with how clean it is. All cat owners know that cats are picky and this is one area where the personal preferences of your cat will show themselves. There are also medical reasons that might cause a cat to stop using the litterbox so you will want to take your cat to the vet to rule out any physical causes for the problem before trying to find a behavioral solution.

Top 6 Behavioral Reasons that Cats Stop Using the Litterbox

1. Cleanliness – You may think the litterbox is clean enough, but does your cat? Litterboxes should be cleaned frequently with a mild unsented soap and a complete change of litter. How often you will need to do this will depend on your cat and the number of cats in the household. Additionally, litterboxes should be scooped at least once a day and there should me no smell associated with the litterbox.
2. Number of Litterboxes – Multiple cat households need at least one litterbox per cat and I actually recommend having an extra one on top of that. Cats like to have there own personal space and privacy when they use the litterbox. If your cat needs to go to the bathroom and the one litterbox in the household has a waiting list, chances are that he will find somewhere else to go.
3. Type of Litterbox – Cats also have preferences on the type of litterbox they will use. A small kitten or an elderly cat may not be able to use a box with high sides or an enclosed box that they have to jump into. A plump cat may not be comfortable using an enclosed litterbox that is too small.
4. Type of Litter – In general cats prefer to use a softer more sand like litter. I find that clumping cat litter tends to work best. And definitely make sure that your litter is unscented. You may think that scented cat litter smells nice, but if your cat doesn’t like it you’ll have a much bigger problem on your hands. Quantity of litter can also be an issue for your cat. In general, 1-2 inches in a layer at the bottom of the litterbox is sufficient.
5. Location – You want to put your cat’s litterbox in a quiet area where he spends time. If it’s too out of the way your cat may very well find somewhere more convenient to go. If it’s in an area with to much traffic, he may not want to use the litterbox at all. Make sure it is in a quiet place away from noise and disterbances, but still somewhere your cat likes to spend time. Also, cats don’t like to have their litterbox moved. If you do have to move your cat’s litterbox from it’s current location, do it gradually, a few inches at a time.
6. Aversions – It is possible for a cat that was previous happy with his litterbox to develop an aversion to it. If your cat becomes frightened for some reason while using the box or is ambushed by a dog or other cat your cat may become afraid of using the box.

If your cat has stopped using the litterbox you want to pay attention to the surface your cat is choosing to use and mimick that surface. If it’s soft, try adding more litter. If it’s hard, try adding less litter. Check all the supplies that you are using to make sure that you haven’t accidentally changed anything. You also want to make the area your cat is choosing to use instead of the litterbox is unappealing or unavailable. The best thing to do is to block your cat’s access to that chosen location. If that’s not possible you can use double sided tape or sandpaper, or citrus scented spray or airfreshener to make the area less appealing to your cat.

Are you having trouble with your cat not using the litterbox? If so, contact us today to set up your complimentary 15 minute telephone consultation.