One of the most frustrating times for you and your cat is the time during which he stops using the litterbox. Just imagine if you, a human, couldn’t use your toilet and ended up soiling your clothes frequently. Of course it is embarrassing, smelly, and even a health hazard. Only the luckiest cats never encounter this problem, but by taking the proper steps, everyone can do their best to ensure that Kitty can go back to using his litterbox again.

When he’s just a few weeks old, Kitty learns the appropriate place to dispose of his waste. Just like a human never forgets that the toilet is the appropriate place, neither does the housecat forget that he should use the litterbox. There is always a reason for when the cat stops using the litterbox. This article will outline some of those reasons and suggest some steps you can take to help your kitty make things right again.

1. Medical Troubles

The first step in troubleshooting a litterbox problem is to visit the veterinarian. He will most likely want to rule out a urinary tract infection (UTI), one of tne of the most common reasons for a sudden change in litter habbits. When a cat has a urinary tract infection, he feels a painful sensation when he tries to urinate. If a cat regularly feels pain in the litterbox, then he may associate the pain with the litterbox itself. Other problems your veterinarian should look for are diabetes and renal failure. These are less common than a urinary tract infection, but they can cause frequent urination which would make the litterbox have a foul odor to the cat, in between regular cleanings.

2. Cleanliness

Cats love a clean litterbox. Waste stinks, and a cat’s sense of smell is hundreds of times more sensitive than a human’s. Not to mention, their little noses are right there in the box. If you can smell it across the room, imagine how awful it must smell for the cat! If you had to stick your face in a toilet before using it, you also would want it to be in pristine condition. So, a stinky litterbox is not a great place to be. A cat will do his best to bury his waste in the litter, but it becomes a human’s responsibility to remove waste from the litterbox on a daily basis, or more often if necessary. If there are multiple cats in the household, twice-daily cleanings may be necessary as well as additional litterboxes. One should plan to have at least one litterbox per cat, per level of the home — plus one extra if needed. Also, if it is a covered litter box, make sure that the inside of the cover is clean as well as the tray. These areas can become messy as well and produce foul odor. Litter should be completely emptied out and replaced every 2-3 days for non clumping/absorbing litters, and every 2-3 weeks for clumping/absorbing litters.

3. Type of Litter

Has your cat’s type of litter changed? Cats usually become accustomed to the scent and feel of the litter that they use. If it is a scented litter and you change to a different scented litter, or the grain type is different, then the cat may not feel comfortable using the new litter. If you have more than one litterbox, then try changing the litter gradually - half and half in one box, then one full box of the new and one full box of the old - until the cat becomes accustomed to using the litter, then you can switch to the new litter full time. This especially goes for radical litter changes, such as from clay litter to sandy litter, or to the newer “crystal” or “pearl” types, or even newspaper or wood types.

4. Litterbox Problems

The litterbox itself is also very important. If your cat is having trouble entering or exiting the box for any reason, then you will need to make necessary accomodations for them. For kittens, be sure that the walls of the litterbox are not too high to easily step in. Even if a kitten can jump over a high wall, they might not be comfortable making that jump if they need to “go.” Humans also don’t do too well at high/distance jumping with a full bladder. For larger cats, also consider whether they have to jump or squeeze into the box. Is the litterbox in a cramped space? Is there a cover to the litterbox? Do not use a cover if your cat can not easily stand, and turn around, inside the box without having to be a contortionist. Again, even if they are capable of wrenching their bodies into weird and uncomfortable positions, it is not comfortable to do this when they have to “go!”

5. Territorial issues

Is there a new pet or human in the household? If your cat is used to being “top cat” then he may experience an emotional struggle as he adjusts to the new changes. Make sure that all pets in your househod are spayed or neutered, and give things time for everyone to adjust to the changes. In the meantime, try to be sure to have a safe haven for your kitty to go to that includes a clean litterbox. If you can ensure that your new cat and your “old” cat use different litterboxes, all the better.

6. Location, Location, Location

One of the important rules of being a cat is, “Don’t poop where you eat.” So, don’t put the litterbox anywhere near your cat’s eating area. Make sure that the litterbox is in a quiet, low-traffic area. Many cats appreciate a sense of quiet and privacy when they do their business - another thing that cats and humans have in common. If your home is large, you should try to have at least one litterbox per cat per floor. Make sure they are in easily accessed locations. If a door is shut and the next closest litterbox is several hundred feet away, Kitty might not make it in time. After a cat is 7 years old, and as they get older, they will have less capacity, and thus need a shorter distance between litter boxes. When humans have this problem, they use “Depends,” but this product is not available yet for cats. So, try to make the litterbox as available as possible.

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