Why Has My Cat Stopped Using the Litter Box?

Rule out physical causes first

Sometimes, the best of cats will start eliminating outside the litter tray randomly, though they have known and used their toilet for years.

Does your cat have a UTI that makes him or her want to go often, but not make it to the litter tray in time? It could be incontinence too, or in senior cats, arthritic ache can make stepping over the ledge of the tray a painful activity. A change in food could cause constipation, and the cat will move to firmer ground to get a good grip to apply the required pressure.

The vet is always the first stop, to rule out any physical reasons for hit-and-miss toileting.

Then look at the litter itself

Cats are notoriously fussy. Have you changed the brand or type of litter? Scented litter is exceptionally objectionable to them. A new kind of litter that doesn't clump spreads the urine around, making it rather icky. Litter with a bentonite clay base, that clumps easily and has no dust, is the best.

What about the depth of the litter? It should be three to five centimetres deep for the cat to dig, do the job, and cover up.

And the tray, and how clean it is

Has the litter tray been changed completely? A covered tray, though an attractive option to us to keep the household odour-free, is to the cat like going to a restroom with no exhaust fan.

On the subject — is the litter box clean? Has the tray itself been cleaned? The litter tray should be cleaned with soap and water every 10 days or so. Sun-drying it removes all scent.

If you've added a new cat to your household but not multiplied the number of litter boxes, just the thought of sharing the loo with another cat could make your cat say, “No thank you.”

Check the placement

Has the position of the tray been changed? Cats need to feel safe while excreting, since the smell can alert predators. So placing a litter tray in a balcony or window would make it seem unsafe to the cat to pee or poop.

The best placement would be by two walls, in an inner room like the bathroom, that affords some privacy. Certainly not in an area of the house that sees high traffic — near the entrance, the bedroom, or the living room.

Check inter-cat and inter-pet relations

If you have more than one cat in the house — new or old — check inter-cat relations. Is either cat blocking the other's access to the litter box? Or does the cat have to pass your (even if friendly) dog to get to its loo?

Is one cat crouching overhead, or nearby, and swatting or hissing at the other? This problem can be solved by having two more boxes, in other parts of the house, so that each cat has unrestricted access to the potty.

Finally, changes in the house

Are there new, loud guests that the cats are hiding from? Children can seem very dangerous to felines — with their loud noises and constant running — causing them to hide.

Nervous cats urinate on unfamiliar things to make them smell familiar. It could be a new bag, or the shoes of a visitor.

Knowing the root cause of your cat's misfires can help you address the problem at its roots.