Litter Box Problems: Proven Causes and Solutions

So, your cat has a litter box problem and does not use the litter box? This is not your problem; rather, it is a universal problem. Every cat owner has faced this problem at least once in their life. So as a cat owner, I have also faced such a problem multiple times with multiple cats of ours. It is not like that if you are an experienced cat owner; your cat will not do that. But being experienced lets you understand where the problem lies faster than others. With my years of cat ownership experience, I will thus provide the top 10 reasons why cats don’t use the litter box, along with possible solutions.

1. Trained or not

Solution, if this is the problem:

You need to train your cat on how to use the litter box first. You can follow this article to train your cat to use the litter box: Litter Training 101: Essentials for New and Experienced Cat Parents

2. Environmental Changes

If you have suddenly changed the environment of the cat or have adopted or purchased it from somewhere, it is quite possible that this is the reason the cat has stopped using the litter box. It is quite understandable that when the environment changes, it takes some time for the cats to adapt to the new environment.

Solution, if this is the problem:

You should give the cat time to adjust and adapt to the new environment. You can show the cat the location of the litter box and try to manually take it there a few times. As the cat was already trained to use the litter box, it will understand and start using it quickly.

3. Spraying

Let me begin with one of the first encounters where our male cat suddenly stopped using the litter box for urinating. He used to pee here and there in our house, and a very strong smell used to come from that pee, which was not usual. Later on, we found that he was spraying all over the house and not peeing. If you do not know what spraying means, in simple terms, it means a cat sprays a small amount of urine on vertical surfaces to mark its territory or let the other gender know that the cat is ready to mate. Though this behavior can be seen in both male and female cats, unneutered cats show these symptoms more to let the female cat know that there is a male cat nearby. After we got to know this behavior of our cat and why he was not using the litter box, we consulted a vet and found that we needed to neuter our male cat to get rid of such behavior.

Solution, if this is the problem:

If you find your cat doing such things, you can consult with the vet and get your male cat neutered. Female cats can also do the same sometimes; in their case, you can get their spaying done. But spaying and neutering are sensitive medical issues that you must discuss with your vet properly before moving forward.

4. Naughty

Like humans, there are also some cats who do not listen, are very naughty, and do not want to use litter boxes. We also faced such cases with one of our cats, named “Chilli.” He was very naughty and always jumping and bossing around, but he never wanted to use the litter box.

Possible solutions we took for this problem:

1. Understanding behavior: As we know where he eliminates, we used to understand when he was about to eliminate. So we used to follow him and take him to the litter box ourselves, and we used to not move from there until he did not leave the litter box. But this did not solve the problem entirely. Then we moved on to our next solution.
2. Moving of water and food: He had three places that he always used to eliminate. We moved his food to those places. He was very fond of kibbles and treats. So we made sure we put the kibbles and treats in that place where he used to eliminate them. Cats do not eliminate where they eat, as they regard their eating place as a holy space. So gradually, our cat stopped eliminating at those places.
3. Confining the cat: Though we did not need to do this with any of our cats, and most of the cats will not need this, some cats may need this kind of solution. But remember, this should be the last option for us, and we should try to avoid it as much as we can. In this solution, you can put water, food, and other necessary things for the cat in a place and the litter box should be far from the water and food places. The cat, with time, will eventually start using the litter box. But he does not; try scattering the litter into the ground. Over time, the cat will become familiar with the litter and eventually use the litter box.

5. Conflict of cats

If you have multiple cats at home, then you know that one or two cats will have conflicts with each other. We have two cats who cannot see the shadow of each other; we cannot find out what the real problem is. So most of the time, we try to keep them apart, as they start fighting whenever they see each other. This type of problem can occur if the cats have conflict with each other and the litter box is in the location where a cat mostly remains. The other cat will not feel comfortable going to that place and will eliminate it.

Solution, if this is the problem:

Conflict among cats is normal. We cannot solve it, even if we try. So, we need to make sure we have multiple litter boxes at home. According to vets, we need to have one litter box for each cat and an extra one if many cats are there. You can then place them at various places in the house, which will solve this problem as one cat will not need to travel to the other’s territory.

6. Location of the Litter Box

The location of the litter box can also play an important part in whether your cat uses the litter box or not. If your litter box is in a closed space, too crowded, or does not have easy access to use, it is most likely the cat would not like to use it.

Solution, if this is the problem:

The location of the litter box needs to be in a comfortable, quiet, and easy-to-access place. In short, the cats should be able to eliminate themselves without any possible distraction.

7. Unclean litter box

Cats are very clean. On average, most of the issues related to cats not using the litter box are related to unclean litter boxes. Cats like clean litter boxes. If the litter box is too dirty, they will feel uncomfortable, not use it, and possibly leave it outside the litter box.

Solution, if this is the problem:

You need to make sure the litter box is as clean as you can. Moreover, especially while they are learning, you will need to make sure the litter box is filled with as little liquid and solid waste as possible. You can clean after a while once they’ve learned, but you must make sure the litter box isn’t overly dirty. Make every effort to keep it spotless. Cats prefer fresh litter over used ones, so you can also mix new litter with previously used litter to give the cats the impression that the litter is new.

8. Type of litter

Cats are picky. Cats have their own preferences. So it is quite possible that the cats do not like the type of litter you bought them.

Solution if this is the problem

Try out different types of litter to get an understanding of their preferences. Generally, cats like clumpy litter, as they let the cats walk and bury their waste easily. But every cat has their own preferences, and you will need to find out what they prefer.

9. Size of litter box

The size of the litter box also plays an important role in whether the cats will use it or not. If it is too small, the cats will not feel comfortable using it. This problem occurs more often with older cats.

Solution to the problem

Find a litter box that will suit your cat’s size perfectly. Make sure when they eliminate the litter box’s size, it is not a problem for them; rather, it should give them a comfortable place to eliminate.

If your cat does not seem to have the above problems, then this is a medical emergency. 

10. Medical problems

If your cat is not using the litter box, try to find where it is being eliminated. If you cannot find any proof of elimination, then it is a medical emergency. You also should try to find out if the cat is facing any kind of trouble while trying to eliminate it. These types of problems can be symptoms of various diseases for cats, like diabetes, bladder inflammation, etc. If your cat does not seem to have the above eight problems, then this is also a medical emergency.

Solution, if this is the problem:

Try to connect with your vet as soon as you can and take it to the pet clinic ASAP. You should not take such things lightly, as delaying them can create much more health problems for the cat.

I hope this article helped you find out why your cat is not using the litter box and also provided you with a solution for how to solve it.