Cat not using litter box plus#

Some brands even have special herbal and natural attractants to help direct the cat to the litter. Try adding another box with a new type of litter. If you need to change to another type of litter, do it gradually by adding a little more of the new product each time you change the litter, until your kitty is used to the new litter.Įven if you haven’t changed the brand or type of litter, some cats develop an aversion to a litter after many years. It’s best to purchase different types, though, and offer them side by side to let your cat choose try clay litters, shredded paper, sawdust, wood pellets, even sand or dirt. Studies have shown that the most appealing type of litter to most cats is unscented clumping litter that’s the consistency of fine sand. Cats have sensitive noses and are not fond of chemical or perfume scents.

Many cats have specific preferences about litter. Litter preferences: If you've changed brands or types of litter recently, that may be the problem. When you have more than one box, they should not be located next to each other. In multi-level homes, consider placing one box per cat on each floor. Some cats prefer to urinate in one box and defecate in another, so sometimes adding more than one box per cat helps. When you have more than one box, they should not be located next to each other.

Cat not using litter box plus#

Number of litter boxes: There should be one litter box for each cat in the house, plus one extra (more if you have many cats). He doesn’t like where the box is located.Once you've ruled out possible medical conditions as the cause, turn your attention to the litter box itself, since this is most often the culprit. Here are some common reasons why a cat might avoid the litter box: Shredded paper is another option for you to try.Ĭonsequences of cat declawing Why cats don’t use the litter box Look for products such as aspen or pine wood shavings (commonly used for guinea pigs or mice) or soft paper litter such as Yesterday's News. Cats deprived of their front claws may develop an aversion to the litter box because their paws remain sensitive or painful from the surgery, so they avoid scratching in their litter and may begin eliminating around the house instead. It is not unusual to see litter box and other behavior issues in cats whose front claws have been removed. Why spay or neuter your cat? About declawed cats and litter You can check SPAY USA's website to see if there's a clinic or veterinarian in your area that offers low-cost spay/neuter services. Here’s the next thing to consider: Are all your cats spayed or neutered? Kitties who aren't neutered may be more likely to urinate inappropriately. Some signs that your cat might need an urgent vet visit are straining to urinate, licking his/her genital area excessively and blood in the urine. The good news is that most medical conditions that cause lapses in litter box use can be easily and inexpensively remedied. Several medical conditions may result in a cat not using the litter box, so you'll want to rule these out before looking at other potential causes.

The first step is to take your kitty to your vet for a thorough physical exam.

Since most cases of litter box avoidance are stress-related, punishment only increases the stress (for you and your kitty) and makes it harder to identify the real cause. Punishment won't stop or correct the behavior. Try to keep in mind that cats don't eliminate outside their litter box to purposefully annoy you. You may have to investigate several possibilities before you understand what your cat is trying to tell you, but most issues are easy to remedy. Is your cat not using the litter box? Cats stop using their litter boxes for a variety of reasons, including issues with the box or litter, dissatisfaction with the placement or number of boxes, changes in the environment inside or outside the house (e.g., a new pet in the house, feral cats prowling around outside), and undiagnosed medical conditions.