Top Reasons
Not to Use the Cat Box

Here are the top reasons your cat won't use the cat box. I decided to summarize these so that they'd be all in one place in a fairly easy to read format. I've commented on some of them where I thought it appropriate.

You can post the details of your litter box problem, or if you have a story or a tip that may help others, you can post it here.

Don't expect professional help here, though, as we're just cat lovers helping other cat lovers.

Cat box problems are, in fact, a life and death issue for cats. Adult cats are less often adopted from animal shelters. The ones that aren't adopted within a certain time frame are often put to death.

Hopefully, this section of the site can help with some of that. If nothing else, we can at least promote awareness of this issue.

Top Reasons Your Cat Won't Use the Box

• Box placement, size, and type. Easy entry and exit, proximity to food, covered or uncovered, large or small, it all matters to the feline of the house. The box should be in a quiet location, have easy entry and exit, be of the right size, and away from food and water bowls.

• Move to a new home. All felines are extremely territorial. Try to make any move to a new location as easy on your cat as possible.

• Dirty litter box. The litter box has to be cleaned to your cat's specifications, and they have a sensitive nose. Cats also do not like strong smells such as citrus or bleach so make sure you rinse the box really well when you clean it.

• Too few litter boxes for the number of cats in the house. One box for each cat plus one more box is the recommendation from experts. Also make sure there is a box on every level of your home.

• A dislike of the texture of the litter

• New brand of litter introduced. When introducing a new brand of litter, do it slowly. If a problem develops, switch back to the old litter.

• Threats from an outside cat. This can be as subtle as a stray cat hanging around in the yard, and can disturb even an indoor cat.

• Disagreement with housemate. If your cat is constantly ambushed by another cat or dog in the house when using the cat box, a problem could develop. Also, general tensions and aggressions between housemates can sometimes play out as litter box issues.

• Household renovations. The noise and disruption of work being done on the house can induce a high level of stress in your cat.

• New cat, dog, or person added to the household.

• Change in owner's schedule. Your cat may be sensitive to changes in your routine.

• Medical problems and conditions such as a urinary tract infection, impacted anal glands, feline constipation, or parasites such as worms.

• Physical discomfort when entering or exiting the litter box. If your cat has arthritis or hip issues, injury or some sort of strain, or other condition causing pain or weakness. Senior cats are especially susceptible to mobility problems.

Cats can develop a preference for texture and location at any time. Punishment often makes the problem worse, and patience is essential to solving the problem. So, if your cat suddenly decides to use your living room floor for a cat box, don't punish. Stress of some sort due to a change in environment, routine, and so on is a major cause of cat box problems.

Remember that if a medical problem is the root cause, you cannot solve the problem until it is addressed. Also keep in mind that once the medical problem is solved, there will be behavioral issues and litter box retraining to deal with. Your job is to reduce the stress and/or reverse the preferences that have developed.