Cat Litter Box Problems | A Guide for Cat Lovers

Solving litter box problems is a challenging task. To fix your problem, you'll have to learn more about cat behavior, and remember that there can be several factors involved.

Despite the fact that I've had a page up on litter box problems for quite some time, I continue to get many requests for help from visitors surrounding this and related problems.

I've put together this more extensive guide in the hopes that this will give you many ideas and strategies on how to overcome your problems.

As this website becomes more and more popular, I unfortunately don't have the time to respond individually to requests for help via email. In addition, I am not a veterinarian, and am not qualified to give such advice. I am also not an animal behaviorist or a pet psychologist, and I don't have any formal training in these areas. I do, however, understand cats quite well, and I certainly know how frustrating it can be to try to understand them, especially when they're having problems.

Cat Litter Box Problems Guide

Tips for Solving Litter Box Problems
Solving cat box problems can be a challenge. Anything from an illness to stress can throw your cat off her routine. Your veterinarian needs to be involved in the discussion, and physical problems ruled out before you approach the behavioral issues. You should be aware that even the most well adjusted cat can be thrown off by stress. Stress can come from many sources, including a change in household routine, the addition of a family member or pet, or the death of another pet. Even changing the amount of attention your cat receives can put stress on your cat.

Anatomy of a Cat Box Problem
Solving a litter box problem means being patient, diligent, and consistent with your cat. If your cat develops litter box aversion, the original cause can either be medical in nature, or it may be behavioral. If there's a health issue, it will need to be dealt with first. Either way, some retraining may be required to get your cat back on track.

Resources on Cats and Litter Box Issues
Here's a list of resources on inappropriate elimination, the litter box, and spraying/marking behavior which either support the information I have published in this guide, or offer additional insight or a different perspective on the issues.

Litter Box FAQ
I've seen some general litter box questions come up repeatedly, and thought I'd put them together in this FAQ (frequently asked questions) document.

Starting Your New Cat Off Right

If you have a new cat or kitten at home, it's best to start them off right so that you don't encounter litter box problems in the future. You might want to have a look at the cat box basics section of the site, including information on the pros and cons of automatic and self-cleaning boxes.

Litter Box Training
Basic cat litter box training requires providing the right environment for your cat.

If your cat won't use the litter box, or is experiencing some kind of related issue, these pages are here to help to guide you as you work with your vet or other professional. If you'd like to contribute to this site and either post a problem or a resolution, please see the form and instructions below.

As for my own experiences with my cats in this area, while Teddie has had her bouts of constipation, and Frankie has had issues with what I call "cling ons," none of the three Cat Lovers Only cats have ever had clinical litter box problems. There has never been a case of inappropriate elimination in the house, so I have not had to personally conquer this beast.

When Teddie is having constipation problems, she plays around in the box and swishes the litter around, but doesn't go. She'll visit the box many times within a short time span, and sometimes she'll act like she's trying, but no dice. Eventually, she uses the box.

If your cat is acting like that, it's probably not related to what we normally call box problems. She may be constipated, however, which can lead to long term bowel health problems. Also, feline constipation can have a number of causes, including impacted anal glands. So make sure you follow up with your vet.

Have A Cat Litter Box Problem? Or... Have A Solution To One?

Do you have a cat litter box problem with your kitty? Or... do you have a solution to one that would help someone else? A fix that worked for you, or might work for someone else? Share it!

This is our discussion forum where you can help and be helped by other Cat Lovers Only readers!

You and others can comment, and vote on submissions so that other readers can know which solutions work most often.

Check back here in a while to see your post as submissions need to be approved. I'll do my best to get to them as soon as possible.

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Problems and Solutions from Other Visitors

Click below to see problems and solutions posted by other visitors to this page...

My cat keeps pooping out of the box a couple times a day
My cat keeps pooping out of the box a couple times a day... with diarrhea.

I have 2 cats. The cat Oliver I am having trouble with.

They share a cat ...

Problem: My cat doesn't clean herself
She uses the litter box but doesn't clean herself afterward. I'm having to wash her rear every day or I find little brown poop spots all over my bed, carpeting ...

My cat has begun to sleep in the kitty box
I bought a new litter and since then she has begun sleeping in the box.

My Thoughts:

Cats often rebel against change, and may become ...

My cat poops outside the litter box
I have a Maine Coon cat 14 years old. She started about 2 months ago pooping outside the box. The poop is about 8 inches outside the box on the bathroom ...

My cat poops in the liiter box, but will not pee in it
My cat, Max, only pees in the litter box the first day of new litter, otherwise he refuses. The litter can be scooped daily and he will still pee on the ...

My cat poops on clothes , rugs,etc..
My 12 year old cat has been pooping on any type of clothing, rug, comforter, sheets and sometimes just on the floor. He will find the one item on the floor ...

My Cat is pooping on the porch - on purpose!
My cat is pooping on my screened-in deck, on purpose!

I've tried scrubbing the rug and floor where he's decided to leave it, my Mom tried making him ...

problem - my cat goes everywhere
I don't know what to do? My kitten is 17 weeks now I got her off a breeder about 6 weeks ago, at first she wouldn't use the litter box at all? Then i got ...

Our Cat Urinates on the Kitchen Floor in the Same Place
Hello,

Patches, one of our four cats, consistently urinates on our kitchen floor in the same area. She is a beautiful long-haired Calico cat. She was ...

Moe Will Not Poop in Litter Box
Moe is a large 10 yr old Tabby. In the past, he would poop on the floor rarely, but he would always hide it and then he would hide. He has had some colon ...

Problem: My cat only makes it half way in the box!!!
Please help. Our cat KC has a real problem making it all the way into the box. She is healthy, well adjusted, loved, clean litter, not stressed, etc ...

My Cat Has Started Urinating Outside The Litter Box In The Same Location Every Time
I have a 6 month old female I have raised since she was 2 weeks old. Her mother deserted her. I nursed her on a bottle until she was old enough to eat ...

Pees while standing... burying behavior at food bowl
Hello, My cat seems to be confused about a few things. She stands while peeing and the pee often goes over the edge of the box. I bought a tall box which ...

Indoor/outdoor cat litters in the neighbors yard
My next door neighbor had complained that our cat litters her yard. We have the indoor litter box and he uses it on a regular basis, but obviously does ...

Cat plays with poo
My cat keeps taking poo out of his litter box to play with as a toy. How can I get him to stop?

Pees in box, poops on carpet
Rescued a lovely 8 month old male. Does great urinating in litter box, continues to poop on carpet. I use cleaners to absorb smell to decrease association....

My cat's bathroom behavior is degenerating! Not rated yet
My cat's bathroom behavior is degenerating and now she goes EVERYWHERE!

I have two cats - male and female - and the male is very tidy and never ever ...

Cat Anxiety Not rated yet
Cat anxiety is a topic I thought I'd address here in conjunction with litter box problems. Litter box problems are often a response to stress, and anxiety ...

My cat poops and pees in the house Not rated yet
I have two cats. They grew up together and they are both 14 years old. One is a black Angora and the other a Tabby. The black one does not groom itself ...

Bathtub vs. poopbox Not rated yet
Our cat has eliminated in the bathtub two times in the last week. She has never done this. She has always used the cat box. Does anyone know why?

My ...

Cat peeing on floor right next to litter box Not rated yet
Our cat, about 8 years of age, started peeing on the floor next to her litter box about a year ago. She will still use it for other reasons, but it seems ...

Problem: Kittens poo in box but pee everywhere Not rated yet
I got two new kittens from my aunt and uncle a few weeks ago. They let us have them at 7 or 8 weeks, and we have had them for about two maybe three weeks ...

My kitten poops and pees on countertops and anything off the ground Not rated yet
The kitten was from a mommy that stays outdoors. I took kitty when he was weaned from mom and kept him in the bathroom until he was comfortable.

He ...

My cat poops and pees on carpet Not rated yet
My 9 yr. old female cat has recently started peeing and pooping on the carpet in my dining room instead of using the litter box. I don't know what to ...

Cat Pees on floor? When she has been going in litter box Not rated yet
I have two cats and they love & play with each other. Now all of a sudden our youngest cat Gismo is peeing all over the floor. She was only doing it at ...

My cat pees everywhere except the litter box, HELP! Not rated yet
Ace is our 2 1/2 year old neutered male cat (not declawed). We have 2 other male cats approximately 3 1/2 years old; one female dog (puggle); and 1 ferret ...

My Cat Urinates On The Cupboards Not rated yet
2 Year old cat, overweight, has suddenly in the last 3 months started peeing on the counter tops in the kitchen. Then, today my son called and said she ...

Cat pooping on the floor Not rated yet
Ok I am cat-sitting for a friend. The cat is a super nice male. There is one problem he started pooping on the carpet in the corner of my dining room. I ...

My cat poops on the floor even when the litter box is clean!! Not rated yet
My boyfriend and I have a 3 yr old female cat that uses the litter box, but at least 2-3 times a day she poops on the floor. We have 2 other males one ...

My cat pees right in front of her litter box! Not rated yet
For the last year our cat has occasionally (once every few months) urinated right in front of her litter box. Now that it is winter, and a very cold and ...

My cat was sick, is better but still wont return to the litter box. Not rated yet
I have 3 cats. One 13 year old Burmese female, One 11 year old Burmese female and one 4 year old rescued male. The 2 Burmese are best friends and just ...

Litter tracks Not rated yet
Our cat is now tracking litter all over the house. What do you suggest we do?

My Thoughts:

There are a number of solutions that ...

Cat has diarrhea on the rugs Not rated yet
I have a roommate that has a cat that has diarrhea all the time. She took her to the vet and the Dr ran a bunch of tests, but they came back normal. The ...

my cat peed on the floor and hes box trained! Not rated yet
My kitten mclovin is about 5 months old and has always used his box with no problem this morning he was prowling around went into his cat tent and peed ...

All of a sudden Mustard wants to poop in my living room! Not rated yet
I have a 4 month old male cat named Mustard. He's used the litter box since we got him. Then one day he went on my bed... and now he just goes in the living ...

kitty curtain, the litter box solution Not rated yet
I thought long and hard about the litter box. Number one was our 2 dogs getting into the litter box. This just made their bad breath worse. Also, it gives ...

Cat never really used a litter box... and still wont. Not rated yet
I have two cats - one male one female. They are both outdoor cats, though they have been allowed access to the screened porch. The litter box used to ...

Litter Box Problem - Litter changed two years ago, but she won't go back Not rated yet
Two years ago, my boyfriend tried changing his cat's brand of litter. She freaked out and refused to use the box at all. He instantly changed back, but ...

Not using litter box Not rated yet
Hello, I'm hoping for some help. After having to put my 9 year old cat (Kennedy) down, I wanted to get another companion for my 7 year old cat (Khloe). I ...

Cat poops on litter mat instead of in box Not rated yet
My cat all of a sudden started pooping right outside the box on the litter box mat. He is 10 years old and has never had any problems with the litter ...

Territorial Dispute? Not rated yet
After about two years of living together, Lancelot and Gandalf have decided to start marking on the carpeting. I lived with a cat for 11 years who did ...

Box Aversion Not rated yet
Hello,
I have a 4 year old male kitty named Chopper. There was a young man giving away kittens in front of a grocery store when I got him. He was much ...

2Cats, one pooper on the floor; mystery Not rated yet
We have a brother and sister team, almost 8 yrs. old and all of a sudden we've noticed that one of them has decided to poop 'outside the box'. We haven'...

Cat holds a grudge, poops on floor Not rated yet
My wife and I have had our cat Magnolia for 7 years. The first year, she (the cat, not the wife) used her litter box like a champ. No problems whatsoever....

Small Apartment Not rated yet
My mother has a new small apartment. Where do you put a litter box when you have one bathroom, no utility room and you love your dear cat.

My sister ...

UTI stopped box use Not rated yet
How do I get my cat to start using her litter box again?
She stopped after 15 years of normal use, because of a prolonged UTI. She is 15 and is in ...

My cat poops and pees on my kitchen floor Not rated yet
She started peeing on the dinning room floor in oct 07 a few months after I moved in with my husband. He has 2 cats also. My cat has been chased and even ...

My cat wants to live in the kitchen Not rated yet
I have an elderly cat, who used to hate the litter box, but used it properly when she had to. She always wanted to go outside to relieve herself.

Within ...

my cat pees in my room or in front of bedroom door Not rated yet
I moved out of my mothers house and into an apartment in november and the first few months i had NO problems with my cat. Recently my grandma was in the ...

Can I place the litter box outside? Not rated yet
I live in a first floor condo with a patio enclosed by a 6 foot fence. I have a cat door leading to the patio which I leave open and my two cats go in ...

male cat overspray Not rated yet
My large male cat is very fussy and the litter box must be cleaned often or he will not use the box. He has started to over spray the box even when the ...

Help! My female kitty is peeing on back door and wall Not rated yet
I have a two year old female kitty who is peeing outside the litter box on my back door and in my bedroom on the wall. These two places mainly. I have ...

cat peeing in my bed Not rated yet
We recently moved into a house and one of my cats is now urinating on our bed she is a year old always been a clean cat. Is it because we moved?

My ...

Cat suddenly won't use litter box Not rated yet
have 2 males and 1 female, males are 6 and 4 years old
female will be 2 in May, (got her when she was 6 wks. old) female has stopped using the litter ...

Problem: my cats pee all over the house Not rated yet
I have 2 cats in a sml appartment, they have a litter box nd do use it at times but are still urinating all over the house, mainly the front door entrance ...

My cat rubs herself on my rugs almost always after pooping Not rated yet
PLEASE, I am at wits end. My cat is 3 years old and almost every time she poops she rubs her hiny on the rug. My vet has cleaned some stinky glands near ...

Changing the location of the litter box Not rated yet
I have three cats (2 males and 1 female) who are all neutered. I have 2 litter boxes. One is down the basement and the other tucked into the corner of ...

Vented Cat Litter Box ! Not rated yet
Here's a suggestion from a reader:

I love cats but have always hated one thing about them, the litter box. I looked for options for years. Then I found ...

Sleeping in the Litter Box Not rated yet
I just adopted a four-month female kitten from the Humane Society. I have had her for four days and she has been a happy, loving, kitten, always jumping ...

Problem: Refuses to poop in the box! Not rated yet
My Cat is diabetic. We keep tabs on his blood sugar to make sure it is in normal range. But he refuses to go in his box! Once in a great while he will,...

All of a sudden pooping on the hearth Not rated yet
Wizzy is 7yrs and all of a sudden after always going outside (he has never had a litter box) he looks to the hearth (where there is ash) or a quiet corner ...

Elimination Location Not rated yet
My 4th cat and baby, Sasha just started going in the house a couple of weeks ago. She has gone in the dining room 3 times which is only steps from the ...

Little poops on the carpet and scooting marks Not rated yet
Just in the past two days my 8 year old female cat started leaving little dry poops on the carpet and what appears to be scoot marks along with them - brown ...