Solving Litter Box Avoidance: 7 Steps You Can Do Today!
Cat ownership brings much joy and companionship into a person’s life. But when kitty begins “missing” her litter box, the relationship between a cat and owner can become strained.
Solving litter box avoidance can be tricky. Not knowing what else to do, often the owner will surrender kitty to a shelter or rescue. Left abandoned, these troubled cats are usually not re-adopted. Don’t let this setback, which is easy to address, prompt you to needlessly give up on your cat.
The very first action toward solving litter box avoidance would be a trip to your veterinarian to get your cat a thorough exam. There are medical issues that could be leading to your cat avoiding the litter box, such as urinary tract infections, urinary crystals, or bladder stones.
Once a medical issue has been ruled out or cleared up, try these seven things to correct the problem, or even prevent it so it never starts in the first place.
- Make sure you have enough litter boxes. While most experts agree that you should have one more box than the number of cats that share them, this isn’t always practical. If you have 1 for every two cats, that should be sufficient if they are scooped often.
- Place the litter box in a low-traffic area that is easily accessible by your cat. If you put the box in an area that is constantly occupied, your cat may not use it. Likewise, if your cat has to walk past Rover’s sleeping spot to get to the box, she is likely to choose another place to “go.”
- Don’t put food and litter box next to each other. Cats will not eat where they eliminate, so a litter that is close to the food bowl will probably not be used.
- Make sure the litter box is large enough to accommodate your kitty. If her hind end sticks out when she is inside, she either will not use it or her aim will be directed toward your floor.
- Your cat may prefer a litter box without a lid. Although you might like that the lid helps contain spillage and odor, your cat may prefer the wide open spaces of a non-lidded box.
- Provide a cat litter your cat likes. You might have to change brands or types a few times until you find the one your cat prefers. Be mindful that some types of cat litter are hard on tender paws, especially if your cat is declawed. Fine textured sand-like pieces are easier on paws than large chunky pieces with sharp edges.
- Clean the box often. Scooping alone isn’t enough. At least once a month, empty the box and wash with hot water and an enzyme killing product such as Nature’s Miracle or Zero Order. Then refill with fresh litter.
Iris Goldman, a long-time client of mine, was amazed at how these simple tips could make such a big difference. “Until I followed this advice, my Cinderella would often find other places to go. I made just a few adjustments to where I place the litter boxes and the type of litter I use, and it made the problem disappear.”
Solving litter box avoidance can be challenging, but if you follow these steps, your home should stay odor free. Should kitty begin missing the box despite having taken these precautions, this could indicate a serious medical issue. Have your cat thoroughly checked by a veterinarian before assuming the issue is behavioral. Once your cat is given a clean bill of health, consult a cat behaviorist to work with you and your cat. There are solutions if you are committed to working with your cat, your veterinarian, and your behaviorist.
Also review HELP! My Cat Pees On Everything!
Dennis Dixon says
We adopted Teddy Bear 4 years ago, he was big and overweight about 22 lbs. Pretty big for a Maine Coon mix. Although the shelyer told us he had been mistreated by previous owners, he was shy but friendly and gentle. The first problem we faced (besides weight reduction) was his inappropriate elimination. Once he used a spot he tended to return there for future toilet visits. We had another cat but we had three litter boxws. We bought an oversized (think kiddy pool) litter box which Teddy seemed to like for a short while and we switch cat litter brands, eventually adopting the Pretty Litter brand. He rarely uses a litter box no matter where it is placed. Now we have since adopted two more cats from our neighbor who passed and we couldn’t find a suitable home for them but they came into our home well-adjusted although losing their familiar surroundings and owner. We have gated the stairway in order to segregate the two pairs of cats and reduce any stress to Teddy who now suffers from diarrhea along with his tendency to squat on our floors and carpets. Three visits to the vet clinic have resulted in no solutions. What would you suggest?
Rita Reimers says
Hi Dennis,
First, that is so wonderful that you took in these two cats who lost their person. Cats do grieve, so I am sure they are missing their person very much. How are they handling their new surroundings?
Getting to the bottom of Teddy’s poop behaviors is what needs to happen before the added stress of meeting his new housemates. Has he been seen by your veterinarian recently? IBS and other intestinal issues, such as parasites, can often cause runny poo. Also ask your vet about using medication to help Teddy has more fully-formed poos. This may be the reason he isn’t using the litter box for poop, especially if he is using is ok for peeing. He may even have a food allergy that is causing his runny poop.
If all medical causes for his behavior have been ruled out, then of course this has become a habit for Teddy. There are many ways we can help, feel free to schedule a free 15-minute pre-consult if you’d like to meet Linda and I before scheduling a session for Teddy. We can also help you to get all 4 cats to meet and live together in harmony.
https://catbehavioralliance.com/cat-behavior-consultations/#free-cat-behavior-session
Meow,
Rita
Bushra fatima says
We adopted Leo 10 months ago. Leo has learned to do litter in his box . But sometimes like once every 14 days he does pee on the sofa/chair/bed. We have a big litter box and his favorite litter too. Leo is healthy and takes his meals properly . But his sudden urge to pee outside the litter box gets us all worried . We did went to vet but got no solutions. What would your team suggest?
Rita Reimers says
Hi Bushra,
I am happy to see that you booked a session with us, because there could be any number of reasons Leo has begun to pee in unwanted places. Perhaps there were changes to his home, or there are unwanted kitties outside hanging around, could be separation anxiety, and the big one, it could be a medical issues, such as urinary crystals.
Once we meet with you, we’ll be in a better position to tell what is the root cause, and the specific steps Leo will need to help break this behavior (assuming he has been to the veterinarian to rule our illness).
Linda and I are looking forward to meeting you next week!
Purrs and Meows,
Rita
Emma says
Hi there!
I will have had my male cat 7 years now. My little guy can get urinary crystals and is on a urinary diet and has been for about 4 years.
We adopted a younger cat a year ago, while they aren’t a super lovey brother and sister combo, they definitely co exist without issues.
In the past month, my boy cat has been peeing outside our litter boxes, we have 2 of them, they are covered, we use wood pellets and clean them daily, and thid has been the routine for him all his life with no trouble. This is very usual behavior for him, we have tried taking the lids off, moving them, using different litter, but he will still pee outside of them. No crystals or any other issues according to our vet. So I’m thinking it could be anxiety or that he is mad at something maybe?
Would love to know what you guys think!
Rita Reimers says
Hi Emma,
It could be anxiety, has anything in your household changed? Have you moved? Added new Furniture, new people? Has anyone left the household (like for school or other reasons) or has anyone’s schedule changed? Have any new pets come into the household, or have any passed away? Almost any change in day-to-day life can affect cats and their feelings of insecurity.
Most importantly, have you had him back to the vet to check for another blockage? That is the most likely reason for his peeing outside of the box.
Rita