The Litterbox Blues
Are you finding puddles around the house? Your cat may not want to use her litter box anymore for several different reasons, but you can resolve the problem with a little patience, persistence, and understanding. Remember, cats do not act out of revenge or spite. You will eventually discover the reason and help your cat solve her behavior problem.
Before trying anything, take your cat to your veterinarian to be sure she is not ill. Urinary tract infections and other diseases can cause cats to quit using their boxes.
Clean bill of health? Now start looking at how and where she is choosing to go. If she is urine-marking her territory, it has nothing to do with the litter box. Whether male, female, spayed, neutered, or intact, any cat at any age can start spraying urine to mark their territory as a way of saying, "this area is mine." Unlike when your cat normally squats to urinate, when she sprays she will stand and spray the urine onto vertical surfaces, like walls and furniture. If you find puddles or feces outside the litter box, then your cat is not spraying.
If you think your cat is spraying to mark territory, then:
 | Determine what is causing her to spray, like neighbor cats seen through the window or conflicts with your other cats |
| Alleviate the cause by resolving the conflict, keeping your cat away from these windows, or discouraging the presence of neighborhood cats |
| Make the sprayed areas less appealing So she is not spraying? More than likely the problem is with the box or its surroundings. She may no longer like where it is located, how it feels, or she may have been scared while using it. Or it could be a combination of these things. How to fix the problem? Start by asking yourself: Have I changed the type of litter? Have I moved the box? Am I not cleaning the box as often? Is it a new kind of box? Am I putting in more or less litter than usual? If you answer "yes" to any of the above, change it back. Make the litter box attractive by:
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| Keeping it clean - scoop daily |
| Getting a bigger box |
| Adding or removing the cover |
| Decreasing the depth of the litter |
| Using softer, finer litter, like the clumping litters or soft soil |
| Placing the box in a quiet place |
| Placing the box far away from food and water bowls |
| Placing it where the user cannot be ambushed or disturbed |
| Putting carpet or a rug around the outside so your cat can scratch after using the box |
Punishment and confinement of your cat will not help - your cat will not understand, the problem has not been solved, and you may create more problems.
To discourage your cat from using the soiled areas, first clean the areas to remove the entire scent. Do not judge the cleanliness by your nose, because your cat's nose is much more sensitive. Use an enzymatic pet deodorizer from a pet supply store.
Make the soiled areas unpleasant by placing a strong odor, such as perfume or muscle rubs, in the area (place on towel and cover area). Deter your cat by using double-sided sticky tape, sandpaper, aluminum foil, or an upside down carpet runner. You might try temporarily covering the area with a piece of furniture or place your cat's food bowls or toys on the area.
Just don't lose patience. Something happened to stop your cat from using her box. Until you can find out why and correct it, nothing will make her use it again. You may have to try six types of litter, nine locations, or cleaning it twice a day, but you will find the right combination. And that warm, rumbling bundle of fur will be more than enough reward.