Six Reasons Your Cat Isn't Using the Litter Box

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Your cat uses the litter box and you go to clean it - you find that she dribbled a little off of the side of the box and you think "Oh she missed!"

Or your cat leaves you unpleasant surprises on the floor, the couch, or even the bathtub and you think "My cat hates me."

While the following may be true, given that cats are very temperamental about their human counterparts, it is more likely that there is an underlying problem with the litter box. It is natural for a cat to use their litter box and spend some quality time with burying it, so if they are hurrying to get out of it afterwards, there is likely something going on.

Here are some ideas as to why your cat may be refusing to use the designated toiletry area:

1. Is the litter box dirty?

The most common problem among cat owners is that they don't clean their litter box as often as they should. Some cats are more picky than others about how clean their box needs to be, but in general, cats are very clean and do not like to step into their mess. Think about it- would you rather use the clean and nice smelling bathroom? Or the dirty port-o-potty?

2. Litter Texture

Sometimes cats can be very picky about the texture of their litter. If the litter is particularly sticky and clings to their feet (such as most clay litters) they may not want to step in it. You can try changing it up a little- there are clay litters, pine pellets, and crystals. One of these may suit your cat's " mess burying technique."

3. Litter Smell

Litter smell could be attributed to dirty litter (in which everything needs dumped out, scrub the box, and refill) or it could be the smell of the litter itself. Most litters have an additive in order to help deodorize, which is great for us, but unfortunately may be bad for your cat. A cat's sense of smell is far more fine tuned than ours, so a box of glade scented litter may be a little over powering for them. In order to solve this issue try blending two different types of litters in order to diffuse the scent, or pour some baking soda at the bottom of the box before pouring new litter on top.

4. Is the litter box accessible?

Location of the litter box can be very important. To begin with, make sure your cat actually knows where the litter box is, and possibly try moving it to more comfortable locations (they prefer to be in areas that are more private.) Another option is to have a couple of litter boxes, for example, one each level of the house, so that there is always a bathroom accessible for them. This is especially useful if there are multiple cats in the home, since one will often claim his own box and make it uncomfortable for the other cat to use it.

5. Is the environment stressful?

A stressful environment may cause the cat to act out behaviorally by marking other areas of the house. Did you recently move? Is there another unfamiliar animal in the house? These are all things to pay attention and can be trouble shooted by giving the cat their own comfortable space, near the litter box, until they get comfortable with change.

6. Health Issues

Another possibility could be due to health problems such as kidney failure, UTI's or blockages. If your cat is squatting consistently or not making it to the litter box it is possible that they have infection and will need to see a vet.

UTI's are not to be taken lightly as they are usually caused by an underlying health problem and need to be seen right away.

The Cat Attract litter (found in grocery stores and pet stores) can also be a good option to try because it attracts the cat to pee in the litter box. This can be especially helpful if they have developed a bad association with their litter box; it can be a little expensive, however, so it may be worth it to wean off of it after some time.

This can be a frustrating experience and may take a little patience while figuring out what works best for your cat! Invest in some quality pet stain and odor remover and be persistent. Your cat will thank you!