How can I make my cats stop???

Question

I have two cats and since I got them this past November, they have been user their litter box just fine. Within the last 2 months, they have stopped using it and are now going to the bathroom in my bathtub and by my front door. I don't understand why two cats who were housebroken before, have suddenly decided they dont want to use their litter box! How can I make them stop going in my house??? PLEASE HELP!

I clean the litter box often. They do share the same one, but it never bothered them before. I also haven't had them fixed yet.

Answer 1

Possibilities:

1) If they were kittens when you got them: As I understand it, at about six months cats develop sexually, (you cannot have them spayed/neutered before six months). So, it could be that they are now marking territory. Get them spayed/neutered and hope for the best.

2) It could be that they now decided one cat box is not enough. My vet says in multi-cat homes there should be 1.5 cat boxes per cat. (Two large cat boxes should be enough.)

3) Could be they don't like the litter. My cats are indoor cats that walk around on marble floors. Therefore, their paws are soft. I was using cat litter with large granules and couldn't understand why one of my cats kept peeing out of the box. Once I switched the litter to a finer grade, the problem all but disappeared.

4) Could be urinary tract infections. One of my cats was peeing all over the house. I got really mad until I realized it wasn't his fault - he couldn't control himself. I took him to the vet and within two days he was a LOT better.

*** I'd suggest getting one or both of them to the vet for a checkup.

*** Be prepared: not always, but sometimes, it's very hard (to impossible) to get them to stop this behavior once it's started. Keep hope, though, one of mine was peeing in unapproved places and HE stopped once I resolved the problem.

*** Try using lemon juice to remove the smell from the areas they peed on.

All the best - I really hope you find resolution!

Answer 2

There are lots of possible reasons why your caats may be doing this. Rule each one out and you should be able to solve the problem.
1. Contact your vet to find out if your cat has a urinary tract infection (UTI). This is somewhat like a bladder infection for humans, where they can't control their bladder.
2. If their is no UTI, than try buying another litter pan. Some cats develop a want to have their own litter box.
3. Also try cleaning the litter more often. Sometimes cats wont use a litter if it has been used by another cat, or if it is messy.
4. Try switching to a different brand of cat litter, believe it or not some cats will only use a few brands of litter.
5. If it is a litter with a big hood, try taking the hood off. Sometimes the hood traps in odours making it smell horrible enough that the cat refuses to use it.
6. IF all the above fails, I would notify the vet once more that the problem is persisting as it could be related to other medical conditions.
Feel free to IM me if you have any other concerns.

Answer 3

Just a few questions for you. Do you change the litter often, even tho it maybe clumping litter the smell may still be there and cats don't like the smell of ammonia which they give off. Also you should have 2 litter boxes one for each cat. Cats as they get older tent to not like sharing there box's. They may also have decided that they want to be outside more often and this is there way of telling you. If you think that it maybe the litter problem, which i think it is, there is a litter that you can mix into your clumping or just use it (i mix it cause it kinda expensive) its silica cat litter, kinda whitish clear crystals with blue ones in it. Check walmart or a store similar they will have it and get some. The crystals absorb smell and keep the box fresher longer.

Answer 4

If they're not fixed, get them fixed. Take them to the vet and get them tested for infections, that's a leading cause of rejecting the litter box. Try getting another box. There may be competition over the box. Try unscented litter if they scratch at the sides of the box but don't use it, they may not like your choice of litter. These are all of the things that I tried when one of my cats started having the same issues. Getting the 2nd box seemed to work, but the problem was only one cat, not both.

Answer 5

Try getting two litter boxes and make sure to clean them about every two days. Cats won't use a litter box that's too dirty or in a place that's too noisy or hard to get to. Then keep the bathroom door closed and thoroughly deodorize the area by your front door and lay something on the spot afterwards so they can't get to it, like a rubber mat. Good luck.

Answer 6

Cats do this to get even with you when they feel they aren't being treated right.
If your not emptying the litter box often enough this is another reason they might.
If you are leaving them alone more than they are comfie, this is another reason that sometimes can be corrected by leaving toys and peanut butter ball toys for them and catnip toys.
First thing to try is changing to a new litter and keeping the box extra clean,, second clean the areas they are using with white vinegar, it kills the odor and they don't like the smell and will quit using that spot.

Answer 7

Clean the box thoroughly about 1-2 times per week. I had two cats who both used 1 box and it was fine. It may be because it smells and you need to change the litter, or they need to get fixed.

Answer 8

could it just be one of the cats or have you caught both of them doing this?
One reason a cat will start going in the tub or right in front of their owner is if they have a urinary tract infection. Since they can't talk it is their way of saying something is wrong. It could be that one has an infection and since the other one can smell where the other cat went it is remarking that place as its own. The best thing to do is check with the vet to make sure it is not medical and than go from there.
Good Luck and use something like odo-ban to remove the smell so they will not keep marking the area.

Answer 9

First thins first Get Them Fixed!!!! I had the same problem(I have 5 cats), you need another litter box. After I gave them a few litter boxes they quit crapping on my stuff. Good Luck.

Answer 10

How often do you clean the litterbox? It could be that they can't stand the smell. Give it a good cleaning, then use an enzyme type cleaner in the places that they're going, outside of the litter box.