My cat is using the floor as a toilet. How can I litter box train him again?

Question

I have a 2 year old cat that is using the downstairs floor as a toilet. He has not always done this. He only recently started this. I keep 2 litter boxes (one for him and one for the other cat) in the laundry room in the basement. He uses the litter box to pee and the floor to deficate.
He has lived with the other cat for a year and a half and has never known another home, so he has not been traumatized in any way.
I live alone so it is very hard for me to regularly discipline him.
Any suggestions would be very appreciated.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Hi there...if this is something that recently developed, first consider all the possibilities such as:
- changes with litter brands
- location of the litter box isn't private enough
- some cats like to have one box to defecate and another to urinate
- cleanliness (some cats are very finicky and prefer a super clean box)
- as a general rule there should be one litter box for each cat plus one extra as a back up
- unspayed/un-neutered if cat is over the age of 5-7 months. Cats will become aggressive as they sexually mature and territorially mark with either urine or defecating.

If all these have been ruled out, there's a chance that your cat may have developed another underlying medical problem which can contribute to accidents outside of the box. Cats will associate pain while using box and change their habits as a result.

The runny nose may likely be an upper respiratory infection, which should be evaluated as well.

Here's an article about why cats inappropriately soil outside their litter box by Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine:http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/brochures/Housesoiling.html

House soiling is the most common behavior problem reported by cat owners. It includes urination and/or defecation outside the litter box, as well as urine spraying.

Why do cats eliminate outside of the litter box?
One common misconception is that cats soil in inappropriate places for revenge. It is tempting to conclude, "He defecated on the living room carpet to punish me for leaving him for the weekend." But this kind of calculation requires sophisticated cognitive abilities that cats aren't believed to possess. Furthermore, this conclusion assumes that cats view their urine and feces as distasteful, when in fact they do not. It is only we humans who view it that way.

Medical Problems
So why do cats urinate or defecate on your bed or carpet? Medical problems are one possibility. Inflammation of the urinary tract may cause painful or frequent urination, inability to urinate, bloody urine, and crying during urination. An affected cat is likely to eliminate outside the litter box if he comes to associate the box with painful urination, or if he has an increased urgency to urinate. In addition, kidney, liver, and thyroid diseases often lead to increased drinking and urination. Inflammation of the colon or rectum, intestinal tract tumors, intestinal parasites, and other gastrointestinal conditions may cause painful defecation, increased frequency or urgency to defecate, and decreased control of defecation. Age-related diseases that interfere with a cat's mobility (for example, arthritis, nervous system disorders, or muscular diseases), or with his cognitive functions can also influence his ability to get to the litter box in time. In short, any medical condition that interferes with a cat's normal elimination behavior can lead to house soiling.

Litter Box Aversions
Behavioral problems, such as litter box aversions, inappropriate site preferences, or urine spraying can also lead to house soiling. An aversion implies that there is something about the litter box that your cat finds unsavory. It could be the box, the litter, the location of the box, or all three.

...please consider visiting the website for further details

Answer 2

How old is the litter box? and how often do you clean it? I had a cat do the same thing. The first thing you should do is talk to your vet and make sure your cat is not having any medical problems. Then I would go out and buy new litter pans. Litter pans are made of a plastic and cats scratch at them causing grooves in the pan (if they are declawed, the litter can still cause these grooves). After a while the smell of the dirty litter will seap into the plastic and no amount of cleaning will get rid of it. Also try cleaning out the litter pan more often. Even if you just scoop it. Finally if nothing else works, change the type of litter you use. Try to find one that holds the smell. This might mean that you will need to spend more money on your litter.

Rewards also work. When you are at home, watch the cat and reward him every time he uses the box.

Answer 3

You can't really discipline a cat in this matter, so don't even try. Use an enzyme cleaner (available at pet shops, farm & garden stores and even Walmart) on the soiled places, soak well and allow to dry. If the floor is concrete you"ll have to do this several times as it's very difficult to get the smell out at the cat's level. Clean the litter box every day (if you're not already) and make sure the other cat isn't bullying him when he tries to get to the box. You say he hasn't been traumatized but think really carefully. Any change may be major to him, even if it doesn't seem major to you. Changing the type of litter, changing your/his schedule, moving the box, changing his routine, putting something he finds objectionable in the basement, switching to a covered litter box or uncovering a covered one: stuff like this could throw him off. You could try keeping him temporarily shut in one smallish space (like a bathroom) with the box or, as a last resort, you can keep him in a large (dog) crate or cage with the box in it. If you confine him it should be for several days. This may help to retrain him to use the box consistently.

Answer 4

Many cats occasionally eliminate outside the litter box. Any change in your cat's toilet habits is cause for concern and may signal a health problem. Pain when voiding, for instance, may give your cat an aversion to the litter box. Visit the vet as soon as possible to determine if an underlying illness is to blame.

Assuming the vet gives your cat a clean bill of health, start looking for other causes of his behavior. Is the litter box dirty? Cats have a much stronger sense of smell than humans and will tend to avoid an area where they can smell buried waste, be it their own or another cat's. Remove the waste at least once or twice day and empty and wash the box frequently — litter-pan liners can make this job easier. Have you changed the type of litter? Your cat may be averse to the consistency or fragrance of a new brand. Many cats dislike scented litter or litters composed of hard pellets. It's usually best to stick with unscented litter of the type your cat is used to; if you must switch, do it gradually. Where is the litter box situated? If the box is located in a noisy or busy area or if your cat was frightened by something while using it, move it to a safe cat-friendly site. Leave a bowl of dry food at sites where you want your cat to stop eliminating; as a rule, cats don’t eliminate at spots where they eat. You may need to move the litter box to its final location gradually or enclose your cat in the room where it is kept until he begins to use it again.

Another possibility is that your cat is spraying urine outside the box. Your cat will stand, tail raised high and quivering, and back paws often stepping rhythmically. Such behavior is usually sex-related, so if your cat, male or female, isn’t already sterilized, have it done at once. If you catch your cat in the act, a scolding, "No!" may stop it that one time, but won’t solve the problem. In fact, it may compound things by stressing the cat.

If you have recently adopted another cat or a dog, or if a newcomer has joined the household, even just temporarily, your cat may be reasserting its territoriality. Properly reintroduce the cat to the new pet and try assigning a different member of the household to feed and play with each animal.


# Medical Conditions: Cats avoiding the litter pan should be examined by a veterinarian to rule out a medical condition. Laboratory tests will need to be performed in most cases, however, if a condition does exist, immediate treatment will help resolve the behavioral problem. Possible medical conditions include: colitis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism, kidney or liver disease, or feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD). Medical conditions such as arthritis, FLUTD, anal sac disease, and some forms of colitis, which cause pain urinating or defecating may also result in inappropriate elimination.
# Stress: Cats of all ages experience stress at some point in their lives (just like us). Stress can be a major cause of inappropriate elimination, and known stressors such as moving, changes in routine, or changes within the family structure (new members added or family members leaving home) can result in inappropriate elimination. Reducing these stressors or decreasing their impact on the household will benefit your cat and you, too.
# Box Location & Contents: Some cats may not like where their box is located; too close to their food or water, in a high traffic area, or on a different level of the house than where they spend most of their time. Some cats are very particular and will not defecate in the same box in which they urinate or go into a box which has been used by another cat. Most cats do not like a dirty litter box. Clean out waste from their litter boxes at least once daily, and wash the litter boxes weekly so that they don't decide to eliminate elsewhere in your home.

Answer 5

change the litter. clean the box. give him treats when he pees in the box (if you ever catch him) then he can get the hint that the box is good. keep food and water dishes away from the kitty box.
also sometimes they sell sprays that make kitties not want to go in certain areas (dont know how well they work or how they work)
i guess in this case its just a trial and error thing. by the way if theres 2 cats dont blame it on just the one if you never see it happen.
good luck tho. silly poo poo kitties.

Answer 6

This could me a more serious issue, either a urinary tract infection or something else. Cats sometimes do this with infections (etc) because the ground is colder and they are in pain. Is he licking himself down there a lot? I would seriously recommend not disciplining him.

Please take him to the vet to get checked out just to be safe!

Answer 7

Cats are so smart...when they have a problem w/their kidneys or bladder, they w/urinate to show you that something is wrong. ..take him to the vet for a urinalysis..you might have to start giving him bottled water..they w/also go in the sink or tub to show you their problem.

Answer 8

humm, first take him the vet, i would put the litter box right where he's going to the bathroom.
chin

Answer 9

I do not know what cystals u use but tidy cats crystal blends works for mine.