what can i do if a cat doesn't want to us his litter box ?

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. Some cats are possessive with their litter boxes and block access to others which can cause accidents
- 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.

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

I had a cat with the same issue, what I did is when he made a mess I scooped it up and put it in the litter box, then I walked him over to it, and showed him, and showed him how to cover it using his paw (his mom never showed him that), after doing that a couple of times the problem and stopped, he is now 7 years old and has not had an accident since, hope that helps

Answer 3

Have you changed to a different brand of litter recently?

Have you changed from a covered box to an open box or vice-versa?

Does the cat have privacy to use the litter box?

Is it kept clean?

If your cat is old you might want to try getting a plastic storage box with low sides like an under the bed storage box so it's easier for them to step into and out of it.

Do you have more than one cat? You might need more than one litter box in different areas if one cat is extremely territorial.

Is your cat neutered?

Does your cat have access at all times to fresh water? Have you had it checked for a urinary track infection?

Answer 4

Sometimes they like the litter box to be in a more private place. Try placing it in a corner. My kitty likes this special brand of litter box. It's called a Booda Clean Step. It has a big dome and they climb up a little ramp into it, so they have complete privacy. The ramp has ridges on it that catch any litter on the kitty's paws as it is walking back out. Check it out!

Answer 5

Most cats want to use the litter box, unless its dirty. Some cats won't go if there's any poo in it, so make sure you scoop often. Some cats won't share a litter tray either, I had to get two trays because my older cat won't share it.

Answer 6

sometimes it is too dirty, if you need to you may have to have multiple litter boxes if you dont want to have to clean it as often, but just remember when you do, there are more to clean. also, alot of cats do not like the scented kind of litter. we use "yesterdays news" litter, and it absorbs the smell but doesnt try to cover it up. that is one thing cats dont like, the scents that cover up the smell instead of just absorbing it well.

Answer 7

let him go out side to the bathroom or you have to teach him
to use the litter box even if it takes a really long time.

Answer 8

you keep it locked up until its time for it to go, or whenever, and you put him/her on the litter box and you make it stay there until it does its duty, then praise it and let it run around for a while then put it back in the cage until its time to go again

Answer 9

Step 1: Open door
Step 2: Put cat outside door
Step 3: Close door

Answer 10

keep it clean and if he still doesn't like using it, try switching the litter. maybe kitty doesn't like how it feels on his paws. rub his face in the pee if he pees on the floor. it's mean but he will know that it's not good to pee on the floor.