How Do I get My Cat to go in the litter box?

Question

My Cat knows how to use a litter box but never goes in it. she poops and pees every where. Also we tell her no but she does it any way.
HELP!

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
- kittens who are over 5-7 months can become sexually mature and urine spray as well as defecate inappropriately to mark territory.
- senior cats develop age-related disorders such as chronic renal failure (CRF), hyperthyroidism, diabetes, etc.

If all these have been ruled out, there's a chance that your cat may have developed another underlying medical problem such as something as simple as a lower urinary tract disorder: http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_feline_lower_urinary_tract_dis.html 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

If your cat is peeing outside of the litter box because of a urinary tract infection, an antibiotic will solve the problem. If it is because of crystal deposits, your cat will need to get surgery to get them flushed out.

Behavioral reasons for peeing outside the litterbox include stress and territorial marking. Both male and female cats have been known to mark their territories even after being spayed or neutered.

Cats experience a high degree of stress in the following situations: moving to a new home, new pets coming into the household, being alone all day, going to the vet, and recovering from surgery. Even a change in the brand of kitty litter you buy can stress out your cat.

If your cat is stressed or is marking, there is a product that can help. It is called Feliway Diffuser and it has a synthetic version of a cat's facial pheremones, which has a calming effect on cats. I got a diffuser for Angel and he is using the litterbox now. Another product that is supposed to help is Cat Attract cat litter. I tried it and I do not recommend it because it didn't help at all.

The information on this page is not veterinarinary advice. If your cat is peeing outside the litterbox, you should see a vet ASAP.

Answer 3

Make sure the litter in the box is clean. Clean the floors in the rest of the house so they don't smell like pee. Use a floor cleaner that doesn't have ammonia in it, lemon fragrance discourages them.

You could try temporarily shutting the cat in the laundry. Cover the whole floor with newspaper and put the litter tray in there. When it does go in the litter box, make a big fuss of rewarding and showing the cat you are pleased. When it goes on the paper, dispose of it giving the cat no attention. Good luck.

Answer 4

Place her box in a kennel, and kennel her.

Use shredded newspaper for a week to see if this makes a difference.

If she uses the box soley, use a natural litter, it was the brand she didn't like or the scent.

Also, you can place her in the box when she poops out of it, being sure to place her mess IN the box before you put her in it. This shows her WHAT the box is for, and WHERE her mess belongs in your home.

If these fail? Simply place her in a room of her own which has no carpeting, a garage works nicely. Some never learn, but studues have not proven WHY, and cases of this nature are VERY rare.

Answer 5

What you do is pick up your cat or kitten and bring him to the litter box a couple times a day so they know where it is and what it is for. If this still doesnt work then try a different brand of litter and still repeat bringing him to the litter box frequently. I hope I helped you!

Answer 6

You need to confine your kitten to one area or one room and begin toilet training again from the beginning.
http://www.catsofaustralia.com/kitten_toilet_train.htm

There are a number of reasons why a cat won't use her litter box for example she doesn't like the litter you are using, she doesn't like the location of the litter tray, she may have a medical problem, or she may be suffering from stress.

You must also clean up previous accidents as the smell of those accidents will just encourage her to go back to those places.

Answer 7

If You See Her. Because Cats Hide And They Are Fast. At Least Mine Is. Spray With A Little Water.

Answer 8

You can try a different brand of litter.
Once when my cat didn't go in box-he had a bladder infection.

Answer 9

You can try buying a new type of litter until he adjusts to one in particular.