my cat has stoppped using the litter box. Could there be a medical reason for that?

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.

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Answer 2

Not much info to go on here so I will take a stab at this from a couple of angles. The obvious answer is that the litter material needs to be changed. However another possibility is that there is not enough litter in the box. Most cats prefer 2 - 3 inches in the bottom. Have you used a box liner?
I do but some cats are afraid of the sound of rustling plastic. Location is another primary factor in litter box refusal. If the box is not situated in a private, quiet place, or if the cat has been repeatly
interrupted or startled while using the box in that area it might refuse. The "medical" reasons could be:
1) urinary tract infection or blockage (vet)
2) constipation caused by poor diet, hairballs, dehydration, lack of "grass" (home remedy)

For releif of cat constipation:
1) feed a diet of wet food only for a few days then return to a diet that includes half wet and half dry ensuring that plenty of FRESH water is provided.
2) for hairballs feed sardines in soya oil, buy
feline hairball remedy, and brush your cat regularly.
3) in summer cats like to eat grass out doors, in winter I feed my cats shredded romaine lettuce OR you can buy cat grass and grow it. Helps keep
bowels and hairballs moving.

If your cat has a shedding problem which contributes to formation of hairballs, it could be for lack of essential oils. Feed it omega rich food such as a can of salmon or sardines a couple times a week. Brush your cat a couple times a week.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Cats have a very fine acute sense of smell. They can smell things that youy and I can't even dream of. Also cats are very hygenic, and love to clean as well as hide they own "toilet doings".
So if the smell is is off, and for a cat it is powerfrul, then she will not enter the box nor will she sratch her paws through it and lick it clean afterwards.
So best is to clean the box, let some sunlight dry it and refill the litter with new fresh stuff.

You also might want to consider giving her more room as a litter. Some cats just need more space, just like you when you go to the toilet ... youwouldhave your preferences.
The litters that are available, and are sold as kitty litters, did no good for my cats.
I had to buy a shallow shoe tray (you know the one that you could slide under your bed). Now all my cats love it, and each and everyone of them has their own habits within it.
Good luck

Answer 4

Do you have any other cats? My cat did that, and it was because he didn't like the litter box. We got a different one and now he uses it. If that doesn't work try putting him/her into a room by him/herself for a week or so with a litter box. If that doesn't work then take it to the vet. We tried the last two ones and it didn't work until we tried the first idea, but that's us though!

Answer 5

Well im not saying this to be rude but you may need to clean it totally take out the litter wash the box everyinch and dry it put brand new litter in it and make sure its big enough my cat stopped using it and then i did what i said and it worked my mom bought a new cat box and she started using it again your cat may be sick and hates the smell so i recommend a physical anyways but do what i said first see what happens and if he she doesnt start using it agasin get a check up and shots what ever it needs !

Answer 6

Yes. please get him to the vet.Could be UTI or impaction.
Once you rule out a health issue:
then:First a caution about what you should never do. Never, ever punish a cat for peeing in the wrong place, by yelling, rubbing his nose in it, or forcing or throwing him into the litterbox. You'll create far more problems than you'll ever cure, even if you catch him in the act. You'll teach him nothing but fear and distrust for his human bully, traits you want to avoid at all costs, and you'll only reinforce his fears of the litter box by throwing him into it.

http://cats.about.com/cs/litterboxproblems/a/urinewoes_4.htm
First things first, and the most serious possiblecause of inappropriate elimination is always pain in urinating, which translates to avoidance of the litter box, which is a symbol of the pain in the cat's mind.

We'll assume your cat got a clean bill of health from your veterinarian because this article is about peeing in all the wrong places. (FLUTD and FUS are covered elsewhere.)


Eliminate Other Likely Causes

Next, your task is eliminating all the other causes of your cat's missing the litterbox. He missed the whole room, you say? Well, bear with me. You need to ask yourself a number of questions involving what has changed to disturb my cat? Cats are fussy little critters who like to have everything orderly in their home. The slightest change which you may accomodate or even enjoy will upset your cat's applecart and he will let you know loud and clear, by peeing where he darn well pleases, even though he ordinarily would prefer his litterbox.


Here are some questions to consider:


Has your cat been declawed? Declawing is a painful, mutilating surgery, and phantom limb pain can linger for years. A rough substrate in the litter box will cause severe pain to the nerve endings in a declawed paw, and the cat will associate pain with the litter box. Always use "gentle" litter for declawed cats, such as one of the newspaper-based litters (PaPurr or Yesterday's News are both good).
Have you recently moved? - This is a biggie. Your cat will feel very insecure in new surroundings and it will take some time for his comfort level to return to normal.
Is there a new baby in the house? Cats are very jealous of their attention and he will need lots of extra love and cuddling so he knows that he is still first in your heart. (You may feel a little differently, but humor him, okay?)
Is there a new cat in your home? A new dog? The above applies equally to these situations, and in the case of another cat, make sure it has its own litterbox. Cats hate to share, particularly if they've never had to before. The general rule of thumb is one litter box per cat plus one extra. Don't ask why-- it just works.
Is his litterbox meticulously clean? Have you ever had to relieve yourself in one of those portable facilities at a fair, when the deodorizer has failed its job? Cats are every bit as disgusted as you were and their sense of smell is better, by far. I rest my case.
Have you changed your brand of litter? Cats tend to be creatures of habit, and any changes should be done gradually. In the case of litter changes, just sprinkle a bit of the new litter on top of the formerly used brand. Then gradually add more until the cat has accepted the change.
Have you moved the litterbox? Likewise, cats are used to their normal routines.
Has another cat in the household recently had surgery or been ill? I know this sounds strange, but the odor of anasthesia and medication can linger and create fear in your other cats.
Is it possible any form of trauma has occurred when your cat was using the box? Such as attack or intimidation by another cat? Again, a cat will avoid any source of discomfort, whether it be physical or emotional. His mind will link the location with the trauma.
These are all questions designed to make you think like a cat. Consider the things that might make you uncomfortable in the same situation. If one of these questions makes you pop to attention, your problem may be solved quickly by elimination the source, i.e., switching back to his old brand of litter, or moving the litterbox back to its original place. However, if the problem has been longstanding, you may need to dig deeper and the retraining may take a bit more time.

Read Further: Marking is a whole different matter. Look up marking, if he is spraying straight out at the wall....

Answer 7

haha i was gonna say change the litter... but i see thats already been said. is the litter box where the cat can easily get to it?
cats rebel against dirty litter boxes trust me i learned the hard way being pregnant i cant change it and i have a lazy husband hahaha i would suggest to you getting the clumping cat litter any brand is fine... it even clumps up pee so every two days or so just go threw it and scoop away im sure your kity is fine nothing to worry about... just make sure the litter box is clean and in a place when it is easily accessable for the cat

Answer 8

Yes, he may have a urinary tract infection. If they have pain while they are "going" they may start to associate the litter box with pain, and try going elsewhere. A vet checkup would be best. Also, they do like a clean litter box.

Answer 9

I am sorry to hear your cat isn't feeling well! My beloved cat Oreo died of a urinary tract infection. Basically he stopped going to the bathroom because I didn't change the litter box often enough. Cats are very anal creatures and are very particular about their hygiene, so if he isn't going you need to go to the vet. by the time I realized it wasn't just some 'phase' and planned to take him to the vet the next day, his stomach swelled over nite and when I went to stroke him and say "My poor little Oreo!", he was as stiff as a board dead. I always regretted not taking him to the vet sooner.

Answer 10

yes, he/she could have a UTI urinary track infection, and associate the litter box with pain. OR if you switched brands, he might not like it. OR bc cats are picky, if the litter box is not clean enough he will not use it. If he keeps it up, take him/her to the vet. Hope your cat get better.

Answer 11

We had a cat at about age 13 when he stopped using the litter box.

Feline Leukemia