Cat behavior problems: inappropriate deification?

Question

I know this is embarising, but I have a cat that, for some reason, will not use his litter box. I have tried changing the litter, cleaning the litter box every time he uses it, changing his diet, and changing the litter box's location.

Answer 1

Hi Allice...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 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

It is very possible she is just being a normal cat but if her behavior is suddenly different you should probably try to figure out what is going on. Try giving her extra love! Playing, petting, and grooming are great ways to see if she's needing extra attention for some reason. Sounds like a good brushing would help her coat. Maybe you could try some different food for the weight thing - check the vitamins and stuff on you food to be sure she isn't missing anything in her diet. Also helpful is cat grass (it's basically wheat grass with zero chemical treatments); cat nip is less effective with females but that might get her back to normal. Good luck with Morphia!

Answer 3

You need to take your cat to the vet as that type of behaviour is associated with kidney problems sometimes especially if your cat goes around or near the litter box. Im hoping that is not the case. Good luck.

Answer 4

Is it an only cat? If not, he might not like using someone else's litter box but would prefer his own. My mom had a cat like that.

Answer 5

i have 4 cats and one of them wouldnt use the litter box so i just kept placing it in the litter box every hour then it finally went there

Answer 6

try different litters, sometimes crystals better, maybe nervous if other cats or like you said location, doesn't have one of those lids on it does it (they hate those), sometimes the real fine type sand litter like (scoop away--have wal-mart similar brand cheaper) they like sometimes too much and play with it, crystals best at controlling odor and ammonia smell lasts weeks, but sometimes cats don't like chunky litter, like sandbox type, like the litter recommends mixing it and slowly switching to new brand

i know if urinary problems can sometimes be FUS or urinary tract infections, don't know about poop, maybe vet might know

Answer 7

IS UR CAT AN OUTSIDE CAT MOST OF THE TIME? IF IT IS HE PROBABLY PREFERS TO PICK AND CHOSE WHERE HE GOES POTTY. U JUST NEED TO TEACH HIM HOW TO USE THE POTTY AGAIN!

Answer 8

have a vet check him out he may not be able to control his BM, and may need help!

Answer 9

Bad kitty!

Answer 10

he might be stressed or bored, try paying more attention to him (im not implying you ignore him though!)