2007-03-01 09:56:04 · 15 answers · asked by The G Man 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
It may look like nothing changed, but something has, or she'd be using the box.
Check her paws, make sure there are no sores. try a different litter, or get her her own box for awhile to see if she'lll use that.
Where is she going? Sometimes a cat will go on something it doesn't like, (like my new bedspread. once I got rid of it, she went back to the box)...
2007-03-01 10:03:49 · answer #1 · answered by korikill 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a couple of different ideas. The most obvious is that the litter box needs to be cleaned out more frequently. Some cats are more fastidious than others - one of my cats INSISTS on a clean box - he will not go into it otherwise.
Another possibility is that your cat does not like the litter in her box. Have you recently changed it? It might be too dusty or perfumed or something else that she does not like. If so, go back to your old litter.
Have you recently introduced a new cat or something else that is new into the house? A new person? A new baby? A new piece of furniture? A new air freshener? If your cat is insecure and/or threatened, she may not use her litter box as a way of showing her stress and need to make her mark around her territory.
Has the litter box recently been moved? Is it close to the cat's food? If so, your cat could be 'boycotting' her litter tray because it is too close to her food. Move the litter box to the area(s) that she is using instead to give her some positive reinforcement about using her box.
Finally, the problem could be due to a medical problem. Has your vet been involved in the situation? If there is not any other explanation for the problem, I suggest that you take the cat to the vet and get her checked out.
I know that this can be a difficult situation, but it is worth sorting it out. The worst thing you can do is 'blame' the cat and get rid of her. Too many cats are abandoned and even euthanised because of a hiccup in their behaviour. By NOT using her litter box, your cat is telling you that there is something wrong. Since they can't tell us the problem, this is their next best way. It just takes a bit of work to figure out WHY.
Hope that this helps you,
Jara
2007-03-01 19:21:32 · answer #2 · answered by Jara 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A cat typically quits using the litter box because of a UTI. (urinary tract infection) The cat associates the box with pain so therefore avoids it. If your cat is making frequent trips to the box, perhaps meowing alot, and still not using it, I'd say it's probably a UTI. If the cat is doing #2 on the floor, and it's a hard stool, then your cat is constipated, and that will cause it to avoid the litter box as well. Once again, it associates the box with pain. For constipation my vet recommends pumpkin pie filling or Metamucil. If it's a UTI antibiotics will be necessary.
2007-03-01 18:05:17 · answer #3 · answered by sparkie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would get her in the vet to see if she has a bladder infection, Cats are so prone to getting bladder infections... if thats not the case then Im not sure what it could be... is she spayed? Ask the vet what he thinks that could be the problem of her not using the litter box, since you claim nothing has changed.... Make sure her litter box is clean and put that and her in a small room and keep her in there for 2-3 days with her food and water... Make sure you get this under control before she starts peeing EVERYWHERE! Cat pee is sooo hard to get out of carpets and stinks your house up really bad!
2007-03-01 18:04:46 · answer #4 · answered by csmutz2001 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nothing may have changed as far as you're concerened but there may be something you cant see that has changed. This might be a new cat in your area that is being nasty to your kitty, a human may have been nasty to it, anything like this could upset your cat and not using the litter box is (from what i've seen) a quite common way of saying something's wrong.
2007-03-01 18:08:16 · answer #5 · answered by Jenni C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most cats are clean by nature. If your cats litter box habits have changed I would strongly recommend that she be seen by your veterinarian, most cats will go outside of the box to alert their owner that there is something wrong. Good Luck.
2007-03-01 20:12:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She may be having urinary track or bladder or kidney issues. This has to be addressed right away by the vet becuase these things ar potentially fatal if left untreated. When a cat has any of these issues, it makes peeing painful. They then associate the pain with the litterbox and wil refuse to use it again and instead pee everywhere else in an effort to find the "painless" spot. Urinary track infections, bladder issues are relatively easy to treat these days with a good vet diagnosis, medications and change of diet. Your cat's chances of throwing off any issues is greater if you take her to the vet as soon as possible. Waiting cud just make the issue worse and harder to treat.
2007-03-01 18:19:14 · answer #7 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your cat probably has a urinary tract infection. Get a urinalysis done at the vet's office. They will give her antibiotics or give her prescription food for a few weeks. This happened to my 4 yr old cat. You will have to start feed her high quality food and canned food in the future to prevent future problems once treatment is complete.
2007-03-02 09:55:04 · answer #8 · answered by hello 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spray A Little Bit Of Water At Your Cat.
2007-03-01 18:07:31 · answer #9 · answered by mks 7-15-02 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Is the litter box clean? My cat won't use it if it's full.
2007-03-01 18:02:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋