A cat that wont use the litter box?

Question

My sister has a fuzzy gray cat who is getting old. She uses the bathroom right beside the litter box and WILL NOT use the litter box. Why is that? What can I do to make her use it again?

The box is cleaned regular and she pees and poops outside the box! WTH?

She can still jump and everything. she doesnt have vision problems. i really am confused about this.

Answer 1

Since she's getting older, she may have developed a health condition that is causing her to go outside the box. Your sister should take her to the vet and ask for a senior or geriatric cat checkup, and tell the vet about the litterbox behavior.

It's also possible that she may be having trouble getting into the box - is the opening small or high, so that she has to jump to get into the box? Is it a covered box? She may have difficulty moving around freely inside a covered box - try one without a lid, or try getting a jumbo-sized covered box instead, and be sure to cut the opening down low enough that she doesn't have to step high to get into it. If the box has been in use for several months, it may have absorbed some odors and need to be replaced. She may prefer to have one box to pee in and one to poop in - some cats are extremely fastidious and won't use a box that has been used even once or twice without being scooped clean. Are you using an unscented litter with a soft, sandy texture? If not, try that - Cat Attract litter is a good one. Are you using a litter mat? Look at the mat - many litter mats have a texture that bothers some cats' sensitive paws. Is the box near a noisy appliance, or can children or other pets bother her while she's using it? She might not feel safe inside the box, and chooses to go next to it instead. Moving the box to a quieter location or removing the cover may help.

Has anything in your sister's household changed recently? If the cat is stressed, that can also cause inappropriate elimination. If possible, it will help if she can stick to a routine, and set aside time to play with the cat every day. A Feliway plug-in diffuser may help with stress issues too - you can find it at pet stores & vet clinics.

Hope this helps!

The two links below have lots of good information about inappropriate elimination - read them for more information and ideas.

Answer 2

How old is her cat? Has she switched brands?
Try cleaning out the box and surrounding area, and take the cat immediately to the box place the cat in the cleaned box. This is how the mum trains the kittens, do this over the next week and see how she is.

Answer 3

Since she is going next to the box and she is old the sides of the litter box may be to high for her to get into comfortably. In that case she would know to use the box but can't.

Answer 4

Is the clutter field sparkling? while you're waiting an afternoon or 2 between cleanings which would be why. i attempt to scoop 2x an afternoon for 3 days on the third day i alter the clutter, that way no longer in simple terms is it clean and sparkling for my cats, in spite of the incontrovertible fact that it would not stink up the abode. in simple terms save working along with her. If she poops interior the floor, take the poop to the clutter field and drop it in. p.c.. up the cat and take her to the clutter field, set her in it. in simple terms save working along with her, each and every each and every now and then it takes slightly time to study.... (I even have 2 clutter boxes/2 cats they'll in simple terms use the main substantial one, the different has sat there for months with unused clutter in it... cats are humorous...they do what they choose) solid luck, desire this helps.

Answer 5

Try moving the box over a little bit. I hear cats always pee in the same spot.

Answer 6

She's old,she's acting out, and she may be sick. I would get her checked out. If she is well, she is doing it to be nasty, and i really don't know what to do when that happens. You might want to try moving the litterbox to a new location,give her a change of scenery. It may sound weird, but you just don't know why cats all of a sudden take umbrage with things that have been fine for years.

Answer 7

WE HAD A CAT WITH KIDNEY FAILURE AND IT DID THIS QUITE OFTEN. UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD TO PUT HIM TO SLEEP LAST WEEK AS IT WAS PEEING ALL OVER THE HOUSE DURING HIS LAST BOUT WITH THE DISEASE. COULD BE THAT THE KITTY LITTER YOU ARE USING IS IRRITATING TO THE CAT BUT I'D HAVE HER CHECKED OUT FOR OTHER HEALTH ISSUES. COULD BE A BLADDER INFECTION. GOOD LUCK.

Answer 8

train her ! put her in the litter box and make her stay there. put her in the box when she has to pee or poop. if that doesn't work put her outside or give her punishment

Answer 9

Maybe the cat is very sick and has vision problems? You did say it was old so maybe