How can I make my cat use her new litter box?

Question

I have a cat who is 1 year old. She is a wonderfully smart cat and has never been a problem. We are getting new flooring and furniture in our home, and she makes quite a mess with the litter, and has made a complete joke of our old furniture. My husband wanted to get rid of her with the remodel, but I told him absolutely not, I would figure out something to do about her behaviors. That came down to a declaw and a new litter box. Not giving any thought about it, I tossed the old one out, and brought in a new one that is enclosed, with a door. She HATES it. I removed the door, that didn't work. I removed the lid, that didn't work. I can't put her outside now that she's declawed. We're about $12,000.00 into this remodel, and I can see my husband's point about her destroying things, but my children and I adore her and I can't imagine our lives without her. Please someone help !!!

Answer 1

Unfortunately, declawed cats will often stop using the litterbox. Their paws are very sensitive and it's quite possible she would've stopped using the old one too. Plus it's quite possible to train a cat not to scratch; I live in Europe where declawing is illegal, people buy expensive new furniture too and we manage! But what's done is done so let's see what you can do now.

What litter are you using? Immediately after a declawing, you can't use clay litter since it is too harsh, can get into the wounds and cause infections. Try shredded paper or the 'Yesterday's News' litter made from recycled paper, those are softer on her paws.

Unfortunately, another problem here is that many cats dislike changes in their litter; I bought my cat a different brand once when his own was sold out, it didn't even look *that* different to me, but he used the box only once that night after complaining long and loud! So this might be the problem, either the changed litter or the harshness of the regular stuff... I'm anti-declaw but if someone absolutely has to declaw a cat, I would advise people to take a week or more *before* declawing and get their cat used to the newspaper-type litter, by mixing a little in with their regular litter, adding a bit more every day and changing over gradually like that.

I'll try to help more but I need more details. What litter did you have for your cat before the declaw, and what are you using now? How long has it been since the declaw and how does she walk, does she allow you to handle her paws?
Oh, and other things, did you move the location of the box? Did you get the new furniture in already, so the whole livingroom is different?

Answer 2

First, is your cat declawed on all four or just the front two? If it is all four, DO NOT put your cat outside at all. Cats use the back to feet as a defense weapon and for climbing. They can work with out the front two feet having nails. If she has the back two sets, then start sending her out for short periods of time to make sure that she is ok. Second, if she still has the back set, trim her nails down. THe vet can do this or you can do this at home. Very easy. Next, about the litter box. Enclose her in a small area, like the laundry room with her litter box for a while a couple of times a day. That way she has to use it as cats are very finicky and clean. Keep this up and she will use it. If her declaw has healed and you no longer have to use shredded newspaper, you may try using a litter that comes in a pellet form that is made from recycled newspaper. Try not putting as much in to where you change the whole litter pan every day. This keeps it cleaner and better for kitty's feet. (Not so rough and grainy. Those little litters will get stuck in the wounds that are healing). If she is healed completely, go back to her old litter that she is used to and she will like that better. While she is in the laundry room, make sure she has food and water also. Feed her twice a day, in the same enclosed space, and leave her in there for about an hour. She should have to use the potty in that hour that you feed her, therefore, she will have to use that litter box. I recommend that you leave the top off. Cats aren't a big fan of those.

Answer 3

Get the same kind of litter box that she used to have. If you're worried about a mess, build a box around the litter box that is about the same height as the litter box but that leaves about 8 inches all the way around it. This will catch the "scatter" and still leave the box open on the top. None of my cats will use a closed in box, either.

I won't get started on the whole declawing issue (bad!! bad bad!!).

You can also give her a little room of her own with a litter box in it. If you're remodeling anyway, just add a space for her :-)

Answer 4

1) My declawed cat loves the outdoors and even catches birds. A cat's mouth seems to be its main weapon. The cat doesn't know it's declawed.

2) Put the litter box sans top (most are attached just by clamps) in a shower or other enclosed space. Place mat of some kind (like old shower curtain) underneath to collect "flying" litter and keep it very clean. Use clumping litter which cuts down on the odor.

3) To train a new cat, I place the cat in the bathroom (or enclosed area where the litter box is) overnight. The cat quickly learns its place in the scheme of things.

Best of luck!

Answer 5

Your cat has recently been declawed. A newly declawed cat will not like the feeling of litter on her paws and may thus avoid the litterbox altogether.

Here's a useful site to check out:
http://www.petstyle.com/cat/training_article.aspx?id=386§ion=trainingArticles

Answer 6

Well my first suggestion was to take some of the old liter out and put it in the new box but seeing as how you tossed to old one...I would try putting her in a small space with the liter box first. I know when we had to change ours out I put my cat in the bathroom with the liter box for a few min every hour untill she used it the first time. My vet told me to try it and it worked great. Good luck to you.

Answer 7

uh, am kinda on yer husband's side---but that's not what you wanted to hear...

toss the "enclosed' litterbox, use an ordinary plastic litterbox and put a large and long tray under it to assist in cleaning. kinda like a really big cookie sheet, know what I mean?

Cats don't like to go into enclosed areas unless it is THEIR idea, but will almost invariably use a clean litter box that is easy to get into and out of.

Make it accessible, keep it clean, make it easy for yourself insofar as the cleaning/maintainence goes, and----tell yer husband that he has my deepest sympathies---all the best, Brian

Answer 8

I would just keep putting her in the box periodically. You could maybe try using a different brand of litter. That might entice her into using it. Cats are very finicky about what they like. The new box will just have to grow on her.

Answer 9

rip off you fingernails at the first joint and see how comfortable you are. Let me guess you didn't have enough scratch posts and types of scratch posts and you didn't have enough toys or other things to stimulate your cat so she doesn't destroy your house. you probably didn't even try soft claws (plastic tips that go over the claw). you just didn't want to work with her, you figured it was easier just to yank out her claws.

talk to your vet and make sure that she doesn't have an infection. are you using news paper in the litter box instead of litter which is very painful for them which will keep them from wanting to use it. you may have to retrain her to use the litterbox.

Answer 10

Go out and find the same style litter box. Maybe your vet can recommend a phernome spray or something. Also try catfancy.com.