My 1 and a half yr old cat has suddenly stopped using his litter box. We are going on day 7 of refusal to use it. Hes going in the sinks and bathtubs. The box is completely clean. I have even given it a scrub down. We havent changed brands of litter and nothing has changed in the household. I dont have the slightest idea why he is doing this or how to stop him. Its driving me CRAZY. Help.
2007-09-05 12:53:58 · 5 answers · asked by _Midnight__Butterfly_ 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Edit to say: The box hasnt changed location and its not a new box. Its a huge, enclosed litter box that I normally change (complete litter change) every 3rd day.
2007-09-05 12:59:06 · update #1
if your kitty has stopped using his box, maybe you should try taking him to the vet, he might have a UTI (urinary tract infection). if he is fine, and his tests come back normal, you can put him in the box and take his paw and make his dig in the litter and sit with him, watch him and if he goes give him praise, and lots of it! you m ight have to "re-train" him for a while. Hope all goes well with your kitty!!!!
2007-09-05 13:13:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hm, that is strange, and pretty icky. Have you taken him to a vet? Cats tend to stop using litter boxes if something is funky with their health.
Do his paws look ok? I wonder if it is uncomfortable for him to dig for some reason.
What happens if you put the box in the tub, where he is pooping? Will he use the box or still go outside it? Are there any drafts or anything in the house, such as an air conditioning vent that is blowing on it? If so, perhaps he doesn't like the vent (or something else near the box).
You might also try getting a new box. Maybe there was some buildup of odor that he can smell even after it is cleaned. You could also try bleaching the entire box in a 10% bleach solution. Bleach for 30 min. to an hour, then remove and let air dry. The bleach will evaporate, and it will also kill bacteria.
2007-09-05 23:17:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try taking the lid off it and fluffing the litter. Does it have a urine smell?
Did the box get a new bag of litter recently? Some manufacturers add more odor cover up to their product without telling anyone, but the cat sure knows.
Has there been cat fights outside recently? Yelling cats can affect cat behavior considerably.
Did the area the box is in get higher foot traffic? Some cats want privacy and no disturbance when theyd o their business.
Has another pet ambushed him when he was in the box? This happened to one of ours which was why we got rid of the cover, she was afraid to use it.
2007-09-05 20:57:26 · answer #3 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, you may not want to remove all of the "potty remains" everytime you clean it. I know this sounds crazy, but mainly the urine, is how a cat, especially males, recognize thier territory. Try spraying him with a water bottle when you catch him using the bathroom anywhere other than the litter box and possibly move some of his feces to the box so that he will recognize the smell. Hope this helps!
2007-09-05 20:13:41 · answer #4 · answered by lizzy8813 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could be the product you cleaned the box with. If it left the slightest scent behind so cats won't use it again.
2007-09-05 23:57:53 · answer #5 · answered by Classy Granny 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋