What is the best thing to do with a cat that does not use the litter box?

Question

I told my girlfriend that her cat is not going with us to our new condo because the cat will do it's business all over and stink it up as it does not use the litter box. (IT'S A VERY SENSITIVE SITUATION)

Answer 1

Is this a new thing or has the cat never used the litter box? When the cat goes outside the litter box, you need to pick it up, show it what it did, and then put it inside the litter box. Don't scold it like you would a dog, cat's are very sensative to scolding, and it will only make it worse. Another thing you could try is locking the cat in a room during the day (If you work, also a room that is appropriate to do this) with it's food and water. Good luck!

Answer 2

I would tell her to take it to the vet and make sure there is nothing physical going on first. Sometimes litterbox avoidance can mean a urinary tract infection. Has she changed the litter she's using lately? Some cats are very picky about the type of litter they like. Most seem to like normal clay litter the best. Has there been a lot of changes going on lately? Cats will let you know if they are unhappy sometimes by going to the bathroom outside of the box. Does she clean the litterbox every day? A lot of cats won't use the litterbox if it's dirty or too small. Try a bigger box. If none of this is helping, confine the cat in a bathroom or small room with its litterbox (and water/food far away from the box) and hopefully it will use it. Praise the cat when it does use the box (after it's done) and give it a treat.

Answer 3

I'm going to hope and pray that this cat has been taken to a vet to diagnose any urinary tract problems, infections. If those have been ruled out, then you're dealing with a behavioral issue, and these can be treated. There is no reason to abandon a pet because of this problem, but it does require diligent monitoring and work, because once a cat has gotten used to going outside its box, it can be hard to get it to use it again. Does it urinate and defecate outside the box? Or does it just urinate outside? It could be that it just doesn't like the brand/type of litter in the box. Has this always been an issue, or is it a recent development?

Try switching litters, and limiting the cat's movement to one room with a box and make sure the cat is healthy. Talk to you vet and see what they suggest. Please don't abandon it without trying to solve it. And on a personal note, she (the girlfriend) may decide it's you that shouldn't go to the new place, not the cat...

Answer 4

See if you can get it to learn to use the litter box before you move.
Has it ever learned tp use the litter box? This is something that the momma cat teaches the kittens, you can also help the cat by putting it in a small room, closet or bathroom with only the litter box in the room for a week or 2.
You may also want to try different styles of litter boxes and litter the cat may be accustome to a litter it once used (they can be rather picky that way) You can help by putting the cats waste in the litter box as it does it on the floor or putting the cat and the mess in the litter box yourself when you see a mess.

If none of these work you may want to check with a vet, cats who have pain while urinating or deficating will associate the pain with the litter box and not want to use it.

Good Luck! I know relationships can be ruined by topics like these most of all try to be concerned but supportive of trying to help fix the problem.

Answer 5

Do you keep the cat's food dish near the litter box? The cat will not go to the bathroom near its food. Keep the food and litter box in different rooms. Keep the litter box very clean, that may help. If there is a lot of waste in the litter box they won't use it. Last but not least...is the cat very old? They can become incontinent, and sometimes it's a sign that the end is near. Good Luck.

Answer 6

You should put the cats food around the liter box some ware and get it yous to the area and every time you see it getting ready to use the bathroom carry it over to the box and if it uses the litter box give it a treat.

Answer 7

There are many causes for a cat not to use a litterbox, make sure you have explored all these alternatives before you get rid of the cat. The vet can rule out a medical problem and give you information on re-training this cat to use the litterbox. Stop being an insensitive MAN. If I were your girlfriend I'd take my cat and leave.

Answer 8

Unfortunately, I have to agree with Trevor about the cat. And I'm surprised that the situation hasn't been addressed before.

Has the cat in question been fixed? If not, it should be so it won't mark territory, or advertise that she's in heat (if the cat is a female). This isn't absolutely fool-proof for getting the kitty to behave. But it is your best chance for a happily-ever-after ending.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Poor little cat, why can't he go in the garden, not sure what a condo is as I live in England but if you mean a flat well that is just not fair how would you like to be imprisoned.

Answer 10

The best thing would be to train it to use a litter box.