Experts reveal the real reason your cat abandoned its litter box
There are several reasons why your cat suddenly stops using its litter box but it is not doing it to spite you, or out of anger.
Has your cat mysteriously stopped using its litter box and started urinating or defecating around the house? When this happens, your cat isn’t doing it to deliberately annoy you, even if it might feel that way. It’s usually a sign that their needs, whether physical, social or medical, are not being met.
Cats are known for being very clean, hygienic animals and the state and location of their litter box matters to them. Preferably, place its litter box somewhere discreet, where it is least likely to be disturbed and away from their food and water.
Changing the litter in your cat’s litter box
House-soiling may occur if your cat had a negative experience while in or near the litter box. Litter boxes need to be kept clean. Remove any waste in the litter box at a minimum of once per day and add litter as needed; thoroughly clean it and replace the litter once a week.
If you have more than one cat, the rule is one litter box for each cat. Even so, these litter boxes will probably need to be cleaned more regularly - two or more per week. And if you have more than one litter box, keep them apart.
You might want to try different types of litter other than the traditional clay (silica gel, pine, wheat, grass, corn, walnut shell, paper, tofu), until you find a type or brand that your cat is comfortable with.
If your cat is urinating or defecating near windows or doors, it might be marking its territory because it feels stressed or threatened - either by other pets, visitors they don’t know, children who are active or playing... etc.
Has your cat stopped using its litter box because it is unwell?
Then there is the possibility that certain medial issues could be behind your cat’s sudden decision to quit its litter box and start soiling around the house. To rule out illness, take your cat to the vet’s for a full physical examination and urinalysis to check for medical problems such as infections, cystitis, arthritis, kidney disease, diabetes, and other medical issues such as Feline idiopathic cystitis (FIC).
To get your cat back to using its litter box, it’s also important to clean any urine-marked areas to reduce your cat’s habit of refreshing its scent on the marking site - but with soapy water rather than with ammonia-based cleaners, which smell like urine to cats.
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