The Litter Try Is Empy Some One Is Stealing My Poop Again

Has your cat stopped using the litter box? Understanding the reason for avoiding the litter box is critical to correcting your cat'due south behavior. The underlying cause is oftentimes a source of stress, such as a modify in the household. Medical problems are some other common culprit if your cat all of a sudden stops using the litter box, especially in senior cats.^[ane]

1. 1

   Movement the litter box to the right location. Cats may cease using the litter box after a scary experience in the surface area, such every bit a loud noise or harassment past another pet.^[2] They may also dislike the spot you chose after moving the litter box, or moving to a new home. Continue the litter box in a serenity, low-traffic spot where the cat can come across people coming. Cull a room with at least ii exits and then the cat doesn't feel cornered.^[iii]

   • Continue litter boxes abroad from food and h2o bowls. Cats do not similar to combine these two areas.
   • Signs that your cat may take had an unpleasant experience in the litter box including running quickly in and out of the litter box, or using an area virtually the litter box.^[iv] Endeavor moving the box to a new room if you notice this.
   • Keep at least 1 litter box on every floor of a multistory domicile.^[5]

2. two

   Play with toys near the litter box. Play with your cat in the aforementioned full general area as the litter box. Leave toys (but not food) in the room and then the true cat spends fourth dimension there and develops positive associations.^{[half dozen]}

   • You can bring the cat to the litter box to investigate on its own, but do not drib information technology inside or reward information technology with treats for using it. These tactics can backfire by making the cat uncomfortable or afraid.^[7] Unlike dogs, cats should choose the litter box on their own, especially if they used one in the past.

3. three

   Keep the litter box clean. ^[8] If your true cat perches on the edge of the box or eliminates right next to it, the box might be also dirty for it. Remove clumps and top upward with fresh litter at least once a day, preferably twice. Rinse the litter box once a week with baking soda or unscented soap.^[9]

   • If you employ not-clumping litter, change the whole box every couple days to prevent odor build up, which can drive away the true cat.^[10]
   • Do non clean the litter box with scented products. Practise not use a disinfectant unless information technology is specifically made for litter boxes, equally many of them comprise chemicals toxic to cats.^[11]

4. 4

   Switch to new litter gradually. If yous bought a dissimilar kind of litter, introduce it slowly. Mix a little of it in with the old type, and gradually increase the proportion each time you change the litter box.^[12] Cats usually detect it easier to adjust to unscented litter with a similar texture to their onetime litter.^[13]

   • If the old type of litter is no longer available, purchase two or three new types. Put them in split up litter boxes side by side and permit the cat choose its favorite.
   • Try adjusting the depth of the litter, especially if information technology has a different texture than the true cat is used to. Many cats prefer a shallow layer of litter, less than two inches (5 cm.) deep. Long-haired cats often similar an extra-shallow layer and then they tin dig to the flooring of the box.^[14]

5. 5

   Troubleshoot new litter boxes. If your cat hasn't responded well to a recent litter box replacement, try these adjustments to make it more than appealing:^[fifteen]

   • Some cats prefer covered boxes, and other prefer open up trays. Effort adding or removing the hood.
   • Remove plastic liners from the litter box. These can snag a cat'due south claws.^[sixteen]
   • Most cats conform well to cocky-cleaning litter boxes but not all. In that location is a risk of an broken-hearted cat being frightened by the motor, and refusing to use the box every bit a issue. If in doubt information technology's best to stick with a regular litter box.
   • If the box is smaller than the old one, y'all probably need to replace it with something larger. A big box with depression sides works all-time; some people use a plastic sweater box.^[17]

6. 6

   Clean up urine and carrion with an enzymatic cleaner. When the cat fails to use its litter box, clean the area with an enzymatic cleaner designed for true cat urine (or a ten% solution of enzymatic washing pulverisation in h2o). Rinse with cold water. This removes the odour of urine that can concenter a true cat to return to the same location.^[eighteen]

   • For best results, lightly spray the surface area with rubbing alcohol subsequently the water has dried. Scrub gently and let it air dry out.

7. 7

   Make soiled areas less highly-seasoned. If your cat has developed a habit of going in certain locations, block its access to those areas, or notice temporary ways to discourage it until it has relearned skilful habits:

   • If the true cat uses a dark hiding spot, install a vivid light, preferably motion-activated.^[19]
   • Make rugs or other areas unpleasant to stand up on with tin can foil or double-sided tape.^[20]
   • If the cat urinated on curtains, pin them up out of reach until the cat is dorsum to using its litter.^[21]
   • Cover targeted piece of furniture with plastic sheets or shower curtains.^[22]
   • Fill bathtubs and sinks with a shallow layer of water when not in employ.^[23]

8. 8

   Place litter boxes in the trouble areas. 1 solution is to requite in to your true cat's preferences and add new boxes in the areas it'southward using as a bath. Clearly this isn't ideal if your cat is using the center of the living room rug, only it's worth considering if the cat is soiling an out-of-the-way corner of your house.

   • Some other option is to move the cat's food bowl to this location. Nearly cats will non eliminate and eat in the same place.

9. ix

   Employ your cat's preference to your advantage. If none of these adjustments piece of work, you lot may have to resort to a slower transition. For example, if your cat prefers to urinate on carpet, place a piece of similar carpet in the litter box. If the cat is willing to utilize that option, add a small amount of litter on elevation of the carpet the next mean solar day. Continue adding more litter and replacing the carpet when it gets too dirty, until the cat is transitioned to litter completely.

   • Yous may accept to confine the cat to a not-carpeted expanse of the house for a while to get this option to piece of work, or to roll up your carpets temporarily. Confinement can backfire if the cat is stressed or bored.
   • Similarly, if your cat is indoor/outdoor, or if your cat used to eliminate mostly exterior, add garden soil or sand (without any fertilizer) to the box. Once more, transition slowly from sand/soil to litter by adding small-scale amounts of the new substrate to the preferred substrate a lilliputian at a time.

1. 1

   Spay or neuter your cat. This is not a requirement for litter training, merely information technology does brand urination outside the litter box much less likely. Unneutered males are especially likely to spray urine when they're stressed, not getting along with another male person, or demonstrating their availability to a female cat.^[24]

   • The sooner this happens, the more likely the behavior will stop. If information technology goes on besides long, the habit can persist even later on surgery.^[25]

2. ii

   Reduce stress in your cat. ^[26] Merely like humans, cats may feel stress from changes in their environs or schedule. Your cat may stop using the litterbox after a person or other beast leaves the household, or when a new i moves in. Some cats even answer badly to redecoration. Here are a few ways to help:

   • Provide individual places where the true cat can be on its ain, including hiding spots and high perches.
   • If your cat is immune outside, permit it come up and go whenever information technology likes.^[27]
   • Permit your cat initiate contact, and be calm and consistent in your response. Some cats are stressed because they aren't getting enough playtime, while others dislike being pet or picked up whenever the owner feels like it.
   • If the cat's behavior continues, consult a veterinary or animal behaviorist.

3. three

   Respond to vertical spraying. If your cat backs upward against a vertical surface, wiggles its tail, and releases a spray of urine, your cat is spraying. If yous don't see it in action, look for roundish areas of strong-smelling urine a little higher up than the height of your cat'due south rear finish, with streak marks running down to the baseboard or floor. Any cat can perform this territorial behavior, only information technology is most mutual in unneutered, male cats. Hither'due south how to reply if your cat is spraying:

   • Spraying is ofttimes a response to stress or the presence of other cats.^[28] Follow the advice above to address this.
   • Spraying can exist a response to a new neighborhood true cat, especially if the spray is focused on a door, window, or air vent. Try to keep the cat out of your k, or shut the blinds and so your cat can't see information technology.
   • Virtually xxx% of cats that vets examine for spraying have a medical condition.^[29] It's a good thought to have your cat examined, particularly if y'all cannot find a solution.

4. 4

   Replace small boxes as a kitten grows. If you lot adopted your cat as a kitten, it may need a larger litter box in one case it grows upwards. The cat should exist able to plow around comfortably, and even so exist able to notice a clean spot if you lot miss a cleanup.^[30]

   • Cats dislike change, and may take a while to adapt to the new box. Follow the instructions above if bug continue.

5. 5

   Clip away disordered fur in long-haired cats. Some long-haired cats muddied the fur around their rear when they eliminate. This can cause painful or unpleasant experiences that the cat learns to associate with the litter box. If you find this happening, advisedly clip away matted fur from the area.^[31]

6. six

   Minimize impairment when the owner is away. Some cats react poorly when their owner is away. They may endeavor to urinate somewhere with a strong scent of the owner, usually the bed. Instruct the pet sitter to keep the bedchamber door close, and provide extra litter boxes and so the true cat tin can e'er reach i without walking by the pet sitter.^[32]

   • If possible, hire a pet sitter the cat already knows, or at least innovate them before yous leave.

7. 7

   Amend behavior in multi-pet households. Urine marking is a common reaction to conflict with another cat or dog, which can happen fifty-fifty if the animals got along in the by. For best results, make sure each brute tin can admission resources without budgeted the other:^[33]

   • Keep one litter box for each animal, plus one extra. Put each one in a carve up location with at least two exit routes if possible.
   • Give each fauna its own bed and food bowl. Keep these resources away from litter boxes and from each other.
   • Provide plenty of perches and hiding spaces for each true cat.

8. 8

   Divide animals if bad beliefs continues. If your cat still won't use the litter box, or yet acts aggressive to the other beast, try a stricter method of separation. This is oft necessary when bringing a new cat into the household:^[34]

   • Separate the cats into rooms with a closed door in between, then they do non encounter each other. Assemble each cat'due south facial pheromones (forehead, cheeks, chin) on a modest sock or gauze pad and put each sock in the others' space. Then, brush each true cat to collect their facial pheromones and place one cat'southward pheromones on the other, creating a group smell.
   • Swap spaces so they tin can olfactory property each other's scent in the environment.
   • Introduce them advisedly, providing a high identify and hidey holes for escape if one is ambitious to the other.
   • Consult a cat behaviorist if the cats merely can't get along.

1. 1

   Assess whether your cat is having a difficult time urinating. If you run into your cat straining while trying to urinate, or spending a long fourth dimension trying with no consequence, take your cat to the vet immediately. Male person cats in particular can develop urinary conditions where the urethra (the tube from the bladder to the penis) narrows or gets blocked. Typically modest amounts of urine tin pass until the cat is completely blocked and cannot urinate at all. This is a life threatening situation and needs immediate medical care. Blockages can also occur in the intestinal tract.

   • Some cats with a urinary infection or blockage spend a lot of time trying to urinate, licking their genitals, or crying at their possessor.^[35]

2. 2

   Evaluate whether your cat is having fecal problems. Fecal constipation does occur in cats and can lead to chronic issues requiring special diets and laxatives. Diarrhea is not uncommon either, including chronic diarrhea related to inflammatory bowel affliction. Whatever of these conditions are uncomfortable for the cat and may cause the true cat to be afraid of the litter box or unable to get to the litter box in fourth dimension to avoid an accident.

   • Many cats with inflammatory bowel affliction just have occasional symptoms for no obvious reason. Appetite changes, sluggishness, vomiting, or increased hairball product can be signs of intestinal discomfort.

3. 3

   Improve concrete access to the box. If your cat is older or has an injury, it may not exist able to get into the litter box as comfortably as it once could. Does your true cat limp, need assist jumping up to a chair or bed, have episodes of shaking legs, or seem painful around its spine or tail? If so, take the cat to the vet immediately! You may exist able to make the cat more comfy past getting a litter box with lower sides, or with a "doorway" cut into the side. Yous may need to consider a larger box then that the cat can plough around easily once inside.

   • An overweight cat may not fit comfortably in the box whatever longer. Get a larger box and identify the cat on a diet. Consult with your veterinarian near safe weight loss strategies for your cat.

4. 4

   Talk to your veterinarian to rule out other medical problems. ^[36] Urinating exterior of the litter box often results from a feline medical result, including urinary tract infections, diabetes mellitus, chronic renal disease, hyperthyroidism, bladder inflammation with or without urinary crystals, and abdominal problems (IBD). When in doubtfulness, have a veterinary conduct a medical checkup.

   • Observe your cat and then you are prepared to answer your veterinary'south questions. Possible questions include: Does the cat urinate correct past the litter box or further away? How large is the spot of urine? Does the true cat ever try to urinate in the litter box? Does the cat vocalize when urinating? Is there an increase in water consumption? Can you tell if the urine is almost articulate, normal color, or dark? How frequently is the cat urinating?
   • Even if in that location is no medical cause, your vet could prescribe anti-anxiety drugs to forestall spraying. This is non a guaranteed or gamble-free solution, so talk to your vet virtually the pros and cons.

Add together New Question

• Question

  Why is my true cat starting to not use the litter box?

  

  Francine Miller is an Applied Animal Behavior Advisor and Founder of Call Ms Behaving, a behavior counseling service for dogs and cats in San Diego, California. With over 16 years of experience, Francine specializes in treating behavior problems such as assailment, separation feet, phobias, fear reactions, destructiveness, urine mark, and compulsive behaviors. She uses a behavioral management and modification programme that is positive reinforcement but. She holds a Diploma in Canine Beliefs Counseling from the American College of Applied Scientific discipline (ACAS). Francine has completed all coursework toward an MS in Applied Animal Behavior Science and Family unit Counseling for Companion Animals from the American College of Applied science (ACAS). She is a certified Associate of the International Association of Fauna Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and a fellow member of the Pet Professional person Guild.

  

  Certified Animate being Beliefs Counselor

  Expert Answer

  In that location are several possible reasons for this behavior. Your true cat may take a medical condition that needs treatment from a vet. Yet, information technology's likewise possible that your true cat is afraid of the box because something scary happened nearly it, like a loud sound or a fight with another household true cat. It could also exist equally simple as the box is muddy.

• Question

  What do you do if your cat stops using the litter box?

  

  Francine Miller is an Practical Beast Behavior Counselor and Founder of Call Ms Behaving, a behavior counseling service for dogs and cats in San Diego, California. With over 16 years of experience, Francine specializes in treating beliefs bug such as aggression, separation anxiety, phobias, fear reactions, destructiveness, urine marking, and compulsive behaviors. She uses a behavioral management and modification plan that is positive reinforcement merely. She holds a Diploma in Canine Behavior Counseling from the American College of Applied Science (ACAS). Francine has completed all coursework toward an MS in Applied Animal Behavior Science and Family Counseling for Companion Animals from the American College of Applied Science (ACAS). She is a certified Associate of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC) and a member of the Pet Professional Guild.

  

  Certified Animal Behavior Counselor

  Expert Reply

  I would beginning effort to figure out what'south causing your cat's issue. Well-nigh cats stop using their litter box considering they don't like the box, its location, the litter, or it's not make clean enough for them. I would experiment until you detect what works all-time for your cat. If your cat withal isn't using the litter box, talk to your vet to rule out a medical outcome.

• Question

  Can a stray cat be litter trained?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same beast clinic in her hometown for over twenty years.

  

  Veterinarian

  Expert Answer

  Cats are make clean creatures that dislike soiling their living quarters. You can litter train a stray but it does take patience. Keep the true cat in a minor room with a tray in one corner, food and water in some other, and a bed in a different corner. Given a choice between soiling their bed or food, the true cat will most likely chose the tray.

• Question

  How many times a day do cats use the litter box?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinary with over xxx years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

  

  Veterinary

  Good Answer

  Cats empty their bladder a couple of times a day. They often have a bowel movement shortly after eating. And so if you feed the cat three times a day, you can expect poops iii times daily in addition to the pee. But carry in mind all cats are different and then if the cat seems well but only poops one time a day, this is cipher to worry about.

• Question

  Practice yous have to train a cat to employ the litter box?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.

  

  Veterinarian

  Expert Answer

  Cats are amazingly clean creatures and most larn to use a tray past copying their mothers. When provided with the right tray, a familiar cat litter, and a overnice quiet spot, near cats will start using the tray and not need grooming to practice so.

• Question

  Why is my cat all of a sudden peeing exterior the litter box?

  

  Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over xxx years of feel in veterinarian surgery and companion fauna practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a caste in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same brute clinic in her hometown for over xx years.

  

  Veterinarian

  Proficient Answer

  A change of toilet habits can be acquired by a medical trouble (such as cystitis or bladder stones) or behavioral. Beliefs reasons include the cat developing a dislike of the tray. This tin happen if the true cat was frightened while using the tray, or the box is muddied.

• Question

  Why would my cat be peeing outside the litter box?

  

  Depending on the length of fourth dimension the cat has been doing this, she may have learned this equally a beliefs and yous will have to retrain it. Look at your cat as an individual and encounter how the surround in your home may be affecting information technology.

• Question

  My young Tabby was using the litter box at get-go, but now she is besides peeing on my bed where she sleeps with me. How practice I finish her from doing this?

  

  Block her out of your room at night, get a true cat bed, lock her in a room, like the kitchen or living room, and leave the litter box in at that place with her. Hopefully, if y'all do this for a few months, she will get used to the box and use information technology all the fourth dimension. Even so, some cats don't, and you may need to see a vet if this doesn't work.

• Question

  I have a mother cat with four kittens that take of a sudden stopped using the litter box. Whatever ideas what is causing this and how to get her back on rail safely?

  

  If the kittens are using the same box, go a new box so the mother tin can eliminate without them underfoot. If she already has her own box, it's probably stress-related: she did just requite nativity, afterward all. Try to find the firsthand cause. Peradventure she doesn't have a comfortable, tranquillity place to keep her kittens, or maybe she needs a vet visit to check for medical bug related to the nativity.

• Question

  My 10-year-sometime female cat suddenly stopped using her litter box. Why might this be?

  

  She could exist going senile. At a certain age, cats' brains finish operation like they used to. This means you will accept to clean upwardly after her. Information technology will exist difficult to retrain her at that age.

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• You may have to seek out urine spots that are not obvious in order to find them all. This includes the underside of carpet, and the padding and the floor under that. A blackness low-cal, used in the dark, will make spots that have had urine on them glow.

• If you accept multiple cats and are not sure which one is urinating outside the box, talk to your vet about giving one of your cats fluorescein. This is a harmless dye that volition temporarily cause that cat's urine to glow blue under a black lite.^[37] Alternatively, keep your cats in separate rooms until you've figured it out.

• If your dog harasses the cat while it is on the litter box, or tries to comb in the cat's litter, block access to the litter box with a baby gate. Heighten the gate high plenty that the cat can skid underneath, but the dog cannot.^[38]

• Exercise not punish your cat for not using the litter box, including by rubbing its nose in the urine or feces.^[39] This will not improve the cat's behavior.

• Do not make clean up urine with an ammonia-based cleaner. Urine contains ammonia, so the scent may attract the true cat to the aforementioned spot side by side time.^[forty]

• Urine spraying is much more likely if you proceed many cats in a small space. Co-ordinate to some studies, it is almost unavoidable in households with x or more cats.^[41]

• Cats that spray when stressed often render to the beliefs when they run across a new source of anxiety. If this happens, a prompt visit to the vet can brand information technology easier to discover a long term solution earlier the problem becomes a persistent habit.^[42]

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Article Summary Ten

To retrain a true cat to use the litter box, put its litter box in a low traffic area with at least 2 exits so the cat doesn't experience cornered. And then, try to play with your true cat in the aforementioned general area every bit the litter box so it becomes more than comfortable there. If the true cat still doesn't use the litter box, try to limit its access to the places information technology likes to soil so it has to detect a new spot, and identify another litter box nearby and so it chooses it instead. Go on reading for tips from our Veterinary reviewer on how to see if stress or medical issues are causing the trouble.

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