And it’s a good thing all of those options are available because cats are funny about their box. Like humans, cats have their own preferences and rarely are two cats alike.
So if your cat is avoiding the litter box, don’t despair. It simply means you need to take a step back and evaluate what’s going on, from health to litter box, to your choice of litter and more.
Here are 5 reasons your cat might be avoiding the box and what you should do about them.
Medical Issues – The first thing you should do if your cat is peeing or pooping outside the box is to take him to the vet to rule out any medical issues. You may be surprised at the variety of things that cause your precious furball to go outside the box.
Cats often behave strangely when they are in pain or uncomfortable and sometimes associate this pain or discomfort with the place where they do their business. Don’t blame them…they’re trying to figure out the problem!
For example, if your cat is constipated and it’s hard for him to go #2, he might believe it’s the litter box that’s causing the issue and try to find another spot. If he has a urinary tract infection, it hurts when he uses the box so…logically he might try to go elsewhere. Get your poor sweetie to the vet promptly to rule out medical problems.
Covered Litter Boxes – The idea behind litter boxes with lids is to provide the cat some privacy and the owner some reprieve from seeing and smelling the box. But this can backfire on some cat owners when their cat simply doesn’t like to go into an enclosed space to potty.
I get lots of emails from readers who read this tip and it changed things immediately! If your cat is peeing somewhere you don’t want him to and you have a covered litter box, take off the lid and see if that helps. Let the light shine in!
Depth of the Litter – Sure, cats are finicky about the type of litter you use but you might also need to experiment with different depths of litter.
If it’s too deep your cat might dislike the feeling of sinking into quicksand, unable to get a foothold.
If it’s too shallow, hitting bottom might feel funny to your cat’s little paws. Also, have you ever noticed that cats grip the litter with their paws, especially when they are pooping? It’s important for them to feel comfortable with the surface or they will find somewhere else.
Finally, cats with longer hair may not like the feel of their fur dragging in litter that’s too deep. Play around with different options. And, in extreme cases, try paper towels or puppy pads placed in the box. Yes, these options can get expensive, messy and stinky, but for some cats it works great.
Arthritis – When cats age, they may suffer from arthritis. If someone tells me their senior cat begins going outside the box, my first piece of advice is get him to the vet!
But then, take a look at the box. If your cat has mobility issues or any pain, it may be hard for him to get in and out of the box. Try a low-sided box or cutting one side down so your cat can easily enter and exit. Remember to sand the edges or put duct tape over them so your pretty kitty doesn’t cut himself on the jagged cut edges.
Then, consider the depth of the litter, as I mentioned above. Gripping litter might be too hard for arthritic cats so less litter in the box might work better for him.
Location – This is actually one of the first things experts recommend you consider when your cat is not using his box. If the box is near the furnace or washer/dryer, your cat might not like the strange noises.
Also, cats seem to like some privacy but not remote privacy. Don’t make them traverse too far to use the potty. I know it can be hard but it’s also important to have more than one box….and not right next to each other. To a cat, that’s pretty much one big box. If you can have boxes on each level of your house or in opposite ends of the house or apartment, that’s ideal because it gives them options...
Source: http://www.thehappylitterbox.com/
