ASK DR. SUSAN . . . Why won't my cat use the litterbox anymore?
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ASK DR. SUSAN MEDICAL REASONS For inappropriate defecation: Reasons such as diarrhea or even constipation can cause them to defecate inappropriately. There are many medical reasons that could cause both diarrhea (parasites, hyperthyroidism, inflammatory bowel disease, to name a few) or constipation (renal disease, dehydration) and either of these resulting symptoms can cause a cat to defecate in inappropriate places. The bottom line is, if your cat is inappropriately urinating or defecating, it is important to take your cat to the vet and make sure there isn't a medical reason for the new behavior. BEHAVIORAL REASONS Once the medical reasons have been ruled out, then you can start looking at possible behavioral reasons and see what can be rectified. 1) Number of litter boxes: Animal behaviorists recommend that you have one litterbox for each cat you have, plus one. So, if you have 3 cats you should have 4 litterboxes. If you don't have enough boxes and are having a problem with one of your cats, we recommend adding another litter box in a different location from the one that you have. 2) Cleanliness: Many cats will not use a dirty box. It is very important that you scoop at least once a day, more if you have multiple cats. If you're not using litter liners, make sure that you completely change the litter and scrub the entire box more often. Even though you've scooped, the odors can penetrate the plastic of the box, making it uninviting for kitty. If you are using litter liners, the box is fresh each time you lift up the liner, sifting the excrement out. When you get down to the last liner, you start all over with fresh litter and avoid having to scrub a messy box. If you're not keeping the box clean, it could be that kitty found a new clean place to go to the bathroom. 3) Are your boxes open or closed? While many cats will use a closed box, most prefer an "open" litter box (without the hood). If you have all closed boxes, try taking the tops off, especially if you are experiencing problems. Some cats feel too closed-in with the hooded boxes. 4) Type of litter: Most cats like the sand-like feel of clumping litter, which is also easy to scoop out for cleanliness, but be mindful that some cats would prefer litters that are unscented. Cats are extremely sensitive to any change. Perhaps you just changed your litter to a different brand? Even if you still use clay litter, remember that any change can change a cat's mind when it comes to using the bathroom! 5) Location of boxes: If all of your boxes are in one area, try moving them to different areas, particularly areas that are quiet. Something may have happened near or in the location where the boxes are that has caused the cat to stop going to that location. Maybe your litterbox is next to a boiler that turned on and scared the cat when he/she was in the box. Perhaps one of your cats is intimidating the other one when they're in the litter box or pouncing on them when they come out so they don't want to go in there anymore. If you have multiple cats and suspect that there might be an inter-kitty war brewing, Feliway brand diffusers (similar to Glade plug-ins) might help. They emit an odor of feline pheromones similar to those that cats naturally emit when they are happy (like when they rub against your let when you're getting dinner ready!). They are undetectable to humans but are pleasant for cats. Recently collars have entered the marketplace (Nurture Calm) which may be more cost effective if you know which cat is under stress. If all the above fails, you can talk to your veterinarian about behavioral medications, which, along with some modifications in your household, can be very beneficial to you and your kitty.
One of the most common reasons for relinquishment of cats to shelters is inappropriate urination/defecation. Many people incorrectly believe that cats are being spiteful for some reason i.e., upset that you went on vacation, or mad that you changed the food. Unfortunately, or rather, fortunately, cats do not understand nor do they act out of spite like we humans do. Cats use litterboxes because they prefer a place to bury their excrement, not because they think that's what we want. We're just lucky that it works out that we both prefer that they use the litter box. When a cat stops using the litterbox, there is a reason that makes sense TO THE CAT. So, let's stop projecting human beliefs onto our cats and try to think of it from the cat's point of view, instead of ours.
For inappropriate urination: Your cat may have a urinary tract infection which makes he/she feel like they have to urinate all the time, even when there is no urine or little urine in the bladder. Often times, they feel like they can't even make it into the litterbox and you may see very small spots or drops of urine (sometimes with blood) in inappropriate places. Reasons for this could be bladder stones, bacterial tract infection or sterile cystitis (among others) Male cats might also be trying to tell you that something is occluding their urinary tract and making it difficult or (and this is an emergency!) impossible to urinate.