Why Won't My Cat Use The Litterbox? Behaviorally Speaking

There are many behavioral reasons a cat may choose another place in the home to eliminate other than their litterbox. (Please see "Why Won't My Cat Use The Litterbox - Medical Reasons" for the myriad of medical reasons as to why this problem may occur). In this post, we will address the most common reasons for a cat to avoid the box, but keep in mind that there may be many other contributing factors other than what is listed here and you may need to seek advice from a behaviorist.
Before we get started it is important to address the most over looked and underemphasized point regarding this very common problem. LITTERBOXES ARE NOT SIMPLY FELINE TOILETS! Litterboxes provide a place for your cat to communicate, mark, and eliminate and there is a lot of emotion surrounding the use of them. So as you read through this list keep these questions in mind. Do you think the location of the litterbox in your home gives your cats a chance to say what they want to say and where they want to say it? Is your cat set up for success or failure?

1).LOCATION: When a cat eliminates it is their most vunerable moment and they must feel safe and secure. If every time they enter the box or even the room where the box is located they get chased or barked at by the family dog, attacked by another cat (even if in play), or must walk past the play room where loud toys and children are making noise, they may simply find a quieter, safer place to eliminate. Additionally, cats want to mark where their favorite humans spend the majority of their time. This means that the laundry room, basement, and hallway closet are NOT places for litterboxes. You may think you are ingenious for coming up with these out of the way “private” spaces, but in actuality you are setting you cat up for failure. Look around your home, what rooms do you frequent the most? That’s right, that is where your litterboxes should be!

2).THE BOX: Commercially available litterboxes are once again designed for humans and not cats, funny since we do not have to crawl in there and use them. They are too small. Litterboxes should be one and half times the length of your cats body, and they should have lots of room to dig and turn around without rubbing their bodies against the sides of the box. They should also be uncovered. (See our litterbox handout on this website for a photo). Hooded boxes increase fear and aggression especially in a multi-cat home. Again we are back to vunerability, they cannot see who is approaching in an opaque hooded litterbox. It is the perfect attack if you are a board cat who wants to stalk your housemate.

3).HOW MANY: The rule of thumb is one more litterbox than you have cats. The reason being is that most cats prefer to urinate in one box and defecate in another, again they are marking within your home. Another reason is so that not all of the boxes in the house can be “guarded” at any given time and the cats can always access to a box. Now if you have 10 boxes in a “litterbox room” you are again setting the cats up for failure. You essentially have one big box, one way in and one way out. If that doorway is guarded by one cat then no one else can get in there to go to the bathroom. Lets remember that the cats want to mark where you spend time and I bet most humans don’t sit and read a book in the “litterbox room.”

4).SUBTRATE: Once again the market is saturated with products designed for humans. The litter should be soft, unscented, and ideally clumping. (See our handout for specific recommendations). Cats have a sense of smell far greater than ours and even that light florally fragrance can be extremely offensive to your cat. Keep in mind they also have to groom that scent off of themselves. Many cats have reactions to the chemicals used to make the litter scented and won’t step in the box because the skin on their feet and paw pads have been affected by this! Crystal and pine litters with the big pieces are also not ideal. Outside cats would choose soft loose soil, not hard, sharp big chunks to eliminate.

5).CLEANLINESS: All litterboxes regardless of how many cats you have should be scooped a minimum of once per day, twice a day is ideal. Remember that cats are fastidiously clean animals. They should never have to step on a bowel movement to have a bowel movement. If using clumping litter, then dump and scrub with a mild detergent +/- a 10% diluted bleach solution every 6-8weeks. If using clay (non clumping litter) use a very shallow amount of litter and dump completely each day. Do not try to scoop urine out the best you can and then stir it around, it makes the box appear completely soiled with urine to your cats’ sensitive nose.
We have just grazed the surface as to why a cat may not find its’ litterbox preferable. If you have already made changes similar to these suggestions, please fill out the behavior questionnaire on this website and submit it for a consultation.