Why Your Cat Avoids the Litter Box – 5 Proven Solutions

Your cat not using the litter box can be the result of many different situations. Often, all it takes is a simple adjustment to quickly solve the problem at hand. It’s important to pay attention to your cat's behavior in order to pinpoint the reason behind their litter box aversion. 

In some cases, medical issues will cause your feline to avoid their litter box. In other cases, your cat’s litter box aversion could stem from the fact that they don’t like the litter in their box. Let’s explore the various reasons behind what causes litter box avoidance!

Medical vs. behavioral: litter box aversion

Taking your cat to a vet is always a good first step when they start to display behavioral issues. For instance, if you notice that your cat frequently attempts to urinate but it appears as if they’re straining to do so, they might have feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) or a related condition like feline interstitial cystitis. 

With the help of a vet, you’ll be able to rule out and treat medical problems right away. From there, you can focus on the behavior and what could be causing it outside of medical-related issues. 

You’ll want to tell your vet if your cat is licking their genital area excessively or if there is blood in their urine. Another symptom to watch out for is if your cat is in pain when they use the litter box. Listen for meowing or crying noises while they urinate, as it could be a sign of kidney or bladder stones, or some sort of blockage like feline urethral obstruction (FUO). 

If your cat’s litter box aversion came on suddenly, you might be scratching your head and trying to figure out the answer to the question, Why is my cat all of a sudden not using the litter box? If your cat isn’t fixed, they will hit a maturation mark around seven months and start marking their territory. As such, it’s important to get your cat spayed or neutered to stop them from urinating outside of the litter box. 

Top reasons why your cat is not using the litter box

It shouldn’t take you long to notice that your cat is having accidents in unwanted places. After you have ruled out medical issues, it's time to answer the question, Why is my cat not using the litter box?

Here are 7 common reasons for accidents outside the box. 

Dirty litter box

Behavioral mishaps could be due to nothing more than a dirty litter box. Make sure you’re scooping the litter box every day to avoid this issue.

Litter type

Cats are sensitive to smells and the texture of various objects. So, if you’re using a scented litter, your cat may not like it. If that’s the case, litter with added fragrances and perfumes may cause them to avoid using the litter box. 

Also, some cats won’t like silica litter or biodegradable litter because of the way these litters feel. Most cats prefer unscented, clay-clumping litter, which is easy for cats to dig and bury their waste in without the distraction of added smells.

Multiple cats

Your cat might not be using their litter box if there are too many cats sharing the same litter box. If you have multiple cats, it’s important to have more than one litter box in the home. For example, if you have two cats, you should have three litter boxes. 

Look out for territorial issues with multiple cats as well. Sometimes, one cat will dominate the litter box and intimidate other cats that try to use the litter box. If you’re asking yourself, How do I get my cat to stop guarding the litter box? try adding multiple boxes!

Ease of access

Litter boxes should be placed in easy-to-access spots around the house. For instance, if your litter box is in the basement and your cat continues to urinate outside of the box on the main floor, then that may be their way of telling you to move the litter box upstairs. 

If you have older cats or cats with arthritis, it’s important that you make sure the box opening is low enough for them. You could also try investing in a ramp for the entrance of the cat litter box, too!  

Privacy

Cats like privacy. They feel vulnerable when they are using the bathroom, so if your box is located in a high traffic or noisy area, they may look for somewhere more private to go. 

Changes in the home

In addition to wanting privacy, cats are sensitive animals, and changes to their environment can be stressful for them. Additional pets or unfamiliar people in the home can cause a cat to use the bathroom somewhere other than the litter box. 

Claustrophobia

Make sure your litter box is big enough for your cat. If it's too small, your cat might feel overly claustrophobic when using the litter box. Some cats have an aversion to hooded boxes as well because they can enhance the feeling of being claustrophobic in their litter box. 

Bringing your cat back to the box: 5 solutions

After identifying why your cat isn’t using their box, it's time to learn how to fix the problem. These litter box solutions will help you get your cat back on track!