Battling litter box problems

How to retrain a cat that won’t use the litter box

Eliminating outside the litter box is a behavioral problem that leads many cats to the local shelter.
No one wants to adopt a kitty that uses the carpet as a toilet and these confused felines rarely make it out of the shelter alive.



Before you make up your mind to give up your cat due to a litter box issue why not take the time to re-train her so you can both live together peacefully?
While it may not be easy as pie, re-training a cat to use the box again after previous problems can be done, provided you’re willing to put in the effort.



Why is it happening?



Have you recently moved? is the litter box in a new spot? Did a new animal or person join your family?
If your cat previously had good litter box habits and is now using your floors or stray pieces of clothing instead, then chances are a change in your routine or living situation prompted this behavior.



Cats can be territorial creatures, so a new kitty, puppy or boyfriend can send things into a tailspin for Fluffy.
Likewise, a move can confuse and disorient your cat, and the litter box is often the first place she’ll make her displeasure known.



So now that you’ve narrowed down the causes, what do you do about it?



First, find her new favorite peeing spots, clean them with an enzyme cleaner and start feeding her there. Most cats won’t eliminate where they eat.
Neuter or spay your cat. Hormones can have a big effect on bathroom habits.
See the vet for a check up and to rule out a UTI. Urinary tract infections are a very common cause of litter box problems. Two weeks or so of medication and your cat may be back to normal.

Now, let’s assume you’ve already done the above and your kitty is still spraying the house plants or peeing on your favorite slippers. What next?



Time for kitty boot camp. Pick out a rarely used room. A spare bathroom or laundry room works well. Set it up with a litter box, food, water and a comfy sleeping spot and keep your cat confined in there whenever you cannot supervise her fully.
Cats that don’t use the box, have to be confined until they re-learn proper litter box habits.



This will take away her chance to pee inappropriately and encourage her to go in the right spot.



Now don’t worry, you can still give your cat attention, in fact you should be taking her out of her new “cat room” every day for love, snuggle time and affection. A cat left alone for too long can lead to depression and more behavior problems than you started with. Just be sure not to leave her unsupervised in the main part of the house or you may asking for trouble.

Most cats will develop good litter box habits again in approx 3-4 weeks. Don’t be fooled by good behavior early in the game, of course she’ll use the box the first few days in her new room, she doesn’t have a choice but that doesn’t mean she’s formed a new habit yet.
Give it more time to really sink in before you start giving her more freedom.



Yes, this takes some work. But isn’t your cat worth it? Don’t discard your kitty when she becomes inconvenient for you, take the time to teach her what you want instead. A pet is for life.