Help! My Cat Won't Use The Litter Box!

 

If your cat has started refusing to use the litter box, she is not the only 1! This is arguably the largest predicament faced by cat owners everywhere. It signifies your cat is trying to tell you that one thing isn't correct. Its up to us as cat lovers to decide what that is!

What you undoubtedly do NOT want to do is punish your cat. This will not make the problem go away, and could even make it worse. If your cat is punished she will understand to fear and avoid you. It can lead to increased pressure for your cat, which in turn can lead to an improved problem.

Do take some time to look at each of these achievable causes. You may come across that there are a lot more than a single, and that you will require to address each and every of them separately. These are the most widespread factors why your cat may possibly not be employing the litter box.

- Medical Complications

The initially issue you should do when your cat begins to get rid of away from the litter box is to have your veterinarian examine him or her for any indicators of medical problems. There are some really really serious medical conditions that can lead to inappropriate elimination, and we want to be confident that this is not happening with your cat just before we start out wanting at other possible causes.

If your cat appears to be straining to urinate, but he is creating only a tiny amount of urine, take him to the veterinarian Instantly. This is a very serious and life-threatening situation.

After your vet has ruled out any medical causes, let's take a appear close to your house and close to your cat's each day setting to determine what the other good reasons could be.

- Litter Box Cleanliness

Be positive to preserve your cat's litter box sparkling clean. Your cat has a all-natural sense of cleanliness and order, and is upset by a dirty litter box. If the box appears dirty and/or smelly to you, it is even far more so to your cat, since a cat's sense of smell is approximately 40 instances stronger than a human's. Envision how an unclean litter box smells to him!

There are also other instinctual factors why a cat may prevent a dirty box. In nature, a predator would come across a cat as a result of its sense of smell. Outdoor cats completely cover up their waste following elimination so that any predators in the spot will not be in a position to discover them. Even a domestic indoor cat will have their sense of security disrupted if the smell of their very own waste is in the air. This could drive your cat to uncover new locations to pee and poop, so that he feels less vulnerable.

Be certain that you clean the litter box at least as soon as a day. Wash the box with mild soap and water when needed, but do not use strong smelling soaps or cleaners, as these will also irritate your cat's sense of smell. If your cat is nevertheless not working with the litter box often you may well require to do a lot more frequent cleanings, at least until the dilemma has been resolved.

- Variety of Litter Box

The actual box that you use can also matter to your cat. If she does not like the size or shape of her box she may well refuse to use it. Quite a few cats dislike litter boxes with covers, since they can trap any smells within the box. Or the cat could feel trapped himself! If your cat is overweight or specifically huge, the opening may be as well little for him to use, or the inside of the covered box might be also smaller for him to move close to in.

If your cat is older or arthritic, or if you have a extremely tiny cat or kitten, you should verify the height of the entrance to the box. If it is also substantial and your cat has difficulty obtaining in and out, this could be yet another reason for avoidance. Be sure the box is easy for your cat to access. You can set up a ramp to the entrance if essential.

Other cats may well not like boxes with liners. You must take off the liner if you observe your cat scratching it or trying to pull it off. Giving your cat a selection about the type of box he employs could help the difficulty. Try utilizing unique designs till you uncover one particular she likes and will use.

- Sort of Litter

Many cats display a preference for a specific form of litter. If he has stopped working with the tiny box soon after you changed the litter you use, your cat is telling you that he liked the old 1 better. Try out changing back to your earlier brand, it may possibly be just that simple!

Just about every sort of litter feels diverse, and some are a lot more pleasant to your cat's paws. Some litters are sandy, some gravelly, some are more like dirt, and other folks like shredded paper. What appeals to 1 cat may well not usually appeal to one more. One more thing to look at is that most cats dislike the smell of scented litter. While this may be a nice issue for humans, to mask the smell of the cat's waste, this goes back to the cat's robust sense of smell, and the reality that the perfume in scented litter smells extremely strong to him.

Because cats evolved from desert animals, the texture of sand is usually acceptable. Nonetheless, each cat is distinctive, and you may possibly want to try out unique forms to find one particular that your furry friend will use. You can try putting many different sorts of litter in person boxes to see which a single he employs. And if you have a need to change to a new kind of litter, do it gradually more than time so that your cat can get accustomed to the new smell and texture.