Many cat parents know all too well: litter box problems are all too real.
According to Dr. Lois Palin, VMD, with Doylestown Veterinary Hospital, litter box avoidance is perhaps the number one behavioral problem concerning our feline friends.
“When our cats are urinating out of their litter boxes it can be due to a medical problem or a behavioral problem like territorial marking,” Dr. Palin says. “It can also indicate that there is a social or environmental conflict going on in the home. And, honestly, sometimes the differences between these medical and behavioral problems might not be clear cut. For instance, we can sometimes see some medical symptoms that result from stress in our cats.”
What Should I Do if My Cat Stops Using the Litter Box?
If your cat has begun urinating in all the wrong places, it’s not time to think outside of the box for self-diagnosis or quick fixes. It’s time to call your veterinarian.
“As soon as this kind of problem starts, pet parents should have their cat examined by a veterinarian and anticipate that there is going to be some testing done,” Dr. Palin continues. “We need to rule out the possibility of medical issues.”
Some of the most common medical conditions leading to these urinary cat-astrophies include bladder infections or bladder stones. Excessive drinking may signify illnesses like kidney disease or diabetes. Bladder tumors, while uncommon, can also cause litter box avoidance.
Arthritis in older cats, Dr. Palin notes, may also be a contributor, as pain and stiffness can make getting into a litter box or proper posturing a challenge.
“There’s also a condition called feline idiopathic cystitis, which can be caused by a combination of medical and behavioral problems,” Dr. Palin explains. “This is a physical manifestation of anxiety or stress that the cat is experiencing causing them to urinate in inappropriate places, but they’re simultaneously straining to urinate. It’s very painful and they can even produce bloody urine with this condition.”
Cystitis can be a serious problem for male cats, Dr. Palin continues. This condition can cause such severe spasming of the urethra that it becomes obstructed, “or what we refer to as being blocked. And that can be a medical emergency.”
“First and foremost, your veterinarian should examine your cat to look for medical problems and rule those causes out.”
When Behavioral Issues Are to Blame
“Pet parents should keep in mind that urinating and defecating for cats is a means of communication. It’s a way for them to say, ‘Hey, I was here. This is my house. This is my territory.’”
Multiple stressors can lead to errant marking. Perhaps another cat has moved into the house, or the family has moved to a new home, or the pet parent isn’t around as much anymore. New visitors – human and animal, alike – or strange noises like nearby construction, can also cause undue stress.
“Some cats can even become stressed just from small changes in the house, like a new piece of furniture. These are all things that make them think that they need to mark their territory,” Dr. Palin says.
Is it a Territorial Thing?
If a cat is laying its claim to a space, it will typically be seen on a vertical surface, Dr. Palin says, and frequently near doors and windows.
“They might not be urinating outside of their box 100 percent of the time. Often, they’ll still go into their litter box to defecate. Certainly, there’s an increased incidence with cats that are not spayed or neutered. And, no, it isn’t just male cats. Females are also territorial.”
Often, cat parents, when they sit down and think about things, can pinpoint when territoriality issues began – whether it was tied to a new piece of furniture or a house guest that brought their dog or something altogether different.
“Issues like these often require some anti-anxiety medications, but it can take some time and digging and talking to figure out what those stressors are,” Dr. Palin says.
The good thing to know is that there are medications that can be implemented successfully once the precise cause is deduced.
Additional Reasons for Aversion
Some cats simply decide that their litter box is unacceptable.
“It could be because it’s dirty, it’s not in a private place, or it’s uncomfortable for them,” Dr. Palin says. “For instance, the side of the box may be too tall for them to easily get into it, or it might be too small.”
When this happens, cats will typically be urinating on horizontal surfaces, she explains. “They will also not want to urinate or defecate in their box.”
Cats may also be unwilling to share with another cat in the home.
“The rule of thumb when owning multiple cats is that you should always have one more box than the number of cats,” says Dr. Palin. “So, if you have two cats, you should have at least three boxes.”
Not All Litter is Created Equal
A recent switch in litter brands may be all it takes to push your cat over the edge, so to speak. That being said, pet parents should experiment with offering different options – possibly trying a new litter in a different box to see if their cat prefers it.
“Just stay away from scented litters, as most cats don’t like them,” Dr. Palin says.
Additionally, the shape, size, and accouterments of the box also play a role. “Some cats prefer a litter box that’s uncovered, others prefer covered. It occasionally takes experimenting to see if there is truly a preference by offering at least one of each.”
Boxes, she notes, should also be one and a half times the length of the cat using it, including the tail. “A big cat in a small litter box can be tough.”
Regular cleaning, of course, is essential. Clumping litter should be changed completely once a month, and non-clumping as often as twice weekly. Boxes should be getting scooped at least once or twice daily.
Avoid heavily scented soaps or disinfectants, Dr. Palin stresses, and always rinse the box thoroughly.
Location, Location, Location
Dr. Palin recalls patients whose litter boxes were initially placed next to furnaces, terrifying cats in a precarious position once the unit kicked on. For reasons like these, quieter areas in the home are ideal, she says.
Self-cleaning boxes are also a great option for busy cat parents, but, again, mechanical noises could be frightening.
Other cats in the house can also be problematic, “bullying” one another and preventing easy access to the litterbox. This makes multiple boxes a must. “They should be located in different places in the home, however, not just lined up in one spot.”
“Of course, you don’t ever want to have the cat’s food in the same location as your litter box,” Dr. Palin says. “They don’t want their feeding area to be their toilet, too.”
Thinking Outside of the Box
Herbal products like Cat Attract or pheromone sprays like Feliway can be added to a litter box to encourage cats to use them. The latter, says Dr. Palin, is particularly helpful if your pet is marking its territory. “It kind of tells them that the space is secure and that they don’t need to worry about it. It has a calming effect and reduces the cat’s drive to mark.”
Dietary supplements may also be helpful for anxious cats. Alpha Casozepine is a protein found in the calming component of milk, which has strong anti-anxiety properties. Another – L-Theanine – is a natural supplement used for anxiety management, which is often used in conjunction with medications to deal with feline stress.
Obviously, Dr. Palin notes, if the cat who is urinating outside of its box has not yet been spayed or neutered, those procedures should be the first step in addressing the problem.
“It’s important to keep in mind that these can be tough problems to remedy. Your veterinarian may recommend a consultation with a veterinary behavior specialist to get to the root of the problem and find the very best way to treat it,” she says.
“The bottom line is that a cat and its parent are best served by getting to the veterinarian as soon as the problem starts so that it can be remedied as soon as possible.”
