If you have a kitten or an older cat, she may not be able to get down a long flight of stairs in time to get to the litterbox. Since she is new to the household, she may not remember where the litterbox is if it's located in an area she seldom frequents.
But cats are born with the instinct to dig and cover their waste. Theoretically, she says, if you place an appropriate litter box in a room, a cat or kitten will use it. Stray cats transitioning from outdoor to indoor life also know what to do, but they might insist on using your houseplants rather than the litter box.
Give them lots of praise once they have been to the toilet in their tray so they know they've done something really good. It may take a bit of time but your cat will eventually always go in their trays. Remember to keep an eye on them and take them to the vet if you think they are having problems going to the toilet.
Sometimes even a well-trained cat may seem to "forget" and start relieving himself around the house. The reasons for this lapse in litter box training may vary from medical issues to simple tastes and preferences.
“Cats are very sensitive to sudden changes to their environment. They may not take the time to look” for the box's new location. Some cat owners find innovative solutions to litter box problems.
It's important to try and distinguish whether, in her mind, she's avoiding using the litter tray, actively choosing to go somewhere else, or being indiscriminate in where she goes. If she's actively avoiding the litter tray, then she has a problem with the tray itself – and this is a really common issue.
There isn't one simple factor that causes cat litter to track outside the litter box. Litter tracking has to do with your cat's particular habits as well as the type of litter and litter box, where you put the box, how much litter you use, and how you clean up after kitty.
From a young age, domestic cats know to use a litter box, unlike puppies that use your floor for the first couple of weeks before being trained to go outside.
According to Dr. La Jeunesse, unless there is an infectious disease involved, either choice is just fine. (There are also potential factors to consider when reusing a litterbox, for example, which may smell like a previous cat and turn a new cat off.
You may have even heard that your cat can smell their dirty litter a mile away. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that a cat can smell their litter box from that far away. More realistically, they might be able to smell it up to a few hundred feet away (depending on wind and weather conditions) and often a lot less.
A common reason for a cat pooping outside the litter box is change. Cats are creatures of habit, so if you have just moved to a new home, changed the location of the litter box, changed the litter box itself or the type of litter, your cat may have some difficulty adjusting.
Newborn kittens need to be stimulated to go to the bathroom, and won't start using the litter box until around 3 weeks of age.
If you use a non-clumping litter and have only one cat, changing the litter twice per week is a good guideline. If you have more than one cat, every other day may work better. There are no hard and fast rules for how often you should change the cat litter.
It is best to separate your resident cat from your new cat when you first bring them home so that you can have more control in their initial meeting. The two cats should be able to smell and hear—but not see or touch—each other. Each cat should have her own food and water bowl, litter box, scratching post, bed, etc.
Litter boxes should be scooped at least once or twice a day, and it's even better if you can get to it as soon as your cat has finished his business. There are self-cleaning litter boxes available that use a sensor to tell when a cat has entered and then left the litter box.
Your cat could be just trying to maintain her scent in the box, even though you're cleaning it. Animals usually go to the bathroom to give us a message. If it's outside the litter box, they could be stressed or in need of a clean place to go.
Your cat needs privacy when using the litter box, just as you would like when you use the bathroom. Place your cat's box in a quiet location, away from noisy washing machines or dryers that could frighten your cat while in the box. The box should also be in a location where your cat can use it undisturbed.
At night, utilize a nightlight to illuminate the litter box area, so your cat doesn't have to guess at the target spot. Cats have better night vision than humans, but they cannot see in total darkness. Placing doggie pads around the litter box can help with clean-up if your cat does misfire.
If you're still having odor problems, try sprinkling a little baking soda on the bottom of the box before you add fresh litter each week, or place an open box of baking soda in the same area as the box.
Think food puzzles to engage minds and bodies, vertical space for climbing and surveying their domain, scratching posts, safe outdoor access (like a catio), window perches and interactive play. “Play is an important part of relieving stress,” Delgado says. “It helps cats release those feel-good hormones.”
Dr. Justine A. Lee, a long-time veterinarian, believes the box should be scooped daily but admits it's OK if you do it every other day. “We neurotic types clean litter boxes daily. If that's too much for you, litter boxes should be scooped out at least every other day,” she said in this post on Pet Health Network.
Well, the answer is between 24 and 48 hours, with the average feline being able to hold it for about 36 hours. While it's not ideal to have your cat do this, it's not necessarily harmful. Anything that exceeds 48 hours is a cause for concern, and you should consult your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Having multiple boxes prevents overcrowding into one, where your cat has to step on others' waste and may feel like there's not a spot clean enough to “go.” Not finding what she needs in her litter box, she'll choose another spot where no stepping over waste is required.
Male cats tend to be more social and affectionate with both humans and other cats. They commonly form strong bonds with other cats in the home, even when they are not from the same litter. Females, on the other hand, are often more standoffish. If you are looking for a cuddle bug, adopting a male may be your best bet.
If it's not clean enough, too small or too deep (cats prefer about 2 inches of litter), difficult to access, or has a liner that makes her uncomfortable, she may decide to pee outside of her litter box. She also may not have enough litter boxes around the house, or dislikes their locations.