Troubleshooting Common Litter Box Problems

Litter box avoidance is one of the biggest issues facing cat owners. There can be a multitude of reasons why a cat is avoiding the box, so today we’re going to focus on one - the box itself.

Note: with any litter box avoidance issues, the first step should always be to get a veterinary examination. Bladder stones, urinary crystals, UTIs and other illnesses can cause avoidance and until they are treated, there’s no amount of behaviour modification that can solve the problem. Think of it like this: if you have pneumonia, you can take cough syrup to treat the symptoms, but it’s not going to get better until you have antibiotics. 

So, what are some things your cat looks for in their litter box?

Covered or not covered:

When it doubt, uncover the box. Cats have a much better sense of smell than we do and having that lid on it traps all the odor inside. A fastidious cat may not like it in there. 

It also limits your cat’s visibility of their surroundings and in a multi-cat/pet home that can lead to one cat refusing to use the box out of fear that someone will ambush them.

There are some boxes with the entryway at the top. While this may help prevent some litter from being kicked out of the box, it does present problems. In addition to the previous issue about not being able to see, it may also be a problem for a cat with mobility issues. Consider switching back to a traditional box.

Also, as appealing as they are to humans, the “litter box furniture” that is popular now because it hides the box in something that looks like a bench or end table may be aversive to your cat for the same reasons as a traditional covered box. 

Location:

Where is your box? Most people hide them in closets or basements, which is fine if your cat is using it. However, for similar reasons as the covered box, having them in a hidden corner can leave your cat feeling vulnerable to ambush. Moving it to a place where they can see approaching pets and humans might help. 

Elderly cats may need extra consideration on location as well. If the box is up or down a flight of stairs from where they usually spend their time, they may find it too painful to get to the box. They may also no longer feel like they are able to get to it in time. Moving it to their main floor and placing it in an easily accessible location might help.

Number of boxes:

In a multi cat household, it’s recommended to have one box more than your number of cats (so if you have 2 cats, have 3 boxes). I know for a lot of people living in small apartments, that can be difficult. However, if a cat is having litter box avoidance issues, try adding a box. Cats are very big on choice and autonomy. If you have two cats and two boxes, then one cat always feels like they’re just using the left over box. Having the third box means that they still have a choice between two boxes. 

Substrate:

There a tons of different litter options these days: from basic clumping clay to crystals that change colour. Many cats are fine using anything, but if you’re finding they are avoiding their box, it may also be a substrate issue.

Some things to consider:

• Is the litter scented? Try unscented. What smells good to us may smell awful to your cat

• Is it clumping? Some cats, especially elderly ones with kidney issues, wind up getting it stuck in their feet and thus hate using it. Try a non clumping kind, like recycled paper or pine pellets

• Is the litter soft? Some cats, especially declawed cats, won’t use some of the newer pellet or crystal litters because they find it too hard on their paws. Try a softer one, like fine clay or sand.

• Is the litter clean? Some cats simply will not use a dirty box. Try upping the cleaning schedule.

• Do they prefer a hard surface? The occasional cat will prefer using a totally empty box. If you’re finding they’re always going on a floor, try adding an extra box beside your current one and leaving it empty

Other Considerations:

There are lots of litter robots on the market now, which can certainly help with keeping the box clean. However, it can take only one time of your cat being startled while using the box for them to decide that it isn’t a safe place for elimination. As much as you may hate having to manually clean the box, it may be the best option for a more nervous cat.

With any of these things, it’s best to try changing only one thing at a time (so, don’t try a new litter and a new location). It can make it hard to tell what the specific issue is.

If you’re going to be moving a box or trying a new substrate, leave at least one box as it is now and add a new one in a new spot or with the new litter. If the issue isn’t the litter, you want to make sure the familiar one is still available. Plus, some cats are very suspicious of changes, so this gives them the ability to discover things on their own time while still giving them a familiar option.

Hopefully, these ideas can help you make the litter box something your cat likes using again. Keep in mind there are other reasons besides the box that can make your cat avoid their box. I’ll be looking at some other issues in future blog posts or you can always contact me to make a behaviour appointment to discuss your cat’s specific case.