One of the most common concerns people have with their cats is that they don’t consistently use the litter box. This is often a problem that develops over time, but there are cases when this is an issue from the start. In either case, there are simple steps you can take to ensure that your cat uses the litter box each and every time.

See the Vet

The absolute first thing you should do if your cat is consistently eliminating outside of the litter box is to go to the vet. You want to dismiss medical causes before pursuing behavioral ones.

Have a urinalysis done to rule out triple phosphate crystals, bladder stones, urinary tract infections. You also want your vet to rule out other types of pain, such as arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, etc, as the cause of the litter box problems.

While a trip to the vet is never anyone’s favorite thing to do, a little unpleasantness and a minor bill may catch something early that could have otherwise built up to something irreversible and/or terribly expensive to repair.

Snip It

If you haven’t already, SPAY OR NEUTER! Even though both male and female cats will spray/urinate to mark their territory (Yes, it’s true! It’s not just the boys!), the likelihood of either greatly diminishes after sterilization. You can try all other suggestions, but if your cat is still intact, he/she will likely continue to mark their territory.

Add Another Box

The rule of thumb with litter boxes is to have one litter box per cat plus one. So if you have one cat, you should have two boxes. Two cats? Three boxes. Twelve cats? Thirteen boxes (and hopefully a very large home!)

Imagine if you lived at home with your parents, a brother, a sister, and only one bathroom. You may be able to make do, but tensions would run high and you’d definitely prefer a bathroom to yourself if given the option.

Even if you only have one feline friend, cats can be very particular about their bathroom habits and they don’t like to go in a dirty, crowded, or scent-soaked box. Many people find their cats like to have one litter box for feces and one for urine…they’re fancy like that. The simple addition of a second box may be all you need to quick fix your litter box problems.

Space Them Out

Cats are highly territorial and mark their scent in many different ways. The most obvious way they mark their scent is through urine and feces. A cat’s litter box is like their flagpole marking where they’ve been and where they intend to be. Especially when you have multiple cats, it’s important, not only to provide the right number of boxes, but also to make sure they are spread out throughout the house.

As in real estate, litter box placement is all about location, location, location! Much to human chagrin, cats prefer to have their toilets placed smack dab in the middle of the action. So for those you have their solitary litter box in the back corner of the basement, this may be a bit painful for you but it will absolutely pay off in the long run. Litter boxes need to be placed in areas of social importance for the cats. This is often in the living room or bedroom where there is the most going on. This doesn’t mean you need to have the litter box in the middle of the room as a nice conversation piece, but it’s a good idea to find a corner of the room where you can make your peace with your cat relieving him/herself.

Uncover

Let’s get all the unpopular news over with all at once! While many cats will use a covered box, it is not their preference. If your cat isn’t using the covered litter box, take off that cover and see if it makes a difference.

Cats naturally go out in the open and don’t share the human need for privacy. Give them the extra space and shamelessness they naturally need and uncover those boxes. Again, the litter box doesn’t need to be smack dab in the center of the room- you can compromise and have it behind a chair in the living room or between the bedside table and the wall so that you don’t have to actively see what’s in the box (WHAT’S IN THE BOX?!?! You’re welcome, “Se7en” fans and movie buffs).

We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Box

Again, you’re welcome movie buffs! Before cats were brought indoors to coexist with humans, their bathrooms were anything and everything they could raise a tail to. Asking them to limit that to an 8×8 inch box is a pretty tall order! Cats are used to lots of space when they relieve themselves, so a larger, high-sided box may make all the difference for your cat.

Unline

Lined litter boxes are very popular, but aren’t actually a feline favorite. Some do just fine with them, but if you’re having trouble with your cat not using the litter box, this could be a contributing factor.

Linings are very unnatural to cats and their nails can get stuck in the plastic, disrupting the process. Though the main problem with liners is that they contribute to building static electricity in the fur, which can range from irritating to quite painful.

So while it’s nice and convenient to simply pull some strings and completely change your litter, how much more time does it really take to dump the box out completely? If you’re scooping regularly, the box shouldn’t be so dirty that it takes more than a couple minutes to rinse clean. This is one of the little things that people have a hard time letting go of, but once it’s gone, they find they don’t miss the liners at all. Plus, you save the money you would’ve spent on liners every few weeks!

Clean More

Litter boxes need scooping at least once daily. Ideally, you should scoop your cat’s litter boxes in the morning and at night to make sure they have a clean restroom where they can relieve themselves. Imagine if your toilet only flushed every fifth use. Pretty disgusting right? Given the option, wouldn’t you prefer using a private bathroom rather than a port-a-potty?

Remember to deep clean the boxes every few weeks as well. This doesn’t need to be anything elaborate- simply rinsing with water is enough for most cats since part of the draw to the box is that there is a subtle underlying scent soaked in, even if we can’t smell it. A gentle scrub with dish soap is sufficient as well.

Experiment with Different Litter

Cats are picky! If you’ve tried everything else and your cat still isn’t using the litter box, try experimenting with different kinds of litter. There are several factors to consider when trying new litter, and the first is scent. Contrary to what people believe (or hope to be true), cats do not like scented litter. Cats are all about scent marking and if the litter box smells like lemon and linen, they may be less inclined to go there.

You also want to bear in mind the litter’s dustiness level. The dustier the litter, the less pleasant for the cat. Dusty litters can also potentially cause respiratory problems for the cat, depending on the litter/dust contents.  

The last and, potentially, most important thing to consider when litter shopping is the texture. Typically, the softer the litter the more likely cats are to use them. Hard, rough, chunky litter tends to be more irritating. 

Those of you with declawed cats may be having a particularly tough time with the litter box, and this is absolutely no surprise. Declawed cats are more sensitive to litter texture on their paws. Plus, as they age, they grow more likely to develop arthritis, making litter even more uncomfortable. There are several types of litter designed specifically for declawed cats, but if even these don’t work, you may want to try a soft, small animal bedding such as Carefresh. Be sure to put this in an empty, scent-soaked (not deep cleaned) litter box and even put some old litter in to make sure your cat knows that even though it’s been remodeled, that’s still the bathroom. 

Change the Amount of Litter in the Box

This is another hot issue for declawed cats, specifically, though fully clawed cats are not exempt. It’s important to neither have too much nor too little litter in the box. It can’t be overstated: Cats are picky! Declawed cats tend to like more litter because it helps act as a kind of cushion on their paws. However, there have been issues with cats not using their litter boxes if there is too much litter. Think of your cat as the Goldilocks of litter boxes.

This box is too full! This box is too shallow! This box is juuust right!

A general rule of thumb is to fill the box with about 1-2 inches of litter, but find the magic number for your individual cat.

Be Careful What You Use to Clean Up Accidents

If your cat has already gone outside the litter box, make sure you clean up as thoroughly and as soon as possible. Find a good cleaner (such as Nature’s Miracle) and be sure that it does not have ammonia in it. Ammonia is strong presence in urine and can attract cats to continue urinating in those spots.

Investigate for Nosy Neighbors

No, this does not mean to break out the binoculars and spy on your actual neighbors! Keep an eye out for neighborhood cats. If there are feral or outdoor cats hanging out around your house, your cats are more likely to urinate out of the box to mark their territory.

When reading why to “snip it” to prevent litter box problems, you may have been shocked to read that both male and female cats spray- and you’re not alone! Many people believe that only male cats spray, but this is definitely not the case, especially if there are outdoor cats prowling around the property. If this is the problem, talk to your local humane society to see about renting a live trap to capture and remove these nosy neighbors from your property.