Cat litter box problems are not new; they have existed ever since litter box became an essential item in every house. Most pet owners prefer to choose regular litter box instead of automatic cleaning litter box,  unfortunately when cats find litter box dirty, they may choose to doing their business by going to the toilet.

Cats end up urinating and passing feces on the floor and on carpets, making it vulnerable to clean for the owners. Therefore, a cat has to be properly litter box trained. So that, she does what she has to in a litter box. But, despite of proper training, if your cat doesn’t use a litter there could be some problems that should be solved.

The problems and their solutions are briefly discussed in the following content. Check it out:

• Changing the litter brand is a problem. This can be solved by using the same brand of litter for a long time. Or, retrain your cat with new litter brand in the box.
• When a litter brand is changed, the fragrance also changes. And cats maybe unwilling to accept a change in fragrance.
• Change of litter box location is yet another problem why cats refuse to a box to do their business. Therefore, don’t immediately change the location. Instead, change the location and show the cat the new place and help her get accustomed to it.
• Sometimes, even without any change in litter box position or the litter brand, cats pass urine and feces on the carpet and on the floor. In such situations, there’s a need to consult a veterinarian because there could be any medical problems with your pet.
• Cat paws are soft and sensitive. They don’t stand itching and burning sensation for a long time. This is an important problem that needs to be resolved. So, you’ll have to check out their paws and ensure that there are no sores on them.

Apart from these problems and their solutions, there are other problems too that your cat will tell you herself. She not using a litter box is a sign to find problem and solution.

How often should you change a litter box? Why changing litter box is not a good idea! Love for cats comes with a duty to clean cat’s litter box daily, doesn’t it? There’s nothing bad about it. Litter box cleaning is done more because of sanitary and hygienic reasons than because of any other things, or better way is if you decide to use automatic litter box cleaner. The smell that comes out of cat’s bathroom i.e. litter box is many times stronger than what your cat has put up.

Therefore, a neat and clean litter box is very much essential to maintain for a cat owner. If the box is not cleaned regularly, your cat stops using it, and your house will notice feces and urination in almost all the corners of the house. So, buy a litter box, place it in a corner of a house where it’s easily accessible to the cats. And don’t change the litter box brand quite too often. Here are the reasons why you shouldn’t do that:

Cats Don’t Like Change

Cats don’t prefer to change places as they are territorial beings. This is because, they feel the threat of being tortured or beaten up. Therefore, litter box place shouldn’t be changed. Keep it where it is as long as it’s possible. So that cats get a sense of security and also the privacy they be worthy of.

Cats Don’t like Change in Odor

Litter fragrance differs from brand to brand. It’s not same in all the litter brands that are available in the market. And there is no “scent-free” litter available, though many claim to provide it. So, once you use a particular brand of litter that suits your cat’s criteria for aroma and feel, stick to it. Because an abrupt altering in the aroma of the bathroom i.e. litter box can stop your cat from using it.

Not changing the litter box and the litter is an easy solution to the problem of your cat peeing outside the box.

One of the most common problems that cat owners face is when the cat stops using the litter box. Yes, that’s right, when this happens, even the most obvious cat lovers would think twice before continuing to keep her as a pet. Some cat owners even go to an extent of surrendering the cat to the animal shelter.

This will add-up to the miseries of the cat and her adoption would also become a problem because of her urinating problems. What most people don’t understand is that this behavior can be easily fixed with if they deal with little patience. With this, they can not only own a pet but can also prevent the cat from facing consequences. Just adjusting or changing the kitty box can completely resolve the problem of inappropriately urination of the cats.

1. One reason why cats don’t use their litter box is that when they find it to be dirty. That’s true! If the litter box is unhygienic or when the cat is unhappy with the box, then she would most likely use any other place to relieve herself. This might bother the cat owner but can be easily dealt with, by simply cleaning the sandbox for just 10 minutes or you can choose one of the following best automatic cat litter box.
2. Another solution that cat owners can consider is to go to a veterinary because an animal specialist can solve the problem if it is a medical issue. If she is unhealthy, then a detailed checkup can tell you that the litter box is affecting the health of the cat and needs to be replaced.
3. To conclude, there are multiple things that can make your cat dislike the litter box, but some of the most popular are – an untidy and smelly litter box. Second thing, the size of the litter box might be smaller than the cat size. Third, the type of litter you’re using may be something that the cat is offended by – mainly by its color or smell. Consider all these aspects and changing or cleaning the litter box would certainly help you get rid of the problem of cat avoiding litter box.

An older cat may suffer from various old age problems and as a result she might end up eliminating outside your fancy auto cat litter box. It can either be urinary tract problem or any other problem that impacts the behavior of the cat. So, it’s really important to figure out the underlying condition of the cat and treat her properly.

Why Older Cats Don’t Use Litter Box?
Cats eliminate outside a litter box during the mating season or simply to mark their area. However, that’s only with the young cats or kittens – whereas, the older cats are by nature less aggressive and active. And if the older cats eliminate outside the box, it could be because of the following reasons:

Urinary tract infections

As discussed earlier, this is one major reason. Problem in urination can be painful. It has to be detected and cured as quick as possible.

Loss of Sight

Losing sight is yet another reason. When a cat loses sight, it cannot find the litter box when it needs to eliminate. As a result, she ends up excreting anywhere in the house.

Loss of Smell

Cats have a sense of smell and when they lose their ability to smell, they lose track of using a litter box. It’s their ability to smell that takes them to the litter box time and time again.

Inaccessible

Placing the litter box in inaccessible area in the house could be yet another strong reason. Older cats are not active enough to jump over objects and reach the box in hurry, so their condition has to be considered.

When one or more of the above symptoms appear, make sure that they are not neglected. Or else, you’ll have to keep cleaning the carpets, mats, and other areas of the house instead of just a litter box.

Cat’s veterinarian is the person to consult if your cat misses the litter box again. But before that you’ll have to check out the reason why she did not use it. Sometimes it so happens that despite of proper training, cat’s don’t use the litter box when there’s an emergency situation. Or in situations such as the litter box being in an inaccessible area of the house.

However, if the litter box is accessible, if you can is well-trained and never misses the box on purpose, then there’s a need to consult a veterinarian. Because, there could be problem with your pet’s health – it could be a urinary tract infection, gastritis, or even deadly disease such as cancer. Or there could either be an environmental stress.

Here are some more reasons why your cat would miss a litter box:

Unclean Litter Box

The litter box has to be cleaned regularly. The cats are extremely clean creatures, they don’t prefer dirt. The way your cat digs the mud or litter before and after passing out feces and urine itself shows how clean these creatures are. If you do not want scoop cats poops each day, i suggest you to check out our automatic litter box comparison guide.

No Privacy

While cats are particular about cleanliness, they don’t compromise on privacy either. They prefer to go to toilet at a place where there’s complete privacy. Therefore, if you’ve moved the litter box to a new location, put it back. This could be a factor that stops the cat from using litter box time and time again.

Bad Odor

Apart from bad health, uncleanliness, and privacy issues, bad odor could be another reason why you cat might have missed the litter box. Ensure to clean the box regularly and use baking soda to reduce the bad odor as well.

Just these factors could result in your cat missing the litter box. See to it that all the factors are taken into consideration when you see your cat doesn’t use the box next time.