Why doesn’t my cat use his litter tray?
At least 10% of cats will develop elimination problems at some point in their lifetime, making toileting issues a frequent complaint by cat owners in veterinary practice. Being fastidious creatures, there is usually an underlying reason why they stop using their litter tray, sometimes with very simple resolutions. Contrary to popular belief, your cat doesn’t leave you the heart-warming surprises simply to show that they are angry with you!
So, what are some of the causes?
Health issues
There are many medical disorders that can cause cats to stop using their litter tray, and to eliminate in the house inappropriately. Conditions such as urinary tract infections, kidney and liver failure, bowel issues such as inflammatory bowel disease or constipation, can all cause problems with elimination.
There is also a medical term that you may hear floating about in the cat world, called ‘FLUTD’ or ‘Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease.’ This isn’t a specific disease but is rather an umbrella term used to describe conditions that affect the urinary bladder and/or the urethra. Signs to watch for include: straining to urinate, blood in the urine, frequent trips to the litter tray, and inappropriate urination around the house.
Sometimes, there can be no obvious cause for what is causing FLUTD, and the fancy term for this is ‘feline idiopathic cystitis.’ Often, we find that this disease is stress related, and some of the points discussed below may help alleviate some of the symptoms.
Male cats are also more likely to develop blockages of their urethra, which can be life threatening if treatment isn’t sought promptly. It is important to ensure that at any sign of your cat straining to go to the toilet, you seek veterinary advice immediately.
Changes to household or environment
Cats are creatures of habit and can become stressed if there are changes in their routine or environment, no matter how minor you consider these changes to be. Anything from new neighbours, new pets in the household, family members staying, introducing a new baby, remodelling the house, changing the position of the furniture, changing human routines (such as going back to work or having the children home suddenly on holidays), to a new cat hanging out on the street, can all cause inappropriate elimination. Some cats are more sensitive to these changes than others.
They don’t like the litter tray or the type of litter
From a variety of sizes, shapes, depths, hoods – there are no shortage of options to choose from when it comes to litter boxes. Some cats may reject the litter box depending on the type you have, so consider the type of litter tray you have made available to them. Many cats don’t like the confining nature of covered boxes, and some cats who are overweight or arthritic may have trouble climbing over the sides of the taller litter trays. Consider what litter you are using, and if you have box liners, consider removing them.
The litter tray isn’t clean enough
Cats are very particular when it comes to cleanliness, and a dirty litter box can make them feel more vulnerable, as predators locate their prey by scent. You may notice cats having the natural behaviour to cover up their urine and faeces after they’ve voided. Ensuring that the tray is cleared once or twice daily, and the tray is emptied and scrubbed down at least weekly may help persuade them to use it more.
There aren’t enough litter trays available
This is especially important in multi-cat households. Generally, you want at least one litter tray available per cat in the household, and ideally, it is best to have two trays per cat. Cats are extremely fastidious creatures, and as mentioned, if the litter tray has already been used, they may refuse to use it again. It is also best to have a litter tray on every floor of the house to give them the option of choice when it comes to their bathroom habits, so that the washing basket or carpet doesn’t look as inviting.
It is located in the wrong part of the house
Ensuring that the litter tray is in a quiet, low traffic area in your house, away from their normal feeding area, and away from very noisy crowded areas is important. Also, some cats will not use it if it is in darker areas of the house, such as cupboards or wardrobes. You also want to ensure that their access is never prohibited to it (for example, within rooms that sometimes have their door closed).
Spraying
Spraying is a separate issue that is usually a result of sexual or dominance behaviour, more commonly seen in entire cats who haven’t been spayed or neutered. However, it can also be a result of stress or anxiety, or territorial disputes. If your neutered pet cat has started spraying inside it can be an indicator that, for some reason, they do not feel secure and something is causing them to become stressed.
How can I help?
There are a few simple things that you can do to see if it helps promote better use of the litter tray:
- Ensure the litter tray is clean
- Add more litter trays to different areas around the house and ensure these locations are quiet
- Try changing the type of box or litter
- Use pheromone plug-ins to help with stress and anxiety in areas where your cat feeds, sleeps and toilets
- Clean any areas your cat has inappropriate eliminated in the house, and also use odour eliminators to remove the scent
- Physically block the areas where your cat has eliminated in the house so that it is no longer an option for them to have access to that area.
As always, if the problem is persistent and you have any concerns, then organising a health check with your veterinarian is essential. Especially if the change in litter tray habits is also associated with lethargy, distress, poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and blood in the litter tray, please seek advice urgently from your veterinarian.
