Litter Box Avoidance

Is it Medical or Behavioral?

When a cat eliminates outside of the litter box it’s probably the most frustrating behavior a cat guardian ever has to cope with. All of a sudden, the cat who never caused any problems has suddenly started viewing the dining room carpet or living room sofa as makeshift litter boxes. Plastic coverings start making their way onto the sofa, the dining room becomes off limits, the box is cleaned to perfection and the cat parent starts looking at the beloved family cat as if he has become a total stranger.

When a cat eliminates outside of the box he isn’t being spiteful, stupid or willfully disobedient. He is trying to solve a problem. It may not make sense to you but it makes perfect sense to the cat. For some reason he feels he can’t use the box. Your job, as the one with the bigger brain, is to figure out why.

Address Potential Medical Issues First

In many cases, litter box aversion has an underlying medical cause. It could be a:

  • lower urinary tract issue
  • the start of renal failure
  • diabetes
  • irritable bowel disease (IBD)
  • constipation
  • diarrhea, or
  • a number of other medically-related issues

Very often, what happens is that the cat associates the pain he feels with the box itself. He thinks if he eliminates somewhere else it won’t hurt so much.

In the case of urinary issues, he may try to retain the urine as long as possible because it hurts too much to pee. When his bladder reaches maximum capacity the cat may not be close enough to the box to get there in time. With some urinary problems the accumulation of any amount of urine in the bladder can cause pain so kitty will pee in small drops throughout the house. And, if you see traces of blood in the urine (either on the carpet or in the litter box), then you know there’s definitely something going on that needs immediate medical attention.

If dealing with litter box avoidance in an older cat, there could be age-related cognitive issues going on or maybe arthritis is making it too painful for the cat to go up and down stairs to reach the box or stand on the litter pellets.

Pooping Outside of the Litter Box

When it comes to leaving fecal deposits outside of the box, the cat may by experiencing painful stomach cramping due to gas accumulation and feels the need to try to eliminate wherever he is at the moment. Inflammatory Bowel Disease is one condition that can commonly result in kitty having to eliminate frequently due to cramping and pain. A change in diet or if your cat got into something not on his normal mealtime menu, may have caused diarrhea. If there’s constipation and the cat doesn’t feel safe in the litter box due to other cats in the home, or if he feels better walking while attempting defecation, you may notice him pooping in unexpected places despite the fact that you’ve kept the litter box perfectly clean. For more on this problem: Pooping Outside of the Litter Box

A Visit to the Veterinarian Should Always be First on Your List

No matter how convinced you are that a litter box problem is behavioral, don’t overlook that all-important trip to the veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical cause. If you simply assume it’s behavioral, you may cause your cat to suffer needlessly.

Any change in your cat’s behavior, litter box habits or eating/drinking habits should be viewed as a potential medical red flag. Always have your cat checked by the veterinarian as soon as you notice a change.

Some Signs of Potential Medical Problems

  • increased or decreased urination
  • elimination outside of the litter box
  • frequent trips to the litter box
  • crying or straining while in the litter box
  • voiding only small amounts of urine
  • inability to urinate (this is an absolute EMERGENCY)
  • change in urine color
  • change in urine odor
  • traces of blood in urine
  • painful abdomen
  • distended abdomen
  • change in fecal color
  • change in fecal odor
  • diarrhea
  • constipation
  • blood in feces
  • mucus in feces
  • excessive gas
  • weight loss
  • restlessness
  • irritability
  • change in appetite
  • change in water consumption
  • frequent licking of genital area
  • depression
  • ammonia odor to the breath
  • vomiting
  • excessive vocalization

Deal With Litter Box Set-up and Behavior Issues Once You’ve Ruled Out Medical Problems

You certainly don’t want your cat to suffer at all and that’s one very important reason a veterinarian check-up is so crucial. If there is a medical problem, catching it in the earliest stage will also increase the chances for a quick recovery.

Once your cat gets a clean bill of health, you can then begin the investigation into what is causing the problem from a behavioral standpoint. Even if there is a medical issue diagnosed, you may still have to do some behavior work as well. In the case of urination outside of the litter box, you will have to determine whether the behavior is spraying or normal urination.

As you begin your investigation into the behavioral cause of the litter box avoidance, here’s a list of some possibilities:

  • dirty litter box set-up
  • unappealing litter box style (covered, electronic, too small)
  • unappealing litter (type, depth)
  • unappealing litter box location
  • too few litter boxes for the number of cats in the home
  • multicat tension
  • stressful environment
  • abrupt changes (litter type, food, schedules)
  • traumatic events (death in the family, divorce, moving, new baby, new pet)
  • outdoor issues (seeing an unfamiliar cat outdoors)
  • punishment

Litter Box Reminders Handout (printable PDF)

Need More Information?

If you have questions about your cat not using the litter box, see your veterinarian. For more information about litter box set-up and dealing with behavior issues, refer to the books by best-selling author, Pam Johnson-Bennett. Pam’s books are available at bookstores everywhere, through your favorite online book retail site and also on her website.

We can also help you here locally in Las Vegas .

Source:
Litter Box Aversion: Is it Medical or Behavioral?
Pam Johnson-Bennett, Cat Behavior Associates
https://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/litter-box-aversion-is-it-medical-or-behavioral/
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Disclaimer: The contents of this website are based upon the opinions of All About Purrs, LLC, unless otherwise noted. Individual articles are based upon the opinions of the respective author, who retains copyright as marked. The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified veterinarian and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of All About Purrs, LLC through its many years of working with cats. All About Purrs encourages you to make your own pet care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified veterinarian.
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