How can I make my cats use their litter box?
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at
11:48 am
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Filed under: Cat Litter
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Kittens learn about using the litter box from their moms. Since this little one obviously did not have that training, I suggest borrowing a litter-trained cat and keeping it with the kitten for a few days. The kitten will model what the older cat does. Make sure the adult cat is vaccinated before you expose it to the kitten, in case the kitten has any diseases. Good luck!
Kitty not using the litter box is possibly the most common complaint of all cat owners, and probably the one sure way a cat complains about a problem. There is no one-size-fits-all solution: a cat may be avoiding the litterbox due to a medical ailment, a sanitation problem, wrong litter or litter box, inappropriate location of the litter box, or emotional stress. This single page cannot guarantee that you can resolve the situation, but hopefully the hints on this page will be of some help to you. SoWhen a cat stops using his litter box, he’s trying to tell you something. And since cats can’t talk, the trick is figuring out what it is.
The first thing you need to do is take your cat to the vet to rule out any medical problems. Please note that if your cat is straining in the litter box and can’t pass any urine, he has a medical emergency and needs immediate veterinary care.
If your cat has had a urinary infection in the past, he may associate the litter box with pain and stop using it. You may need to try a different type of litter box if this is the case.
Your elderly cat may have arthritis, which would make it painful for him to get into and out of the litter box. Modifying the box so your cat can get in and out more easily should help.
An unneutered male cat marks his territory by backing up to a wall, raising his tail, and spraying urine all over the area. Having your cat neutered usually stops this marking behavior.
Be sure to keep your cat’s litter box clean. Whenever I forgot to clean my kitty’s box, she would express her displeasure by using the floor next to the litter pan. She always got her message across!
The type of litter box can make a difference too. Some cats like covered litter boxes, while others don’t. And if you clean the box with something that smells strong, it could irritate your cat’s nose.
Even cat litter can be a factor. If you’ve adopted an older cat, he may be used to another type of cat litter. Different litters have different "feels." He may be used to the gravelly feel of clay litter, or the sandy feel of clumpable litter, or the softness of shredded newspaper. And if the litter has a strong scent, or gives off a lot of dust when he’s scratching in it, your cat may stop using his litter box.
Going to the bathroom is a private business for people, and it’s no different for cats. Be sure the litter box is in a quiet place, away from the main traffic areas in your home.
Something you may not have thought of is that a cat needs to know that he can escape from danger, if necessary. Try to put his litter box in a place where he can see people or a dog or another cat coming.
If your cat was startled by something while he was using the litter box, he may have decided that it’s too scary to go in there, and he may start using a place that he thinks is safer.
Too many cats using one litter box be a problem too, especially if they don’t always get along. In multiple cat households, the rule of thumb is one litter box for each cat, plus one more. So if you have two cats, ideally you should have three boxes.
Some cats don’t adapt to change very well. A new addition to your household, whether it’s a new baby or a new kitten or puppy, can upset your cat and cause him to start eliminating in places he shouldn’t.
Moving to a new home, or even moving the litter box to a new location can also cause your cat to abandon his box.
Why has your cat stopped using his litter box? There can be many reasons; sometimes it’s a process of elimination to figure out why.
Every time I get a new cat, I rub their paws in the litter box until they start using it. Every time they don’t use it, rub their paws in the litter again. Eventually, they will start using it. Has always worked for me.
cat nip will help attract them to it. make sure the sand is deep, cats have an instinct to want to bury their poo. my kitten wont use it if the sand isnt deep enough. cats are also private animals so it may help to keep the litter box tucked under a desk or in the corner of the room. also make sure it is constantly clean. they wont use it if its got a lot of poo in it. the other thing that seemed to instantly help was that i put him in the litter box, and took his paw and gently dug in the sand with it. he started meowing a lot like he really had to go, so take that as a cue.
There is a wonderful litter called, "Cat Attract." You can get it at Petsmart. Also get a second cat litter box for a while. Put one in the room and one in another spot they’re allowed to go. That should work. Also positive reinforcement, "greenies" for going in the right spot. Scoop that litter as much as possible too. Make it really attractive.
My kitty went in the sink a couple times??? That litter helped him. Also, this may have nothing to do with it, but if the cats have a UTI they may relate the litter with the pain. So they go other places. Keep a close eye on them for any symptoms of that…its probably nothing. Good luck
Catnip isn’t going to litter train a kitten. Put the kittens, litterbox and all their supplies in the bathroom and leave them there, even overnight, so they will learn where they’re supposed to go.
The problem is now that they’ve used your sister’s room as a bathroom, and if it’s carpet, they’re going to smell their previous messes and might go on it again. The carpet is going to have to be thoroughly cleaned and sprayed with a pet enzyme product to totally get rid of the odor.
Now you need to get them to the vet for shots and spay/neuter before they’re six months old.
Do not use cat nip because it get cats playful, and you do not want them playing in the litter or associating it with play. They are feral so are not used to the litter box. What you need to do is keep the cats in one room full time until they master the box. They will not like this since they have had free roam the past few weeks but it is best for them. The best thing is a small room like a bathroom, but your sister’s room would be ok. The room should have the food, water, litter box, toys, everything. Do what the other poster suggested with rubbing the paws in the litter…do this about 5 or 10 minutes after they finish eating as they are most likely close to needing to go then. The Cat Attract litter, as another poster said is supposed to be good, and you can offer a treat after they go. Very important- use unscented litter for now, as cats often do not like the smell of scented litter, and this is especially true for cats who have never used a litter box. Later you can try scented litter if they master the box. Make sure you are using an uncovered box for the same reason- it is more natural for them- later you can try a covered box if you want but not now. If the cat poos on the floor, pick it up and put it in the box so they associate the two. Keep the box clean when they do go. Good luck and be persistent and patient!