Using the litter box is essential for a happy cat and human household.  The following guidelines should be followed to ensure your cat develops this important behavior.

• Spay and neuter your cats.  Intact cats, both male and female, are more likely to mark their territory by spraying.
• Have one litter box for each cat in the house, plus one extra (ie. a 3 cat household should have 4 litter boxes).
  • Make sure the litter boxes are placed throughout the living space.  If you place the litter boxes side by side, most cats will see the boxes as one large box thus defeating the purpose of having multiple boxes.
  • Once you've placed the litter boxes strategically, avoid relocating them as some cat will avoid the box if it is moved to a new location.
• Keep litter boxes away from loud appliances like washers, dryers, dishwashers and HVAC blowers.  The noise of these appliances running or suddenly starting up can scare cats away from the litter box.
• Scoop litter boxes daily as cats are very particular about the hygiene of their toilet.
• Dump scoopable litter once weekly.  Small pieces of litter with urine and feces remain in the box even after thorough scooping and can cause your cat to avoid the box.
  • Clean the litter box thoroughly with soap and water prior to filling with new litter.  Avoid using disinfectants and perfumed cleaners, as the smells from these products are adverse to cats.
  • Plastic litter pan liners are an easy way to keep the box clean but will cause some cats to avoid the box.  Use litter pan liners with caution.
• Avoid litter box deodorizers and scented cat litter.  While the odor is pleasant to humans, it is not to cats.
• Once you have found a litter your cat likes, continue to use the same type.  Switching to a new brand can cause your cat to avoid the litter box.
• When choosing a litter box for your cat, avoid covered litter boxes as many cats find them adverse.  If your cat is large, make sure the box is big enough for your cat to use comfortably (many commercially available litter boxes are to small for large cats).  Make sure the sides of the litter box are low enough for you cat to get in and out easily, which is especially important for kittens and older arthritic cats
• New kittens should be confined to a small room (ie. a bathroom) with a litter box for several days to make sure they are using the box appropriately.  Once your kitten is using the box well, you can gradually allow the kitten access to the rest of the living space.  

Inappropriate elimination, or failure to use the litter box, is the number one reason that cats are turned over to shelters in the United States.  There are many reasons that cats do not use the litter box, ranging from medical problems, inadequate training and behavioral issues.  If your cat is not using the litter box, you should first have your cat examined by a veterinarian to rule out medical causes of inappropriate elimination.  Once medical causes of inappropriate elimination have been ruled out, our doctors can assist you in encouraging your cat to use the litter box.   

Please contact our veterinarians at Animal Medical Hospital in Saint Petersburg, Florida (FL) at 727-896-7127 for more information.