Cat refuses to use the litter box
There are many reasons your cat refuses to use the litter box. Litter aversion could be due to a health issue or the wrong litter box supplies. Clear up health issues with your vet first. Next, improve your litter supplies and your cat’s diet. Cats need a tidy litter box and clean food and water.
This post has affiliate links through which I earn a commission. No additional cost to you. Please read my full disclaimer.
Also, nothing I say is medical advice. All photos used are of cats in my personal life.
Here’s your solution guide to for your cat that refuses the litter box:
- Vet check
- Litter box supplies
- Litter supplies for seniors and special needs cats
- How often should I clean the box?
- How many litter boxes should I have?
- Where do I put the litter boxes?
- Your cat’s diet
- Your cat’s activity
Check out this guide today or save THIS PIN to your Litter Box board on Pinterest.
Vet check
First on your to-do list should be a vet check. Cats are clean creatures and prefer routine in their lives.
If your cat refuses to use the litter box suddenly, this is a drastic behavioral change.
Always check behavioral changes with your vet.
There are a number of health issues that can cause your cat to stop using the box. It’s safest to clear this up with your vet first.
CAT KEEPS GOING TO THE LITTER BOX BUT NOTHING HAPPENS
This is very serious and requires vet attention immediately. If your cat is going in the litter box, but nothing is happening, you need to take your cat to the vet right now.
Your cat probably has a urinary blockage. This is a serious health issue that results in death if not treated within 72 hours.
Other health issues that cause cats to refuse the box:
- Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD)
- Urinary tract infection
- Cystitis
- Obstruction of the urethra
- Diabetes
- Cognitive dysfunction
- Hyperthyroidism
It’s extremely important that a vet check is your first action. Cats refusing the litter box is a common symptom of an underlying medical issue.
Your vet will do a physical exam, check your cat’s blood and urine, and possibly feces.
This is your best line of defense against a cat refusing the litter box.
URINE MARKING
Your cat may be urine marking because he’s stressed. Both male and female cats spray, even if they are neutered and spayed.
Has there been a sudden change in your household environment? Perhaps a routine change or the addition of a new roommate?
Maybe your cat spotted a stray in the window. Or your cats aren’t getting along suddenly.
Cats are sensitive and get stressed easily.
Think about it like this…
If you lived outside and fought for survival, you’d want your day to be predictable, right?
These instincts are ingrained in cats. Even if they have never been outside. Cats need routine in their lives to be comfortable and happy.
Once you clear up health issues with the vet and evaluate your routines, you need to check your litter box supplies.
Litter box supplies
Next on your to-do list for litter aversion is to evaluate your litter box supplies.
Maybe your cat is healthy and not using the litter box.
Your supplies might be to blame.
The cat’s nose is 10x+ stronger than the human nose. Cats prefer certain litters, and they like a clean litter box area.
So you’ll have to consider the box, litter, and other supplies that you use in the litter box area.
WHAT’S THE BEST LITTER BOX?
Most litter boxes are made with plastic. But plastic traps bacteria. Even with regular washing.
A plastic litter box should be replaced at least yearly. A stainless steel litter box is much better than plastic.
Plastic litter boxes have:
- Bacteria buildup
- More stank
- Difficult cleaning
- More waste on the environment
A stainless steel litter box is:
- Much more sanitary
- Easier to clean
- One-time purchase
Stainless steel litter boxes are the clear winner. It will stay cleaner, and you don’t need to replace it.
This is better for your cat’s health and your wallet.
Buy a stainless steel litter box on Amazon.
METAL OR CERAMIC SCOOP
Same rules apply here. Ditch the plastic and invest in a ceramic or metal litter scoop.
You won’t have to deal with caked-on litter waste, a bending and breaking handle, and replacing it every year.
Buy a metal litter scoop on Amazon.
WHAT LITTER DO CATS PREFER?
Another reason your cat is not using the box is that you have the wrong type of litter.
Cats prefer:
- Naturally clumping
- Unscented
- Low dust
- Small granules
Naturally clumping litter allows you to remove the waste from the box.
Non clumping litter would be like swirling around the waste in your toilet and not flushing it. Yuck.
Cats are clean creatures and don’t want to walk around on dirty litter.
Unscented litter is best. As mentioned above, the cat’s nose is very strong. The cat’s nose is only inches away from the litter.
They prefer to sniff and dig around before they do their business.
Scented litter may be convenient for us, but cats do not like it.
Dust is another issue.
Cats like to bury their business after going. Digging and burying tosses around a lot of litter. Dusty litter can cause respiratory issues.
Small granules are important because the cat’s paws are sensitive.
Try stepping on litter and see how it feels. If it hurts you, it definitely hurts your cat.
Unfortunately, litter is lacking in most departments. I’ve tried 11 types of cat litter, and I’m not 100% pleased with any of them.
Currently, I’m using walnut litter.
Walnut litter:
- Clumps naturally with food-grade plant-based ingredients
- Has unscented options
- Is low dust as long as you’re careful when pouring it out
- Made with small granules but they do hurt a little
There is no perfect litter on the market, unfortunately. But walnut is the best I’ve found so far.
Buy walnut litter on Amazon.
WHAT’S THE BEST LITTER MAT?
We all want to keep the litter area clean. The best way to do this is with a large, double-layer litter mat.
The mesh-looking mats trap litter. But it’s difficult to get the litter out. That means you’ll have bacteria buildup in the mat.
A double-layer litter mat is easy to clean between the layers. That means you’ll have a clean mat with less bacteria buildup.
Buy a double-layer litter mat on Amazon. Or Cat Paradise (use code CATICLES10 for 10% off)
I also use the Ripple Rug bottom only under my cat’s litter box.
I noticed that Jericho skips over the double-layer mat sometimes. Perhaps it feels weird on his paws.
The Ripple Rug bottom only is:
- Large
- Soft on paws
- Machine-washable (cold, delicate, hang dry)
- Made with recycled bottles
Buy the Ripple Rug bottom only on their website.
PS– The full Ripple Rug is an amazing activity center. It’s the best cat play rug.
Litter supplies for seniors and special needs cats
Perhaps your cat is not using the box due to health issues. Maybe the stainless steel box sides are too high for your senior cat.
Don’t worry. I have options for you too.
ALUMINUM BAKING SHEET
If the stainless steel litter box is too high for your cat, try a baking sheet. The low sides might be more comfortable for entering and exiting.
Buy a new baking sheet. Don’t use one that you’ve cooked on.
I recommend putting a mound of litter in the center of the sheet. Make a pyramid shape. Reshape the mound every time you scoop.
The surrounding area might get messy.
But if your cat is more comfortable using it, at least the waste is contained in one area. Rather than having deposits all around your house.
I strongly recommend the Ripple Rug bottom only in this case.
Buy a baking sheet on Amazon.
WEE-WEE PADS INSTEAD OF LITTER
Perhaps your sick or elderly cat can’t stand the feel of litter on his paws.
My mother’s cat, Hemi, was the same. He had kidney failure and unfortunately died at the young age of 3.
He never liked using the litter box. Near the end, my mother put wee-wee pads in the litter box with no litter.
Hemi started using the box again!
This might work well for your cat too. Most sick and elderly cats have even more sensitive paws.
I understand going through boxes of wee-wee pads seems like a waste. But think about it like this…
You spend money on cleaning supplies and paper towels to clean up accidents around the house, right?
Some of these accidents happen on expensive rugs, furniture, your new wooden floor, etc.
At least the wee-wee pads stay in one area.
Buy some wee-wee pads on Amazon.
Need a centralized place to keep track of everything related to your cat? Grab my Cat Care Binder Bundle
How often should I clean the litter box?
Cats are clean creatures. They spend 30-40% of their day grooming.
Cats prefer and deserve a clean bathroom just like you. You should scoop the box after your cat uses it.
This will keep the box cleaner and your cat happier.
Every week, clean out the box completely with hot water and unscented, chemical-free soap. Cats are sensitive to smells and toxins.
I use Dr. Bronner’s unscented soap. You can dilute it.
Pour half the bottle into another container. Fill the rest with water. Now you have 2 bottles of soap from buying just 1.
Buy Dr. Bronner’s unscented soap on Amazon.
You might be saying, “Cleaning the box every week is a waste of litter”.
Don’t fill the box all the way.
Fill about 3 inches’ worth but shape a mound in the middle of the box. Cats don’t like to walk around on litter anyway.
You’ll notice that your cat will hop around to walk on the area that has no litter. He can still dig around and bury.
This routine will make cleanup easier on you, and your litter will last longer.
Think about it like this…
Even clumping litter can break apart when you scoop. If you fill the entire box and only clean it out once a month, you’ll inevitably have dirty litter in the box all month.
This is not sanitary, and your cat doesn’t like it.
But if you fill the box with just enough litter to last 1 week, clean it out weekly, and refill, your cat will enjoy clean litter all month.
A clean box makes a happy cat.
Honestly, would you ever go an entire month without cleaning your bathroom?
How many litter boxes should I have?
Cats are territorial creatures. You should have 1 box per cat, plus extra.
We know that cats need a clean bathroom. The extra boxes come in handy if you’re not able to scoop in time.
If your cats aren’t comfortable using the litter box, they will find somewhere else to go.
Just remember, clean litter boxes will please your cats, it’s more sanitary, and easier for you to keep clean.
Even if you only have one cat, try adding multiple boxes.
Wouldn’t you rather deal with multiple boxes than poops all over the house?
Where do I put the litter box?
Cats prefer a quiet, low-traffic area for their litter box location. We are all vulnerable when we’re going potty.
Even if your cat has never lived outside, these instincts are ingrained. Your litter box location matters.
Litter box location musts:
- Easily accessible
- Quiet and private
- Low-traffic area
Don’t smush the litter box in your closet behind a bunch of stuff.
Obviously your cat will stop using the litter box if you make it difficult for him to get to it.
Quiet and private areas are much more comfortable for your cat. Cats are sensitive to sound.
Low-traffic is a must because cats want privacy when they do their business.
You like privacy too, right?
Litter boxes in the bathroom may make sense, in theory. But you need to keep the door open at all times.
You also need to think about traffic.
If you or your children are in and out of the bathroom, this may not be the best location for your cat’s litter box.
Never put the litter box near food and water.
Track litter and bacteria particles can make their way into the food and water dishes.
This is unsanitary for you and your cat.
Those bacteria particles will travel to your kitchen sink when it’s time to clean up.
Cats prefer an open space when they go potty. This allows them to watch their surroundings when they are most vulnerable.
Again, your cat is wild even if he’s never lived outside.
Take the hood off the box.
See if your cat prefers this. Proper ventilation is a must. Hooded litter boxes trap the smell inside.
If you absolutely must hide the litter box, choose from these modern litter enclosure benches. All of them are spacious and have proper ventilation.
If you need to keep the litter box away from dogs and children, check out the Door Buddy on Amazon.
Your cat’s diet
Your cat’s diet might be to blame as well.
You might be thinking, “what does my cat’s diet have to do with the litter box”. It has everything to do with the litter box.
A poor diet can put a strain on your cat’s organs and digestive system.
If your cat’s organs and digestive system aren’t running properly, your cat will have pain when he goes to the bathroom.
If he’s in pain, using the litter box might be more work than it’s worth. Perhaps your cat is going to the bathroom outside of the box because this is easier.
Or maybe he doesn’t have enough time to get to the box.
If you feel that you’ve tried everything with the litter box, it’s time for a diet change.
CAT NUTRITION NEEDS
Cats require nutrients from meat, bones, and organs.
Kibble is bad for cats because it contains very low amounts of meat-based protein. It’s also very low in moisture.
Water (moisture) is crucial for your cat’s health.
Kibble is severely dehydrating for cats. It’s also high in carbohydrates.
Cats have no use for carbs. Carbs make cats gain unnecessary weight.
This could be a reason your cat refuses to use the box.
Obesity causes serious health issues including:
- Arthritis
- Difficulty breathing
- Hypertension
- Fatty liver disease
- FLUTD
- Decreased immune function
- Constipation
- Certain types of cancer
59.5% of cats in the US are overweight or obese (2019 data). And 82% of cat parents feed kibble.
KIBBLE
Sorry, but your vet-recommended cat food is garbage.
Kibble contains a high amount of carbs and plant-based protein. Cats can’t utilize either of these.
So most of what you’re spending on kibble ends up in the litter box. Or, in this case, around your home.
Dry food is also very low in moisture.
Feeding dry food exclusively can result in urinary crystals and FLUTD.
These dangerous ingredients put a serious strain on your cat.
You might be thinking, “I can just add water to kibble”. Wrong.
Adding water to kibble creates a bacteria-thriving environment.
You might also be thinking, “My cat drinks plenty of water”.
Cats eating exclusively kibble need around 1.5 cups of water per day.
Does your cat drink that much water?
WET FOOD
Wet foods are better than kibble simply because there is more moisture.
However, most canned foods still contain questionable ingredients. Some wet foods even contain carbs.
But, if your choices are only between kibble and wet food, wet food wins.
RAW CAT FOOD
The best diet for cats is raw food. It’s what your cat is built to eat.
Doesn’t that look much more like food than burnt brown balls?
A balanced, homemade cat food is even better. You control the ingredients and how it’s made.
If you’re not ready for a homemade diet, here are a few good quality cat foods on Amazon.
Make sure you transition cat food properly. Switching your cat’s food too quickly will make him sick.
WATER
Water is crucial for your cat. It hydrates, helps digestion, and keeps the body running smoothly.
Cats evolve from desert dwellers. They rely on food for moisture.
For example, muscle meat is approximately 75% moisture. Whole mice are 80% moisture.
Kibble is only around 10% moisture.
Your cat needs moisture from his food. Even if he drinks a lot of water.
Clean water is extremely important.
Your cat’s nose is strong. He can smell if the water is dirty and toxic.
Use a stainless steel faucet filter. Most pitchers are plastic. Plastic traps bacteria.
Buy a faucet filter on Amazon.
Keep the food and water bowls clean. They should be cleaned daily.
A raised food stand can be beneficial.
An elevated food stand helps better posture and digestion. It also helps prevent dust and bugs from getting into the food and water dishes.
Buy a raised food stand on Amazon.
CAT TREATS
You should also evaluate your cat’s treats.
“Dental treats” are not good for your cat’s teeth or health. They are made with the same garbage ingredients as kibble.
Stick to cat treats made with meat only.
I get all of my cat’s food ingredients from Hare Today. They have dehydrated meats and organs that make perfect treats.
Or, you can try Whole Life cat treats on Amazon.
They are made with chicken. That’s it.
Your cat’s activity
Cats require exercise and mental stimulation just like us.
Exercise helps move things along in the body. Mental stimulation keeps cats from getting bored.
Good exercise and mental stimulation will keep your cat happy indoors.
Wild cats get exercise and mental stimulation from hunting.
They have to use their senses to find prey, problem-solve the best way to get prey, chase and kill prey, and they are rewarded with a meal.
The indoor version of hunting is playing.
Many people say to me “my cat isn’t interested in playing”, but I’m able to get their cats to play.
All cats love to play. We just need to get creative.
Check out my recommendations for lazy cat toys if you’re having trouble with playtime.
Hide healthy treats around your home for your cat to hunt. Use treat-release feeder mice to make your cat work for his food.
You need to entertain your cat to keep him happy.
Final thoughts on cats refusing the litter box
If your cat stopped using the box, you should clear out any potential health issues with your vet first.
Next, you need to evaluate your litter box supplies. Cats prefer and deserve a clean bathroom.
Ditch plastic, use naturally clumping and unscented litter, and keep the litter box area clean.
Make sure the litter box is in a quiet, low-traffic, and private area. The litter box should be easily accessible.
You should have one box per cat, plus extra. Even if you only have one cat.
Evaluate your cat’s food and water intake.
Water is important for healthy digestion and hydration.
Play with your cat! Exercise and mental stimulation make cats happy indoors.
Need a centralized place to keep track of everything related to your cat? Grab my Cat Care Binder Bundle!
