Why Won't My Cat Use the Litter Box?

There are many reasons why your kitty may not use the litter box. Remember that cat's have a very sensitive nose and are very clean animals. It is important to keep their litter box clean; they may refuse to use it and seek out another place whether it's your brand new rug or fresh clean bed if it is dirty. So, keep it clean or your little cute ball of fur will use a less dirty place!

Another reason a cat might use a place other than his litter box is because he doesn't have enough privacy. Would you like it if someone walked in on you while you are in the bathroom? Your cat won't like it either. Try getting a litter box with a hood or you can also put a screen in front of the box.

You should also provide more than one litter box if you have a huge house or more than one story. If you have more than one floor, place a litter box on each floor. If you have more than one cat, you should either clean it very often (that means 1 to 2 times everyday) or buy multiple litter boxes.

Medical reasons can also play a part in your cat's refusal to use the litter box. Is your cat spayed (female) or neutered (male)? If not, get them fixed at the vet. This will prevent over population and they won't spray around the house! If you do get your cat declawed (which is something I DO NOT recommend; how would you like it if your mommy made you get surgery to remove your finger nails? Uh huh...that's what I thought), try using shredded newspaper temporarily so the sand-y litter won't get inside the incisions and cause infection.