Mary Allen
If the housebroken cat suddenly stops going to the litter box, something is wrong. You absolutely must act now! Here we tell you where your cat’s sudden uncleanliness comes from and what you can do about it.
If cats have always been housebroken and suddenly no longer use the litter box to go to the toilet, something is wrong. The rule is as simple as it is absolutely valid: a cat always has a reason for becoming unclean. Not only because it is unpleasant for us humans, but above all for the sake of your cat, you now absolutely have to find out why your cat no longer visits the toilet. The reasons for this can be both physical and psychological.
Health Problems as a Cause of Uncleanliness
If your cat suddenly avoids the familiar litter box, physical illnesses such as a bladder infection can be to blame: if your cat feels a burning pain when urinating, next time it will avoid the place where it had this negative experience. The result: In the future, it will be easier to find somewhere else.
So that your cat can be helped as quickly as possible, you should always visit the veterinarian first if your velvet paw has suddenly become unclean. He will find out if an illness is the cause of this unwanted behavior.
Psychological Stress Leads to the Uncleanliness of the Cat
If a physical cause has been ruled out, it can also be a psychological problem, which is why your cat no longer goes to the litter box. Changing living conditions can certainly cause great stress in pets. Cats usually endure a lot of stress. However, if it becomes too much or there is another stress factor, this can be the trigger for uncleanliness. This can even happen years later.
Zoologist and ethologist Rosemary Sher reported from her animal psychology practice about a cat that became unclean when she got a new holiday caretaker. The real cause, however, was a toilet bowl that was far too small, with which the animal had to be content for ten years. When their living conditions improved significantly, the uncleanliness disappeared. These are possible causes of stress for cats:
Other Interior Decorations Can Unsettle the Cat
Some cats are overwhelmed when the furniture in their familiar apartment is rearranged: you are also redesigning your cat’s territory. The familiar home becomes alien to the cat – this can unsettle and stress them, which is why they no longer want to visit their litter box.
Moving is Stressful For the Cat
A new, strange environment is very difficult for cats to accept. Moving to a new home may not be easy for her. Be sure to give your cat time to get used to the new territory.
New Roommates Can Overwhelm the Cat
If the new partner, a new pet, or perhaps a baby moves into the apartment, this can also mean stress for the cat. It’s a major change in her life, and again, your cat will need a lot of time to get used to her new roommate.
Your Cat Doesn’t Want to Be Left Alone
It stresses your cat if it is suddenly often alone. If your cat no longer goes to the litter box, this can be a clear indication that she feels neglected. Spend more time with your cat and pay more attention to it!
Other causes of stress in cats can be:
- The cat was very frightened of the toilet and therefore avoids it.
- The cat has lost its reference person or a conspecific.
- The cat does not agree to a change of food.
Cat Toilet As a Cause of Uncleanliness
The cat may not be happy with the litter box. If that is the case, she no longer seeks it out. The following aspects can disturb and stress cats in their toilets:
- too small litter box
- Litter box with roof and door
- Even cat litter boxes with an open entrance are only used by many cats under compulsion. If a cat only sits with its bottom under the toilet roof, but the head and front paws remain outside, this is a clear sign that the cat is not feeling well.
- “Odor improvers” in the litter box, such as scented bedding, deodorant sprays, or cleaning products, are often unpleasant for cats
- Plastic inserts in the litter box prevent scratching in the litter
These mistakes in choosing the litter box and its accessories can cause a lot of stress in cats and lead to them becoming unclean. Therefore, make sure that the litter box…
- big enough,
- easily accessible and
- is always clean.
The floor area should be at least 30 x 40 cm and the cat must be able to squat comfortably in the toilet and walk around a little. The remains must be removed several times a day if possible. Bad smells make the cat less willing to sit in the litter box. Also, change the entire litter in good time. Outdoor cats need a litter box too.
The number of litter boxes also plays an important role. A rule of thumb is the number of cats + 1 = the number of litter boxes needed.
If the Cat is Not Clean, You Must Act Quickly
It is necessary for you to recognize the reason for your cat’s uncleanliness. This situation is not pleasant for you or your cat. Also: If the cat does her business outside the litter box a few times, your velvet paw may adopt this habit. Uncleanliness creeps in easily and can sometimes become a problem in the long term.
In order to avoid this as best as possible, you must always thoroughly eliminate the mishap and the smell. Otherwise, the cat could get the idea of continuing to relieve itself where it already smells like it.
Risk of Confusion: Marking is Not Unclean
You may confuse your cat’s uncleanliness with marking, which both tomcats and cats do. The difference in urination: When marking, vertical, horizontal surfaces (back of a shelf, sofa, or chair) is usually selected. The cat will look for a spot at nose height – conspecifics should not overlook the scent mark. This is not the case with normal urination: the cat usually sits down for this.
Cats Can Become Unclean as They Age
If your cat is a bit older, it can happen that it becomes a bit scatterbrained. For example, she may forget where the litter box is and then choose a different location for her business. It’s also possible that the senior cat simply can’t make it to the toilet.
Then you need to remedy this: Provide your cat with additional litter boxes with a low rim. Deposit them where the cat can easily get to – for example on the way to the scratching post. However, keep in mind that your cat still needs your rest when urinating. Check regularly whether your house cat is also using the additional toilets. With these tools, your cat will certainly be housebroken again as usual.