Lora Lee Why does my cat use the bathroom outside of the litter box? Does she hate me? This is a common issue and one that can frustrate cat parents. Sadly, because of inappropriate litter box behaviors, cats are most often either put outside or taken to the shelter. Contrary to popular belief, cats are not revenge seeking individuals. If your cat is using the bathroom outside of their litter box, there is always an underlying issue that, once identified, can be resolved.
There are 3 major causes of inappropriate litter box behaviors: medical issues, multi-cat stress and aggression, and litter box logistics. Your kitty’s bathroom mishaps could be one or all of these. Identifying the root cause of the issue is the first step to a happy kitty and even happier you.
Litter Box Logistics
We are going to start with litter box logistics and usually the main cause of any bad litter box behaviors your cat may be having. This is all things about the litter box. The size, the opening, the placement, the litter. All those play into whether you cat will go where he needs to go. You must remember that bathroom time is a very vulnerable time for cats. They are indisposed and can be easy prey in the wild. Even if your cat has been indoors since they were a kitten, that survival instinct is innate.
The rule of thumb is to have 1 litter box for every cat in the house plus 1 extra. Most cats do not mind sharing their bathroom with their housemates; some do. Some cats like to poop in one box, while peeing in another. Others do fine with elimination in one box. It really depends on your cat or cats.
The litter box also needs to be a size that is proportionate to your cat. Rule of thumb is length and a half. Your cat needs to be able to move and turn around in the box. They need to be able to find the right elimination place and then be able to turn and cover it. If the box is not big enough to provide this movement, your cat may not cover properly, which then leads to a smelly box, or they may choose to not go in at all. A lot of people have gone the way of storage totes to make their own litter boxes. Two of my favorite cat ladies, The Two Crazy Cat Ladies, have a short video on how to make your own litter box How To Make A Large Litter Box For Cats | Two Crazy Cat Ladies – YouTube.
Making your own litter box will also help with a few other logistical issues. Remember when I mentioned bathroom time being a vulnerable time for our babies? If you make your own, your can choose a clear tote. This way your cat can see if danger is heading their way.
Using a tote can also help with our cats who tend to pee high, also known as elevator peeing. The high sides of a tote can help catch the pee and save your walls. I use a piece of plexiglass behind my litter box. A puppy pad underneath the box helps catches any residual.
Another logistical issue that a DIY litter box can help with is for our senior cats. Our older babies can develop arthritis as they get older. Those sore joints can make stepping into a high litter box difficult. Once again, if it is not comfortable for the cat to use, the cat will not use it.
Placement
The placement of the litter box is also key to help solve improper elimination. You may want to put the bathroom in your laundry room. However, you may not have great success if the laundry room is where everyone comes through. Unfortunately, litter boxes should not be placed in high traffic areas. Go back to the vulnerability aspect. Just like humans, cats like to use the bathroom in peace. You really need to think about placement with your senior cats. If your cat is old and sleeps upstairs, but you have her litter box down in the basement, you’re running the risk of your cat using the bathroom in more convenient places. If you have multiple levels in your home, you really should have a litter box on each level.
Lastly in logistics is the litter itself. Cats are picky creatures, especially when it comes to what they walk on. We need to be careful to the litter that we choose. Keep in mind that cats are extremely clean animals and will lick their paws. Whatever they have stepped on will be licked and ingested. Clay cat litter is not the best choice.
Scented cat litter is even worse. We may like the lavender scent that Fluffy’s new litter gives off, but to Fluffy’s extremely sensitive nose, that lavender scent is enough to send her looking for a less evasive place to use the bathroom.
Cat litter has come a long way in the past few years. From clumping to non-clumping clay litter, silica gels, corn pellet, wheat pellets, pine pellets, newspaper pellets, coconut pellets, the choices are endless. This is the area that you will need to do some trial and error. See what works best for your cat and you. Finding the right litter will make all the difference in helping to eliminate those bad habits.
Once you find the right litter, you must scoop the litter often. I can not stress enough how clean cats are. They do not want to be stepping on days old poop in order to find a clean place to pee. They do not want to use their paws to dig a spot or to cover. It is gross for us and equally, if not more, as gross for them. I scoop 2, sometimes 3, times a day. Keeping your boxes scooped will also help with the smell and will prolong the life of your litter.
Multi-Cat Stress and Aggression
Now, to the next possible cause of inappropriate litter box behaviors, multi-cat stress and aggression. This ties into the litterbox logistics. If you are a multi-cat household, you probably have or have had some kitty disagreements. Usually, these disagreements are no more than how we fought with our siblings growing up. Think “Mom, he is looking at me”.
Sometimes, these disagreements are part of a dominance and bullying aspect. This can be very stressful to the recipient cat. Stress and aggression are another reason for having more than one box and even the clear totes, so the stressed kitty can use the bathroom without worrying about being attacked by the bully kitty as they are using or leaving the litter box.
This is the reason that Prudence moved from Kracken Kitty status to Resident Kitty. One of her siblings was bullying her. He would hide outside of the litter room, waiting for her to exit and then pounce. It didn’t take long for her to find a “safer” place to turn into her bathroom. The carpeted corner may have been a good choice for her, but it was not for me. We moved her upstairs, away from her bully brother, and there has not been an issue for her since. Remember, cats are very clean animals. They WANT to go to the bathroom where they are supposed to, BUT you must make it appropriate for them. Pay attention to the interactions and dynamics of your cats.
Medical Issues
The final cause of inappropriate litter box behaviors is medical reasons. Cats are very stoic animals. Being sick is a sign of weakness and the weak are easy prey in the wild. Cats also can not verbally communicate with us if there is something wrong with them. They will try to tell us that something is up by calling attention to themselves. The easiest way for them to do that is to start using the bathroom in inappropriate places. Unfortunately, there are numerous medical issues that could be the cause. Your cat could have a urinary tract infection, urinary crystals or bladder stones. It could be other medical issues such as kidney failure, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, high blood pressure, constipation, cancer, intestinal parasites, or even skin or flea allergies.
There is so much that could be a health-related issue that is causing your cat to not use his litter box. Cats will associate pain with an activity. If they are having pain when they pee, they will quickly associate that pain with the litter box and stop using it. This viscous cycle will continue until the cause of the pain is remedied. If you cat has suddenly started to exhibit inappropriate bathroom habits, your first step should be a trip to the vet to eliminate any health issues that may be going on with kitty. If your cat receives a clean bill of health, then you can start working on the other possible reasons for this new bad habit.
Once you have identified the root cause of the bad behavior and are working towards reestablishing appropriate bathroom habits, you will need to make sure that you really clean the areas that were used as impromptu bathrooms. You need to use an enzyme based cleaner. Those seem to work the best for eliminating the smell. Remember, cats have an extremely strong sense of smell and just because we can’t smell the pee does not mean that they can’t. You do not want them to be attracted back to that area. A great product that you can use is Dr. Elsey’s Ultra Cat Litter Attractant. I have used this product numerous times with great success. It will help guide your cat back to their appropriate bathroom.
I do hope that all this information has helped. Inappropriate litter box behaviors are very unpleasant for everyone involved. Keep in mind that your cat is trying to tell you something by using the bathroom in the wrong place. As a cat parent, we must be in tuned to what our babies are trying to tell us and work with them to help resolve the issue. Cats are not out to intentionally annoy you. They just want the essentials: food, water, and a clean, safe place to use the bathroom.
“Like all pure creatures, cats are practical”
― William S. Burroughs
