4 Common reasons why your cat isn’t using the litter tray
As many cat owners will know, there is nothing more frustrating than discovering your cat has gone to the toilet outside the litter tray.
You might find your cat has decided that a carpet, indoor plant or pile of clothes is a better toilet than their usual litter tray.
While incredibly frustrating and a pain to clean up, cats often have a good reason for why they have chosen not to use their litter tray – and as owners, we need to make sure we are identifying the reason because it could be simple, or something more serious.
So, why is my cat not using the litter tray?
Reason 1 – They don’t like it
Cats are sensitive creatures, and if they don’t like something, they’ll let you know. Although convenient for us, many cats don’t actually like covered or hooded litter trays as it’s too confined and traps smells.
Even changing your cat’s litter from crystal to cardboard or clay and vice versa can cause them to use something other than their litter tray for their toilet. If you’re trying to transition them, try to do it a little bit at a time.
Reason 2 – It’s not cleaned enough
You don’t like using that dirty public toilet, and cats are the same. Cats are very clean animals - if you aren’t cleaning your cat’s litter tray enough, they won’t want to do their business there.
If you have two cats, you’ll have to clean twice as much, or get two litter trays. You should be scooping your cat’s litter every day, and topping it up with new litter or replacing the whole tray when it gets too soiled.
Reason 3 – They are stressed
As mentioned earlier, cats are sensitive, so any changes in routine or environment can cause them to become stressed.
If your cat is excessively meowing, aggressive, hiding or has lost their appetite, along with not using their litter tray, it could be a sign that they are stressed. It’s good to seek veterinary advice in this situation as it may lead to a serious medical issue.
If it’s a mild case, a great product that your vet might recommend is Feliway. Feliway is a product that comforts and reassures cats and kittens and reduces signs of stress such as urine spraying, scratching, fighting or hiding. You can learn more about Feliway here.
Reason 4 - They have a medical issue
As mentioned above, when cats become stressed, they can develop medical issues. The first thing you should do if you see your cat urinating outside the litter box, or straining to urinate is to see the vet. The vet will do a physical exam of your cat and check a urine sample. Based on the results, your vet will recommend treatment. Possible medical issues in cats include:
- Urinary tract infection
- Cystitis
- Kidney stones
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Thyroid diseases
If your cat is struggling to urinate and little or no urine is coming out, your cat might have a blockage or partial obstruction. In this case, get your cat to a vet immediately as this condition can quickly become life-threatening. For male cats, it is especially dangerous.
While a cat urinating outside of the litter tray is not uncommon, it could be a sign of something more serious, so please always give us a call to discuss your cat’s behaviour with our friendly veterinary nurses.