Even well trained cats may occasionally stop using their litter box and develop a house-soiling problem. If this problem should occur in your cat, it is first important to determine the underlying cause before attempting to stop the unwanted behavior.

Reasons Cat Stop Using the Litter Box

Cats who start to house-soil after having been reliably using their litter box may do so because of a litter box aversion, a surface or location preference, or to mark territory. Determining the reason that your cat is house-soiling is the first step toward solving the problem.

The most common cause of house-soiling in cats is an aversion to the box. Aversions develop for a variety of reasons. These include a dirty box (some cats are very particular about the cleanliness of their box!), dissatisfaction with the type of box or litter, or having had a painful or frightening experience while in or near the box.
Some cats develop a location or surface preference. This occurs when a cat finds a room or type of surface that he prefers to his box. Typical surface preferences include soft materials such as beds and carpets, or cool, smooth surfaces such as sinks and bathtubs.
Cats who show a location preference will usually choose an area of the home that is quiet and protected or a spot where a litter box was kept previously.
Finally, cats may urinate outside of their litter box to mark territory. Spraying is the most common form of urine marking, and is most frequently seen in male cats who have not been neutered. Cats may begin to urine mark after the introduction of a new cat or if there has been a change in their living situation or daily routine.

Helpful Tip!

Litter Box Cleanliness in Multiple-Cat Homes

If you have more than one cat in your home, litter box cleanliness is of utmost importance. Cats can be very particular about the number of other cats using their box, and some cats do not like to eliminate in a box that contains any waste from other cats. Providing an adequate number of boxes in several places and keeping each box scrupulously clean can help to prevent litter box aversions from developing in multiple-cat homes.

Urine Marking

Urine marking often develops as a result of a change in the household, most typically the addition of one or more new cats. Recent studies show that increasing the number of cats in the home is one of the strongest predictors of urine marking as a house soiling problem.

Treatment of spraying in neutered cats always involves identifying and attempting to diffuse the underlying cause. For example, if a new pet has been introduced into the household, confining the new animal and instituting a gradual program of introduction is often successful. Because urine marking can be a difficult problem to treat, professional help should be sought if you think this is the cause of your cat’s house soiling.