Animals

4 tips to get your cat to use the litter box again

Getting your cat to learn to use the litter box takes patience and the application of various methods until it finally adapts. But, there are times when this progress seems impossible or, strangely, the cat refuses to do it after it has become habituated. Is there something that can be done?

The behavior of a domestic cat will depend on the training it receives combined with the instinctive information that is imprinted in its genetic code, so we cannot expect that a week after arriving at your house it will know where to relieve itself and never make mistakes.

Now, if you have come here because your cat was already used to using the litter box and suddenly, he refuses to relieve himself in it, then you have to evaluate several aspects that may be influencing this change in attitude.

1. Medical review

It is important to take into account the health of your cat, if he is not using the litter box and you do not get urine stains at home, he may be suffering from some type of condition that prevents him from urinating normally. Well, believe it or not, cats suffer from many infections of the urinary system just like humans. 

On the other hand, diarrhea, constipation, polyuria, among others, are also pathologies that can affect felines and interrupt the usual use of the litter tray, forcing them to evacuate anywhere.

Observing your pet is essential to perceive if it is suffering from any disease, if so, prompt specialized attention will allow it to recover to resume its hygienic habits. 

2. Social behavior and the environment

Improper elimination, as veterinarians often call this situation with cats, can often be the consequence of a change in their habits, in which living with other animals can be decisive. For example, if your cat is used to being the only family pet and you decide to adopt another feline, your cat may want to mark his territory by not using the litter box. This is definitely a very common social factor in families with more than one cat. 

But, if this is not your case and, in addition, you notice that the feline does not get into the box and only urinates on the edge, or does not dig before and after defecating, and also shows desperation to get out of the litter box as soon as possible, the cause of their behavior may be environmental. Yes, but from the environment of his box. 

You must already be familiar with the popular concept that cats are very hygienic animals, so even if you see the litter box still clean, your pet may not feel that way and it may not be comfortable for him to spend a lot of time inside it. 

It may also happen that the type of substrate is not to your liking, because sometimes we forget that some manufacturers sell litter with additions to please humans, with flavorings or binders that compact the urine to make it easier to discard. However, these elements may not appeal to some cats with a much more sensitive sense of smell than others. In short, you can already see that there are several factors to evaluate to understand the behavior of your feline.

3. Faster solutions

If you have already ruled out a possible disease in your cat after the medical check-up, you can try other actions regarding the cat litter box and see if there is any progress in your pet’s hygiene habits.

change substrate

Cats, for the most part, prefer fine and soft litters that do not need deodorizers, so try to change the substrate of the litter tray, remembering that its depth should be 3 to 5 cm so that the feline has the space to dig and hide feces. 

find another place

Perhaps in the last cleaning of your house, you decided to change the place of the sandbox. And this is a very common mistake, because for your cat’s habits it is essential that the box is always in the same place, especially away from its food, and in a ventilated space so that the odors of the stools do not remain impregnated in home. 

appropriate size

When we have a baby cat we buy a suitable litter box for it, perhaps of a compact size, but as it grows that litter box may become too small and the cat does not have enough space to relieve itself naturally, limiting his movements and, therefore, he does not use it anymore. So, you can apply the steps above, read a guide to buying the best cat litter box , and purchase a larger tray. The most recommended is that it is 1.5 times greater than the length of your cat. 

4. A little training

Now, if after exhausting all the resources and techniques that we have outlined in the previous sections, your cat still refuses to use the litter box, then we recommend that you read the following recommendations.

a.Pay attention: Observing your cat’s habits will allow you to know at what times he usually relieves himself, in this way you can bring him closer to the sandbox when you consider that the time is approaching.

b. Teach with games: For your cat to take on certain routines such as brushing their hair or evacuating in the litter box, games can be your allies. In the case of the sandbox, playing with your cat near the tray will help him become familiar with the unknown object for him, you can even place it inside and with your hands teach him how to remove the sand. 

c. You use its feces: If the cat is defecating in other parts of the house, we recommend you collect the feces and take it to the sand so that it recognizes the smell and knows that it is there where it has to do it. Repeat this as many times as necessary, but always remember to clean the other places so that there are no feces or urine nearby to serve as markings. 

d. Avoid scolding: A cat that has never used a litter box will need guidance, perseverance and patience from its caregiver to acquire this habit, so avoid scolding the cat, because you will generate the opposite effect. Always remember to pamper him and congratulate him on his good behavior, this way you will help him progress faster.

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