Litter Box Woes: What To Do if Your Cat Poops or Pees Everywhere but the Litter Box

It can feel very frustrating when your cat will just refuse to use the litter box! What is happening here? Are you doing something wrong, or is your cat just stubborn?

We’ll help you find a fix to it in no time so just read on!

advertisement

Why is your cat peeing and pooping outside the litter box?

Before blaming your cat for refusing to use the litter box, you should know the reasons that could be causing him to soil your house instead. There are only two ways to explain why your cat doesn’t use the litter box:

Your cat is having medical problems.

If your pet pees or poops inappropriately, then it’s best to talk about it to your vet. Your cat could have a urinary medical issue that causes him not to control his bladder well.

Your cat has a behavioral issue.

If your cat is clear from any medical issues, then the culprit for his litter box-refusing behavior could be stress, a dirty litter box, or old urine smells that are still present in some parts of your home, which he prefers to pee on.

How to set your cat up for success

1. Make sure the litter box is clean. If your litter box still has dirt and debris, your cat may be refusing to use it because he doesn’t find it sanitary.
2. Use unscented cat litter. The scent of the kitty litter you are using might be too much for your cat. Opt for unscented ones instead.
3. Place the litter box in a quiet area. Cats love their privacy when doing their business. So designate a quiet yet accessible space in your home for them.
4. Get one litter box per cat. Most vets recommend getting multiple litter boxes to prevent competition among cats if you have many cats and for them to separate urine from poop.

advertisement

What if even that doesn’t work?

If your cat received a full bill of health and you’re doing all you can by keeping the litter boxes clean and accessible, it can be very frustrating if your cat is still pooping or peeing outside the litter box. Your cat is an animal of habit with a very keen sense of smell, and some – especially un-neutered male cats – can be extremely territorial. Even if you only have one cat, your cat may feel the urge to mark his territory if stray cats come slinking around the outside of your house. If that’s the case, we have a solution for you.

Identify all the places your cat might be spraying

Using a Blacklight Pet Urine Detector can help you spot all the areas you’ll need to address. It’s essential to be thorough and check behind furniture and all the corners in your home. If your cat can reach it, you need to check it.

Thoroughly cleanse all the problem areas

Cat urine can be very stubborn and very potent. Regular soap and water are not enough to clean the enzymes present in your cat’s urine. When your cat can still detect those enzymes, he will likely keep coming back to that exact spot. Therefore, we recommend Nature’s Miracle Cat Urine Destroyer.

Create a deterrent

Your cat may be tempted to go back to his old habits, so it’s best to nip it in the bud with EverJoice Cat Repellent Spray. The repellent spray will safely deter your cat from any of his problem surfaces, and this will encourage him to use the litter box correctly. Cats naturally feel more comfortable using the litter box for their waste, so all it takes is a few nudging in the right direction.

Don’t give up on your cat’s potty training just yet! With a few tweaks following our tips, you will surely make your cat love using the litter box in no time.