Cat Won't Use Litter Box

hi! try changing the litter more often than usual.This happened to me also and that is what I had to do.Also moving the litter box in a different spot might help. GOOD LUCK TO YA!

You've gotten some really great responses so I will only add one thing. This same thing happened to me within the last few months. My cat started going on the carpet in the living room and after I put another litter box in the living room in the spot he was pooping (also re-arranged the furniture to hide it), he has started using the box again. Cats are weird and I do agree it was the abrupt change of you being home all the time to suddenly being gone that did it. Ah.... God Bless us cat lovers. :)

D., we had that problem too. We researched the matter and found that beyond the move itself and change in routine there are numerous possible causes. For example;

1. There may be animal smells from an animal living in the home previously. You can get a black light which shows animal urine and fecal matter, and there are sprays to remove it. You can also use it to spray the area where your cat pooped. The more they poop, the more attracted to that area they are. NOTE: Make sure NOT to spray your cat's litter box, or right outside of it because the cats won't go there then for sure!

2. Did you change the litter box, or type of litter, or move the box?

3. Did you change foods. This can cause different bowel patterns.

5. Did you move the litter box?

6. Have you tried spending a little extra time with your cats? The carpet pooper may be calling out for attention.

7. Can your cats fit comfortable in the litter box? Do their rear ends hang out? I had one cat that didn't fit as well, and his rear hung out and plop, on the carpet. LOL

When we had the problem, I looked up "Cat Urine Removal" on the web, and that's where I got the information. It was really helpful. You can buy the black light, and the sprays in the drug store if you need them.

Good luck.

My cat did this same thing not so long ago and so I bought her a totally new litter box and that helped. Maybe you need to have two litter boxes since there's more than one cat. Hope it gets better I know how it feels to have to clean cat poop off the carpet every day and it's not fun.

I had 2 cats (Mother and Son) that did this most of their life - ughh! It was most clearly jealousy and acting out. If anyone spent the night, one cat peed on their clothes. When I went out , she pooped in my roommate's room. Whenever they were upset with me for any kind of cat-perceived negligence, they peed or pooped somewhere - mostly in the hallway and in one other room. We replaced all the carpets and used Nature's Miracle everywhere before laying the new carpet. It didn't matter - they were both back in there peeing and pooping again. We tried all of the suggestions listed by the other gals who responded to you - to no avail. We loved the kitties, so we lived with the problem. I'm sad to say that since they both passed on, it is the big reason we are reluctant - and still haven't - gotten another cat. Good luck!

Hi Deidre,
Our INDOOR cat(8yrs old) started doing the same thing!
He went from pooping just outside of the litter box to anywhere he pleased in our home!!! This was even after we bought him a (2)NEW litter boxes, changed litter brands, and even bought BIGGER litter boxes! It was AWFUL!!!

Long story short...
After several months of suffering, we took him to the vet and found that he was suffering from some sort of "rare parasite". The vet said that sometimes if a cat is "ill" they will have accidents just outside litter box or around the house.

Anyways, the vet asked that we bring in a "BM sample". After sending the cat's "sample" to the lab, they discovered that he had a "rare parasite" in his system. They then gave him a pill, and so many days later we noticed MAJOR CHANGES in him!!! :) He has stopped pooping outside of the box, and thankfully is back to his normal/pleasant self!

Hope this helps!
E.
www.mothersnmore.com

Cats are funny. Ours is pretty good; however, went through a time where her pee was making it into the litter box. And there were a few times she pooped outside the litter box. once she did it after we bathed her, another time she did it after we took her to the vet and another time she did it just because. She has not done this now in a year. We ended up trying to keep things as status quo as possible - i.e. no more baths (at least by us) and only visits to the vet. We ended up getting a brand new litter box as well. We went through several until my husband made our own. We took a large plastic box with a lid and cut a hole in the top of the lid. We have a little box outside of the litter box for her to step on. It has worked perfectly with no more accidents. I would try getting a new litter box.

Hi D.,

A couple of years ago we had a similar problem with our cat suddenly starting to pee everywhere - even right in front of me! We called our vet and she said it was a common thing for a cat to "act out" when big changes happen. For instance, you being at home to love and cuddle and then suddenly gone. She suggested we put our cat in the bathroom with just the litter box, removing anything that could be ruined. Don't go in except to bring food. At that time you can cuddle a little bit and clean up if needed. Other than that, just don't interact and let him pee or poop as much as he chooses. She said it would take up to 2 days for the cat to start using the litter box again and get over his "tantrum". In reality it only took 24 hours for our cat - he's very sociable and hated being separated from everyone. We've never had a problem since. Hope this helps - good luck!

R.

exact same thing happened to me. I' tried everything everyone told me. Had to make her an outside cat before she ruined my new carpet. Sorry.

Do you just have one litter box? If so, then get another one. We had that exact same problem when we moved from our townhouse in Dallas to a house in Forney. Right after we moved here, one of our cats almost continually would poop on the floor & right by the litter box. At that time we had 2 litter boxes so I got another one. That seemed to help a lot. Everything I read online, when I was researching the problem said that you should have one box for each cat. We've got 2 cats & 3 litter boxes (all in the same room) but that extra one helped. But if I miss one time of cleaning them out, then she poops on the floor. It's so irritating!!!