Cats instinctively want to use a litter box, so if your cat is suddenly not using its litter box when it goes to the bathroom, that can be indicative of a serious physical or emotional problem.
Your cat might suddenly stop using its litter box because of underlying medical issues, dissatisfaction with the litter box’s size or cleanliness, or stress or anxiety, such as after moving to a new home or when an owner goes on vacation. To make sure there isn’t a physical problem, take your cat to the vet if it demonstrates litter box issues. Sometimes, deep-cleaning or upgrading a litter box or adding more to the home solves sudden litter box issues.
Call us today at (404) 793-6178 for help from the Roswell, GA cat sitters at Critter Sitters.
Why Is My Cat Suddenly Not Using its Litter Box?
Cats generally want to use their litter boxes to cover their waste and hide the scent. If your cat has suddenly stopped using its litter box like normal and has had one or two accidents elsewhere in your house, something could be wrong.
Underlying Medical Issues
If your cat suddenly stopped using its litter box when it had never shown any signs of litter box issues before, it could be due to an underlying medical issue, such as an injury or illness. Even something as simple as arthritis could deter your older cat from climbing in and out of a litter box, especially if it is a senior.
Urinary tract infections, bladder infections, and stomach problems can also lead to accidents outside of the litter box. Underlying medical issues are a top cause of litter box issues, so take accidents in the house seriously, possibly more seriously than you would with dogs.
Litter Box Dissatisfaction
Your cat might be dissatisfied with its litter box if it suddenly starts having accidents or purposefully going to the bathroom elsewhere in the house. The litter box might be too full or dirty, too small, too exposed, or located in a loud or scary part of your house that your cat does not want to venture into, especially for such vulnerable moments.
Getting a new, larger litter box and keeping it as clean as possible may help solve your cat’s litter box issues, especially if it never had any trouble using its litter box before.
Stress and Anxiety
When cats are highly stressed or anxious, they might go outside their litter boxes to use the bathroom. This happens most often during moves from one home to another, as it may take cats some time to get accustomed to and comfortable in a new environment.
Litter box issues can also arise when cats experience separation anxiety during trips, and our cat sitters can keep an eye out for any unusual bathroom behavior while caring for your furry friend.
What Should I Do if My Cat Is Suddenly Going Outside the Litter Box?
Responding quickly to litter box issues is important; otherwise, they can be extremely hard to correct in cats of all ages.
Take Your Cat to the Vet
If your cat suddenly refuses to use its litter box and is having accidents or intentionally going elsewhere in your house, the first thing you should do is take it to the vet. If this is the first time your cat has not used its litter box, a medical issue is most likely the reason.
Take your pet to the vet to have it assessed and make sure there isn’t anything more serious going on with its health before moving on to other possible causes for your cat’s strange new bathroom behavior.
Deep-Clean the Litter Box
Litter box problems can sometimes be fixed by deep-cleaning a litter box. Rather than just scooping out the litter periodically, fully clean, wipe down, and deodorize your cat’s litter box so it is freshened up and more inviting to use. Your pet deserves a clean place to relieve itself, so keep that in mind if yours starts showing signs of litter box issues.
Offer More Litter Boxes
Your cat might be going outside of the litter box because it is too far away from its favorite sleeping spot, gets full too easily, or is too small. An easy solution in this situation is to get more litter boxes so that kitty bathrooms are always easily available to your cat, especially in an emergency.
Senior cats might experience litter box issues more than younger felines, so adding more litter boxes as your cat ages can be a proactive way to prevent litter box issues from ever happening.
Should I Be Concerned if My Cat Is Suddenly Going Outside the Litter Box?
Cats instinctively want to use litter boxes and cover their waste to hide any scent. If a cat is not participating in that natural behavior, it may be cause for concern.
You should not ignore your cat’s litter box issues. Even going outside of the litter box once is a red flag that your cat is unhappy, stressed, or potentially injured or sick. Litter box issues are a cause for concern in any cat, regardless of its age or medical history. You don’t have to panic over an accident in the house, but you should take litter box issues very seriously.
If your cat suddenly goes outside of the litter box when under Critter Sitters’ care, we can clean up the accident and take it to the vet for an assessment. We can also alert you of litter box issues so that you are constantly updated on your cat’s behavior and stress levels while you are out of town.
Get the Help You Need from Our Cat Sitters by Calling Us Today
Call Critter Sitters at (404) 793-6178 to hire our cat sitters today.
