Litter Box Mishaps
One in every 10 cats will have a litter box lapse in his or her lifetime. The 20 most common reasons are:
- The cat is suffering from a medical problem involving the urinary tract.
- The cat experiences a bout of geriatric constipation.
- The caretaker does not keep the box as clean as the cat wants it to be.
- The owner changes the brand or tries disposable plastic liners.
- The owner changes the location of the litterbox.
- The owner switches to deodorized or perfumed litter.
- The owner buys a new box and throws out the old one or covers the box with a hood.
- The owner cleans the litterbox with too harsh a cleaning product.
- The location of the litterbox is too busy or not private enough for the cat.
- The home is too large for just one litterbox.
- The cat inadvertently gets locked out of reach of the litterbox.
- The cat is kept from using the litterbox by another animal in the house.
- There are too many cats and not enough litterboxes.
- There are too many cats and not enough territory.
- Stray cats can be seen/smelled near the cat’s territory.
- The unneutered male cat has come of age and is marking territory.
- The unspayed female is in heat and advertising for suitors.
- Over time, the cat has developed an aversion to the texture of the litter.
- The cat was never properly trained to use the litterbox in the first place.
- The cat is stressed by a change in routine or environment, including a new baby, new furniture, work schedule changes, vacations, overnight guests or a move.