What to do when a cat doesn’t use the litter box?

Why is my cat peeing outside its litter?

Urine marking (communication)

• Territory / Protection of resources
• Status / “hierarchical” position (sexual or social status)
• Anxiety

Choice of new toilet

• Behavioral causes: preferences or aversions
• Medical causes

While marking is a communication process, relieving oneself outside the litter box can be divided into medical and behavioral causes.

Urine marking

Urine marking (spraying urine, territorial or social behavior) must be distinguished from normal urination. It is a normal method of communication between individuals. Most often, this marking is done by male cats that 

have not been neutered, but this is not an absolute rule.

Cats mark unfamiliar objects with “adoption markings” and objects that have already been marked with “maintenance markings.” Marking is both geographical and temporal: it delimits a portion of space with an olfactory barrier and allows the emitter to orient themselves in time as the olfactory signal gradually disappears.

Marking can become pathological – note that pathological behavior is behavior that no longer allows for adequate adaptation to environmental changes. Any change in marking behavior in cats may reflect the development of a behavioral disorder or disease.

In adult cats, an increase in urine marking should prompt a visit to the vet to check for any potential health issues, particularly anxiety disorders. An increase in urine spots may, for example, be triggered by a change in territory (moving house, rearranging furniture, changes to the owner’s schedule, the arrival of a new family member, etc.). If the stress persists and causes anxiety, pathological marking may develop. Other signs may accompany these behavioral changes, such as aggression, bulimia/anorexia, sleep disorders, motor seizures, etc.

Choosing a new toilet

Medical causes

The medical causes of unacceptable elimination are mainly those affecting the urinary tract (idiopathic cystitis, stones, urinary tract infections, etc.). Other conditions that cause an increase in the amount of urine produced (such as diabetes) and diarrhea or constipation may also be mentioned. Environmental factors can also play a role, often due to a “source of stress for the animal,” for example in the case of idiopathic cystitis.

In order to eliminate or identify this type of condition as early as possible, it is always recommended to consult a veterinarian at the first signs of unacceptable elimination in cats.

Behavioral causes

Behavioral causes associated with unacceptable elimination may, in some cases, stem from the cat’s preference for another place to eliminate (flower pot, bathtub, etc.) or from a source of stress; but this is not the general rule: behavioral causes associated with unacceptable elimination are mainly due to the cat’s aversion to the litter (the substrate, the litter box, or the hygiene management of the litter box).

Cat preferences and aversions regarding litter

A cat’s degree of liking or disliking for a litter can be measured using various indicators. For example, cats that are dissatisfied with their litter tend to be hesitant around their litter box and avoid going in it, as well as covering their waste less and/or scratching the edges of the box or the surface around it rather than the litter.

Contact a vet

If you can’t find a logical reason for your cat’s behavior or if your adaptation efforts are unsuccessful, it’s best to consult a veterinarian to rule out medical issues such as urinary tract infections, which can cause a cat to avoid the litter box.