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Saturday, August 20, 2000. From the American Humane Association
The Litter Box Blues

Its not always your cat's fault!

Finding puddles around the house? Something may have happened to stop your cat from using the litter box. With a little detective work, you can find out how to correct it.

Before trying anything, take your cat to the veterinarian to be sure she is not ill. Urinary tract infections and other diseases can cause cats to quit using their litter boxes.

If your cat is healthy, start looking at how and where she is going. If she is urine marking her territory, it has nothing to do with the litter box itself. Whether male, female, spayed, neutered, or intact, any cat at any age can start spraying urine to mark their territory. For example, is a stray cat marks your bushes, then your cat may counteract with a few squirts on the walls and door to reinforce he claim inside your house.

Puddles just outside the litter box are not from spraying. The problem is more likely the box or its surroundings. Your cat may no longer like where the litter box is located, how it feels, or she may have been scared while using it. Make sure the box is cleaned...a full, smelly litter box can keep any cat from using it. Or it could be a combination of any of those things.

To solve the problem is often trial and error: you may have to try six types of litter, nine different locations, or twice a day cleanings of the box before you discover exactly what your cat desires. But don't lose patience. You will eventually discover the right combination of things to get your feline friend feeling safe and comfortable again.