The particularly strong smell of feline urine makes it difficult to clean and can be a real hassle if your cat has made a habit of ignoring their litter. First, eliminated physical illness as a potential cause by visiting a veterinary care provider who can diagnose whether this is a behavioral or bodily issue. If your cat checks out physically, here are some reasons your cat doesn’t use the litter box, and ways you can stop this behavior. 

Box Upkeep Problems

Cats will find other places to relieve themselves if they don’t think the litter box is clean enough. They also have a stronger sense of smell than we do, meaning your pet might not think the litter box is as clean as you do, even if you’ve changed the litter recently. Veterinary care experts recommend scooping the litter daily and cleaning the box itself at least twice a month. 

Box Location Issues

It’s understandable that you want to keep the litter box out of the way, but this could make your cat find it less appealing. Keep the box somewhat close to the social areas in your home, and avoid putting it near loud appliances like washers and dryers. These can cause stressful reactions in cats since they have sensitive hearing, and they need to feel secure when using the litter box.

Box-Related Stress

If you’re in a multiple cat household, you could have one cat making it hard for the others to reach the litter box. Ensure this doesn’t happen by keeping more than one box available, in different rooms if possible. For more timid felines, try to designate a space with a litter box that only they can access. A good rule of thumb is to have one more litter box than you have cats – and make sure they are all separate from each other.

If your cat has been peeing outside of the litter box, visit the professionals at Montgomery Animal Hospital in Cincinnati, OH. These experts have been providing compassionate veterinary care services to the Ohio area for over 65 years, with an AAHA® accreditation and a range of treatments to keep your pet healthy. Call (513) 791-7912 or visit them online to schedule an appointment today.