Why did my neutered cat stop using the litter box and pee on couch?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Male | neutered | 5 months and 16 days old
My neutered make cat will not use the litter box. Used the litter box for a while. He will poop and pee behind doors and on the couch.
4 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on September 23rd, 2016
That must be very frustrating for you! There can be a couple of reasons why Cooper will not use the litter box. Cats like a very clean box, and the litter should be scooped every day with the litter itself being changed once a week. If the box isn't clean enough for him, he won't use it. Cats can also be very picky about the type of litter used. If you changed litter recently, he may not like it and won't want to use it. Don't use scented litters, cats typically don't like the scent and will not use the box if it smells funny to them. I would use an unscented litter only. The litter box itself may be a problem. It could be too small for him to turn around in, or if it has a cover, he may not like using the box under a cover. Conversely, if it doesn't have a cover, he may not like going to the bathroom in the open. Cats also won't use a litter box that is too close to their food and water sources, so if the litter box is close to those, he won't use it. Finally, there could be a medical issue behind him not using the litter box. If not of the above scenarios apply to Cooper, I would take him into your vet for a health check to see if there is a medical cause behind him refusing to use the litter box.
5Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on May 23rd, 2018
Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry to hear your foster is having litterbox issues. Some options to help with this are to have multiple types of litterboxes (covered, uncovered, etc) throughout the house, with feliway around all of them. Additionally, you can add cat attract litter to the boxes to encourage him to use them. You could also try a different type of litter with the cat attract to see if there is a type that he likes more. If these suggestions do not help resolve your issue, I would recommend setting up a consult or reaching out to your regular veterinarian to discuss further options. Good luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on January 16th, 2017
There can be a couple of reasons why Loki will not use the litter box. Cats like a very clean box, and the litter should be scooped every day with the litter itself being changed once a week. If the box isn't clean enough for him, he won't use it. Cats can also be very picky about the type of litter used. If you changed litter recently, he may not like it and won't want to use it. Don't use scented litters, cats typically don't like the scent and will not use the box if it smells funny to them. I would use an unscented litter only. The litter box itself may be a problem. It could be too small for him to turn around in, or if it has a cover, he may not like using the box under a cover. Conversely, if it doesn't have a cover, he may not like going to the bathroom in the open. Cats also won't use a litter box that is too close to their food and water sources, so if the litter box is close to those, he won't use it. Finally, there could be a medical issue behind him not using the litter box, such as a UTI or bladder stones. If none of the above scenarios apply to Loki, I would take him into your vet for a health check to see if there is a medical cause behind him refusing to use the litter box.
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on September 3rd, 2020
There can be a couple of reasons why Kobe will not use the litter box. Cats like a very clean box, and the litter should be scooped every day with the litter itself being changed once a week. If the box isn't clean enough for him, he won't use it. Cats can also be very picky about the type of litter used. If you changed litter recently, he may not like it and won't want to use it. Don't use scented litters, cats typically don't like the scent and will not use the box if it smells funny to them. I would use an unscented litter only. The litter box itself may be a problem. It could be too small for him to turn around in, or if it has a cover, he may not like using the box under a cover. Conversely, if it doesn't have a cover, he may not like going to the bathroom in the open. Cats also won't use a litter box that is too close to their food and water sources, so if the litter box is close to those, he won't use it. Finally, there could be a medical issue behind him not using the litter box, such as diarrhea or a stomach illness. If none of the above scenarios apply to Kobe, I would take him into your vet for a health check to see if there is a medical cause behind him refusing to use the litter box. I hope this helps!
2Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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