My cat won't use the litter box. What's causing this behavior?

Question

Why won't my cat use either of her litter boxes? Pet's info: Cat | Mixed Breed | Female | unspayed

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

There can be a couple of reasons why Freya 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 her, she won't use it. Cats can also be very picky about the type of litter used. If you changed litter recently, she 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 her to turn around in, or if it has a cover, she may not like using the box under a cover. Conversely, if it doesn't have a cover, she 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, she won't use it. Finally, there could be a medical issue behind her not using the litter box, such as a UTI or bladder stones. If none of the above scenarios apply to Freya, I would take her into your vet for a health check to see if there is a medical cause behind her refusing to use the litter box.

My cat won't use the litter box. What's causing this behavior?

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