Cat scared of basement, won't use litter box. What can I do?

Question

I have two cats, we use to keep their litter box in the kitchen but that was way to unsanitary, so my mom's idea was to put it in the basement, but of course their scared to go to the basement and now just do their business on the carpet, and now she furious at them but refuse to listen to me when I try to tell her that their to scared to go in the basement since no one go down there, I can really use some help cuz now she just want to kick them out.

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

You are correct that moving the litter box is the likely cause of them not using it any longer. I am wondering if anyone has taken them down to the basement to show them where the litter box is now placed. If they haven't been shown where it is, they would go on the carpet. I would take them down to the litter box in the basement, and show them where the litter box has been moved. You will have to clean the carpet with an enzyme cleaner to get the smell of their urine and feces out of it. You can also consider moving the litter box back upstairs in another room, such as the bathroom.

Cat scared of basement, won't use litter box. What can I do?

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