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My cat won't pee in the litter box anymore. What's the problem?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Cat | Domestic Mediumhair | Female | spayed | 5 years and 10 months old | 15 lbs

6-year-old female cat will not pee in litter box anymore.

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Kevin Sanada, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on June 21st, 2018

There are a few different reasons why a cat may stop using their litter box. It's best to first check for some of the common causes. Below is a link to a good article about the common causes. It's also possible that Daisy is not using the litter box due to a medical condition. If you can't find a behavioral problem then it would be best to take her to the vet for an exam. https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-common-litter-box-mistakes/ I hope that helps and all is well with Daisy.

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1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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    Answered By David Elbeze, DVM, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on August 7th, 2017

    It's not likely at her age to be a behavioral problem, it's probably a medical condition- could be kidney failure, hyperthyroidism or something else. i strongly recommend taking her to the vet in order to get that checked.

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    Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

    Veterinarian

    Published on October 23rd, 2020

    There may be a medical reason behind Creamy not using the litter box such a kidney failure. Kidney failure can be common in senior cats. I recommend taking her into the vet for a geriatric blood panel and urinalysis. If she does have a medical problem like kidney failure, the vet can discuss treatment options. Give her vet a call now. Best of luck.

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    Answered By Stacey Anstaett, DVM

    Veterinarian

    Published on January 18th, 2019

    Sometimes older cats do develop litter box issues. The increase in meowing could be symptom of hyperthyroidism which is relatively common in older cats. The peeing outside of the box could be due to a medical issue such as kidney failure, bladder stones, a bladder tumor, or any condition that would make her drink more and pee more (hyperthyroidism or diabetes to name a few). It could also be harder for her to get into the litter box if she is experiencing some arthritis. Take her to your vet for some senior bloodwork and a urinalysis. If everything is normal, there are some things you can do to encourage her to get back to using the box. See the following articles for some helpful tips: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-tips-to-stop-your-cat-from-urinating-outside-the-litter-box/ https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/common-cat-behavior-issues/litter-box-problems

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