It can be frustrating for a cat owner when their cat suddenly decides not to use the litter box anymore. It can also be confusing when a cat owner is trying to figure out the cause of the new behavior. There can be several different reasons for this change in behavior. This article will help cat owners to understand just what might be the reason why their cat will not use its litter.

Medical Problem

If a cat suddenly decides not to use their litter box any more it could be because of a recently developed medical problem. Cats that are sick tend to relieve themselves in places other than their litter. If, for instance, a cat has crystals in their urine or has a urinary tract infection, this can make urination very painful for them. Since it is painful for them to urinate and they urinate in their litter box, the cat will associate the pain during urination with the litter box. Because of the pain associated now with the litter box, the cat will choose not to use the it.

It can be hard to tell if a cat is sick though. The only way to really know if a cat is sick is by taking the cat to the vet to get a full physical examination. By taking to the veterinarian, a cat owner can either solve the problem, or rule the option of the cat being sick.

Litter Box

If a cat does not like their litter box, for any reason, they will stop using it. Some of the reasons that a cat no longer likes their box could include several things. If the box is not clean enough then the cat may not want to use it anymore. If the cat has ever been startled when using it she may be too afraid to use it again. Another reason could be that the cat may associate the litter box with punishment. If the cat has ever been punished and then put into the box this association can occur. Cats feel quite vulnerable when they are using their litter box and if a cat has ever felt trapped while using the litter box, they may not want to use it again.

To get a cat to use the litter again, a cat owner should take the necessary steps to solve the applicable problems. If the cat box is dirty, clean it and keep it clean. A cat owner should keep the litter box very clean to eliminate odor. This is a good thing to do for the cat and for the people living in the house. If the cat has been startled when using the box or felt trapped, then the cat owner could get a new one. This will help the cat to start out with a new litter box where he/she hasn't felt trapped or been scared.

Areas

Animals in general are prone to continually relieving themselves in places that smell of feces and urine. Since cats have a stronger sense of smell than humans, cats can easily find previously soiled places and continue to soil them.

To solve this problem, a cat owner will need to thoroughly clean dirty areas. Cat owners can use a fluorescent black light to find the places that the cat has urinated. Urine stains glow under this type of light and make them very easy to find. Black lights can be found at any pet supply or hardware store. To clean the soiled areas a cat owner needs to use an enzymatic cleaner since even the strongest smelling cleaner will hardly take away the odor and the cat will continue to "mark" the area.