If your cat stops using his litter box, it can be extremely frustrating and stressful for everyone concerned. There are some things you can do… and NOT do.

DON’T punish. Don’t ever spank, yell at, or reprimand your cat. Any form of punishment only heightens his stress level. He’ll think you’re punishing him for the very act of elimination – not for his location choice.

DO take your cat to the veterinarian. Have your cat examined, including a urinalysis. Cats are vulnerable to lower urinary tract disease, and often associate the litter box with their pain. There are also numerous underlying medical conditions that can cause litter box avoidance.

DO examine the litter box itself. Make sure the problem isn’t a too-dirty box, unpleasant litter substrate, the wrong location, or the wrong box type or size.

DON’T overlook environment. Be a detective. Your cat may be eliminating outside the box due to something stressful in the home.

DO offer choice. Set out more boxes in more locations. If you have more than one cat, make sure to keep enough litter boxes for everyone. If you think your cat doesn’t like her litter type, set out a second box with a different type or brand. One litter brand that’s helpful for a cat with litter box issues is Cat Attract. It was developed by a veterinarian.

DO clean all soiled areas. Use a blacklight to locate soiled spots, and then clean them with a neutralizing product. Don’t use ordinary household cleaners.

For step-by-step instructions on retraining your cat back to the litter box, refer to the book Starting from Scratch.

© 2009 Cat Behavior Associates, LLC