What if Your Cat Suddenly Stops Using the Litter box?

If you cat suddenly stops using the litter box:

• It could be a medical problem
• It could be a territory thing
• It could be due to anxiety or emotional distress

One of the most perplexing problems for cat owners is if the cat suddenly starts to use the sofa, the floor, your bed to urinate and defecate.  This is a nightmare for cat owners.  First of all, do not react to this with anger or despair, and don't feel betrayed by your cat.  Second, you must figure out what is causing the problem.

Medical Problems

A kitten not using his litter pan who is lethargic and not eating may be sick and should see a vet immediately, if only to rule out a medical problem for the behaviors.  Among the various medical problems that can cause this problem is:

• Bladder infections
• Urinary blockages
• Kidney problems
• Diabetes

Territory Marking

When cats spray or mark their territory with urine, it is making a claim of ownership for all other cats to know about.  The behavior can be related to sexual spraying on vertical objects, usually a wall.  An unaltered male cat will back up against a vertical surface such as a door or furniture and spray a stream of scented urine against it.  This can happen at about five or six months of age.  This is the beginning of male maturity.

Females will also use scented urine for this purpose, but they are likely to do it in the squatting position.

The most logical solution to territory marking is spaying or neutering, although the behavior may persist if it has already started.  It is wise to spay or neuter before this happens and before they ever get a chance to mark their territory.  However, if it has already started, surgery still should help the problem.  Many vets feel it is fine to perform the surgery at two months of age, while others do want to wait until 6 months of age.  By 6 months of age, however, it could be too late.

Anxiety or Emotional Stress

Cats and kittens who are frightened, nervous, or upset about something specific may suddenly and without warning pee and poop on the floor, in the bathtub, on your bed, or on the sofa.  This is an expression of their emotional state.  House soiling may begin soon after you bring a second cat into the house.  It should come to an end within a few days as the two cats adjust to each other.  In these cases, it may be best to give the newcomer a separate litter pan in another area to respect the senior cat's territory.