The Best Cat Attract Litter if Your Cat’s Not Using the Litter Box

Kate Barrington

Researched & Written by

Kate Barrington


At Pawster, we are committed to presenting the most accurate and up-to-date information to assist you in your pet care journey. When appropriate, we consult licensed and practicing veterinarians to fact-check our professionally written articles.

Cats are fastidious animals, and it isn’t unusual for them to spend half the day cleaning themselves. Even if your cat keeps himself clean, he may not always keep your house so clean. Between litter tracking all over the floor and hair covering your furniture, there’s a lot to deal with.

When your cat stops using the litter box, it adds a new element of mess into the mix along with a healthy dose of confusion and frustration.

There are many reasons why a cat might stop using the litter box and it is your job to sleuth it out. Once you’ve identified the problem you can take steps to resolve it. One of those steps may involve switching to a cat attracting litter.

Keep reading to learn more about why cats stop using the litter box, what you can do about it, and which litter is the best to retrain your cat.

The Top 7 Reasons Why Cats Stop Using the Litter Box

Every cat is different and has his own preferences for litter and litter boxes. Even so, cats have a natural instinct to bury their waste (and their scent along with it), so most cats don’t have any trouble adjusting to litter training and using the box consistently.

There are times, however, when a cat stops using the litter box consistently (or altogether). When this happens it can be frustrating and confusing but you need to step back from the situation and take a closer look. What is causing your cat to stop using the litter box and what can you do about it?

Here are the top 7 reasons why a cat might stop using the litter box:

  1. Your cat hasn’t been properly trained. Cats aren’t born naturally knowing how to use a litter box, but most kittens learn from their mother by the time they are a few weeks old. If you have a kitten not using the litter box, you may simply need to give him a little training.
  2. The litter box is dirty. Cats are very clean animals and they don’t like to do their business where it is dirty. Scoop your litter box as often as possible (especially if you have multiple cats) and refresh the litter once a month to keep it clean.
  3. Your cat doesn’t like your choice of litter. Some cats can be very particular about texture when it comes to litter so try buying a softer litter or one with finer particular that may be gentler on your cat’s paws. Declawed cats often have trouble with texture when it comes to cat litter.
  4. The litter box is in the wrong location. Cats like to have a little privacy to do their business, so if your litter box is in a location that sees a lot of activity your cat may not like to use it. You may also have trouble with a cat not using the litter box after moving unless you teach your cat where the litter box is located.
  5. There are unpleasant odors in the litter box. While having a hood on your litter box helps reduce odors for you, it can concentrate them inside the box and make it an unpleasant environment for your cat. Fresh air and frequent scooping are the key to reducing odor.
  6. Your cat is unable to comfortably use the litter box. Many cat owners have trouble with a senior cat not using the litter box because they can’t get into or out of it comfortably. Try buying a litter box with lower sides or add a step to make it easier to access.
  7. There is an underlying medical problem. Incontinence and other urinary problems are a common symptom for underlying health problems which could cause your cat to stop using the litter box. You’ll learn more about these problems in the next section.

If you have recently brought a new cat into your home, you may need to take some time to train him to use the litter box or, at the very least, to teach him where it is located. If you’re having trouble with a new cat not using the litter box, try confining him to the room where you keep the box for a few days until he gets used to it and then expand his territory.

Medical Reasons that May Cause Litter Box Problems

Any time your cat exhibits a sudden change in behavior it is worth taking a closer look. Your cat can’t tell you when he is hurt or feeling sick, so it is up to you to read the signs he gives you. If your cat stops using the litter box and you haven’t made any significant changes, you should talk to your vet to investigate the possibility of an underlying health problem.

So, what kind of health problem might cause your cat to stop using the litter box? Here are a few:

  • Urinary Tract Infection – There are two primary urinary tract infections seen in cats – UTI and interstitial cystitis (bladder inflammation). These conditions make urinating painful for your cat and may also cause blood to appear in the urine. With these painful conditions, some cats will form a negative association with the litter box which may cause further issues.
  • Kidney or Bladder Problems – If your cat visits the litter box frequently but seems unable to pass urine, it could be an issue of kidney or bladder stones. Other possibilities include kidney failure or some kind of kidney or bladder blockage.
  • Intestinal Issues – Not all litter box problems are urinary – various intestinal issues can cause problems with your cat’s stool as well. Intestinal parasites (worms), inflammatory bowel disease, and impacted anal glands can all cause litter box problems.
  • Hyperthyroidism – This is a condition in which the thyroid gland produces excess thyroid hormone which can impact the function of various organs. If your cat’s hyperthyroidism is caused by thyroid tumors, he may end up drinking more water and needing to urinate more frequently – sometimes so urgently that he can’t make it to the litter box in time.
  • Diabetes – Many people don’t realize that animals can get diabetes, but it is possible and, in fact, is fairly common in old and overweight cats. In cats, diabetes causes the body to draw in more sugar which absorbs water, making your cat have to urinate more frequently. The excess sugar can also attract bacteria which may cause an infection that affects your cat’s urinary tract.

If your cat stops using the litter box and exhibits certain symptoms, it should be considered an emergency situation and you should take him to the vet right away. If he is straining to urinate, excessively licking his genital region, or passing blood in his urine you should seek veterinary care as soon as you possibly can.

The Best Cat Attracting Cat Litter

Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter

Description:

There’s no point buying a high-quality litter if your cat isn’t going to use it. With Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter, you have a two-in-one solution – it’s a high-quality litter that actually encourages your cat to use it. This hard-clumping, scoopable cat litter is the ultimate solution for cat owners whose cats have either stopped using the litter box or for kittens who need to be litter trained. It is blended with a natural herb attractant and features the ideal texture and particle size to appeal to your cat’s preferences. It is all-natural, 99% dust-free, and excellent for odor control. It is also a great choice for multi-cat households!

Key Features:

Blended with a natural herb attractant, hard-clumping and easy to scoop, 99% dust-free, excellent for odor control, great for multi-cat households

How to Use:

Use Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter like you would use any cat litter – follow these simple steps:

  1. Fill a clean, dry litter box with 3 to 4 inches of Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter.
  2. Scoop hard clumps daily to keep the litter box clean.
  3. Refill the litter box with clean litter as needed to maintain the right depth.
  4. Replace the entire box of litter once a month, disposing of the litter in the trash.

Many cat owners find that the simple act of replacing their current litter with Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter is enough to resolve their cat’s litter box problems. If you’re still having trouble, keep reading for some simple tips to follow to encourage your cat to start using the litter box once more.

Try These 5 Tips to Getting Your Cat to Use the Litter Box Again

The first step in getting your cat to use the litter box again is to replace your litter with Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter. From there, you can take simple steps to encourage your cat to start using the litter box again. Try these five simple tips:

  1. Throw out your old litter and replace it with Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter. This cat-attracting litter is blended with natural herbs to make the scent pleasing to cats, plus the texture and particle size is gentle on his paws.
  2. Keep the litter box as clean as possible. A dirty litter box is one of the top reasons cats stop using the litter box, so plan to scoop clumps on a daily basis and replace the litter completely once a month.
  3. Add another litter box. As a general rule, you should have one litter box per cat plus one extra – if your cat isn’t using the litter box, try adding another one in a different part of the house.
  4. Clean up messes as soon as they happen. If your cat has an accident, the scent might draw him to use that same area again so make sure to clean it up quickly with an odor-fighting, pet-friendly cleaner.
  5. Control odors and remove the hood (if you have one). Unpleasant litter box odors aren’t just offensive to you, they also affect your cat – to reduce odor, scoop often and remove the hood on your litter box, if you have one.

It can be quite a nuisance when your cat stops using the litter box. After all, one of the major benefits of choosing a cat over a dog is that they are very clean animals. Before you get angry at your cat, ask yourself whether there might be some kind of underlying problem worth investigating – talk to your vet to make sure there isn’t a medical cause for his change in behavior.

If your cat is healthy and just needs a little encouragement to start using the litter box again, switch to Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter and follow the tips we’ve provided above!

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