Senior cat litter box problems happen all too often and aren t necessarily a reflection of the cat s previous habits.
Senior cat not using litter box.
For instance if your kitty likes tile leave the bottom of the litter box bare.
If so if you notice that your cat avoids the litter box this may be the reason.
Some cats especially senior cats are just too sore to get in and out of the litter box.
Whether your cat failed to learn faithful toilet etiquette as a kitten or simply developed litter box problems as it got older such issues are common with advancing age.
Spondylosis deformans a spinal condition that more commonly occurs in senior pets.
An older cat may eliminate outside the litter box even if he is neutered.
General cognitive decline along with a vision or hearing loss may make it difficult for your cat to locate and use the box.
Cat has a medical issue.
Cat is not litter box trained.
Too much or too little litter in the litter box.
Degenerative joint disease various forms of arthritis cancer.
Maybe a senior cat not using a litter box involves a hearing problem or vision loss.
A cat with arthritis may struggle to climb over the sides of a deep tray and eventually give up trying altogether.
Cat is not spayed or neutered.
Cat doesn t like litter box type.
If it targets paper line the bottom of the box with paper.
Switching types of litter too often.
Take a look at the surface where your cat prefers to defecate and try duplicating that surface in the litter box.
Some senior felines never have any litter box problems.
Cats not using the litter box or spraying around the house do this during the mating season or simply to mark his territory.
Cat doesn t like type of litter.
Common possible reasons for a cat not using the litter box.
This behavior is less likely to happen in older cats as older cats even if not neutered are less active and less aggressive.
A senior cat not using the litter box could be caused by a variety of medical issues but common ones include.