I've had my cat for about four months now. When I got him he was already potty trained and was very good about using his litter box and covering it. Lately he has taken to not covering at all. He will get out of the box and try to cover it with the newspaper surrounding the box. I've tried putting him back and making him clean up but he just doesn't. I don't know what to do or what made him change his behavior. Any ideas?
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My cat won't clean up after himself
- Thread starter jme012
- Start Date
Have you changed litter? Is he clawed or declawed? My declawed cat won't cover if the litter isn't a very fine variety.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #3
Changing to different types of litter all the time could be the problem. My vet suggested we find one type of litter and stick with it. If you keep switching types and brands your cat might not be happy and avoid the box. You also might want to get a litter mat for under the box instead of newspaper. It's less messy and traps the litter instead of it ending up on the floor.
Here's the one I have, but they sell similar things at pet stores.
http://www.amazon.com/LitterMaid-LMC...ef=pd_sim_hg_4
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You could try a larger box or a covered box. Some cats just don't cover or make much effort to do so. Sometimes it can be a sign of dominance, though I think a lot of times it's just that the cat can't be bothered. (sort of think of it as all of the people who do not put the toilet lid down before flushing -yuck!) The other solution, and one that works the best, is to have another cat in the house that is obsessive about covering.
I have a cat that doesn't cover at all, and one that covers everyone elses poos - it works out.
I have a cat that doesn't cover at all, and one that covers everyone elses poos - it works out.
What litter did you change into? And how did you change it?
Usually you start adding a little of the new litter onto the old... Little by little you refill with the new one until you only have the new litter...
Here is the thing with litter though: When things are working well with a litter, you leave it alone... you don't change it just to change...
Covered litterboxes can make the problem even worst IMO - your kitty can abandon the box once and for all, and if this happens, to bring her back will be a fight - a big one...
I suggest go back to the old litter, and start mixing the new one little by little...
Good luck!
Usually you start adding a little of the new litter onto the old... Little by little you refill with the new one until you only have the new litter...
Here is the thing with litter though: When things are working well with a litter, you leave it alone... you don't change it just to change...
Covered litterboxes can make the problem even worst IMO - your kitty can abandon the box once and for all, and if this happens, to bring her back will be a fight - a big one...
I suggest go back to the old litter, and start mixing the new one little by little...
Good luck!
My 12 year old male cat DOES NOT cover his poop/pee very often. He scratches the side of the box like he is covering it but of course that does not cover it
He has been doing this forever.
It almost sounds like your cat does not like this litter. B/c he does his business and then gets out of the box to try and cover it up???
It almost sounds like your cat does not like this litter. B/c he does his business and then gets out of the box to try and cover it up???
One other thing, you might want to go to 2 boxes. Some kitties like to poop and pee in separate places. Also, find a litter and stick with it. When you change, do it very gradually over a 3 or 4 week period.
I would definitely try a specific litter, and regularly clean/scoop it every day. Just as we don't enjoy using a filthy public bathroom, they don't want to dig around in dirty kitty litter.......
