Tortie will not use the litterbox...at WITS END!

Hello: I am seeking help for my 4 year old torti, Lilly. She will not use the litterbox under any circumstances and I am at my wit's end. I have two other female cats (they all get along very well). They are all fixed and are all indoor cats. The other two cats are not torties and use the litterbox with no trouble. I have had a dozen cats in my life and have never had a cat that hasn't used a litterbox. I don't want to get rid of her, but something has got to change. I am about at the end of my rope.

Here's what I have done so far that has not worked:

1. Had her checked for health issues...there are none. Vet said, "Well, she's a tortie, they can be crazy. You just have to accept their behavior." Hundreds of $$$ in tests to get that diagnosis.

2. Moved the litter box to various locations, including the locations where she soils regularly. She just decided to soil somewhere else...but not in the litterbox.

3. Changed the size of the litterbox.

4. Changed types of litter.

5. Changed thickness of litter in the box.

6. Changed style of litterbox.

Does anyone else out in cat world have a tortie or any type of cat with this problem and found a solution? I really do not want to get rid of her, but she is ruining my house. I am desperate.

Oh yes, I forgot...I have tried sprays to stop her behavior and put down tin foil in the areas she soils...neither of those worked, either! What am I missing? There has to be a way to get her to stop this!

How long have you had her? Has she always had litter box issues? Is she declawed?

What does she use? 

There can be issues with declawed cats and kittylitter.

Has your vet done x-rays of her paws to see if she has issues there?

I would say that either your kitty is having pain in her paws and this is preventing her from wanting to use the litter box; or, she has come to associate the box with pain, this avoiding the box.

I've heard of some people using rodent bedding in litter boxes to accommodate declawed cats. It's a very soft material. This would be worth a try. I have also heard of people training the cat to use puppy training pads.

Hi, 

yeah, puppy training pads are worth a try. Also (although I probably don't have to ask that) while variating the litter box designs have you tried offering multiple boxes including topless boxes?

I have tried open and closed boxes...large and small. I have tried fresh step, tidy cat, arm & hammer, and a kind in a red bag the guaranteed it would make your cat use the litterbox...didn't work.
I don't think she has any physical issues with her paws...she walks and runs fine...likes to have the paws tickled...
I have read about isolation in a cage but that sounds kind of cruel!

You don't mention the number of litter boxes. Some cats refuse to share boxes. As crazy as it sounds, a pair of males at our shelter have had to have 5 boxes in their room, because they each need one to pee and one to poo, they won't share, and one won't reuse a box. They aren't the only ones at the shelter that won't share. With three cats, you probably need a minimum of four boxes. Some cats will pee in a covered box, but require an open one to poop.

Temporary isolation has worked for many people trying to retrain a cat. It doesn't have to be a cage, either. A small bathroom or pantry would be suitable, too, or even a walk-in closet.

The key to solving litterbox avoidance issue is to be methodical about it, understand why the cat is avoiding the litterbox and then fix the issue. Sometimes you have to follow up with re-training. It's great that you ruled out medical issues (though I have to say, her being a tortie does not have any relevance in this).

Here's a guide I wrote which puts together some of the articles we have on the topic. You can skip the vet check one and move on to the next steps. I think you may find some good tips in the litterbox articles and also in the stress-reduction ones.

Litterbox Problems in Cats - The Ultimate Guide