Dirty Cat Clean Cat...what gives

Two issues.  Stray cat has been with me since July.  Was originally outside cat but has slowly worked his way inside on occasion. So, I put out a litter box to just see if he would use it.  The cat will get in the litter box and act like he is playing, laying down in it.  He loves dirt.  Outside he constantly is playing in the dirt.  So, one- how can I get the cat to understand the litter box is not for play (he's not a kitten but I don't think not a full year old yet). 

Secondly, oddly enough the cat constantly grooms himself and I have noticed a few places on him that over the last few weeks looks like he has licked himself raw.  How do I get the cat to stop cleaning himself so much?

The cat is neutered and is up to date on all shots, etc. with no problems and has been given regular flea treatments.

If he is still going out, he probably prefers to do his business outside and sees the litter box as his personal indoor sandbox to play in.  If you were planning on keeping him inside, you might try using Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter in the box, as that has an attractant that seems to work on most cats. 

As for the raw spots, this is the time of year many people and cats develop "seasonal allergies" and your cat may have that.  I have one that does, and he gets scaly patches, licks of the scales and has raw and oozing sores underneath.  In the past I have gotten him a shot of depo-medrol (long acting steroid) at the vet.  This year we seem to have gotten through it with must using Zyrtec once daily, 1/4 tablet.  It usually passes when the weather turns cool, but that has not yet happened here in Georgia.

Thank you for your reply! I'd love to think I'm super lucky and he will be housetrained! Will see if he's got an allergy problem! I feel better already!