If the cat is not using the litter box, try the following:

• First and foremost – get your cat TO THE VET for a check up!!!!! If the cat has any type of urinary infection, it HURTS to pee!  They,being cats, not humans, associate the pain with the litterbox and therefore, will not use it.

If your vet says your cat is healthy, proceed with the following…

• Pick up the stool and place it into the litter box.
• Pick up anything on the floor that the cat may try to hide their urine or stool in.
• Cats will search out any “soft” area or place to pee or deposit their stool. If they are going on your bed, restrict access to it.
•   If your cat is indoor/outdoor – STOP letting it out!  To the cat what is acceptable outdoors is also acceptable indoors. 
• Put the cat back in one room and put a litter box in each corner of the room – for some reason, they like to find the corners.
• If necessary, put the cat in a small bathroom, laundry room, or a dog crate and literally almost cover the floor with litter boxes (cardboard boxes cut down to a 1” high size will do) until they learn to use the box.  Try Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract Litter (there are great tips included).
• Add leaves, dirt or tree bark to the litter.
• Change litters (clay, sandy litter, recycled newspaper, unscented).
• If they urinate in the same spot over and over, place their food there, cut out the carpet if you can, or place their litter box there.
• Cats hate the smell of rubber backing on throw carpets – get rid of them.
•   Has another cat already marked all these spots?
•    Is another cat chasing them away or blocking their path to the litterbox?
• Is the box on an outside porch where other cats or birds could be scaring them?
• Is another cat ALWAYS using the box first?  They may not like that.
• Is the box clean? Some cats refuse to use a “used” box, you may have to buy one or two more litter boxes – still easier than constant cleaning.
•   Try a rubber litter box, not a plastic one, filled with unscented litter, such as Petsmart’s ExquisiCat (this tip came from an adopter of ours that said it cured her problem of the cat not using the box)
• Have you had a new addition to the family? Did someone move in or move out? The cat may need some extra attention.
• Did you change foods?
• Did you get new carpeting?
• Are you absolutely positive which cat it is (if you have multiple cats).
• Try changing the entire litter box more often, some cats will only use a litter box when it is absolutely clean!
• Are they not used to a covered litter box? Take the top off. Check out the shape of the top of a covered litter box – sometimes a cat will associate that with a carrier and refuse to get in it.
•    Is the litter box near something noisy? Something that is only occasionally noisy?  Something smelly?  Is it through a door?  Is it difficult to get to?
• Is the box in a place where you then lock them in for the night? Well, of course, they’ll only fall for that one so many times!  Cut it out!
• If the cat is a kitten try this.  Feed them as usual.  Immediately after the feeding, take the kitten and place him or her in their litter box and wait.  If they do not have a bowel movement, take a small piece of a rag, place them back in the litter box and gently stimulate their backside until they pee or defecate.  They will very quickly get the concept – cats are very smart!!!!!
• Have you been traveling a lot?  Cats crave attention – the chemicals in urine seem to comfort cats while they wait.  They may need a buddy or a house sitter while you are gone.
• Be honest – is someone in the house irritating or hurting the cat? Are you fighting a lot? Are your kids a little too rambunctious or rough? 
• Cats also urinate to create a comfortable scent amidst competing unpleasant scents.  It is possible that your cat detects an offensive odor emanating from something new in the house and is trying to cover it.
• Place two litter boxes next to each other and do comparisons – fill one with one type of litter and the 2^nd with another litter.  Use one taller one and one shorter one, one covered and the other uncovered, put cat nip in one and not the other – compare!  See what the cat does. 

And last, if the problem continues, SEE your VET again!  This may be a medical problem and CALL US!!!  We are here to help!