Litter box avoidance and inappropriate elimination are the biggest bone of contention between cats and their humans.  A cats sudden avoidance of the litter box, and urinating or defecating in other areas of the home, could signify a medical problem, or, in the case of marking behavior, that your cat is trying to tell you something. 

Punishing your cat is never the answer and it will not solve the problem.  It will only cause the kitty to avoid doing anything in your presence.  It could actually make the problem worse, since inappropriate elimination is often caused by stress, and punishing her will only add to her stress level. 

If your cat is urinating outside of the box first schedule an appointment with her veterinarian to rule out a urinary tract disease.  There are disorders and diseases affecting the urinary tract, and colon disorders, such as irritable bowel disease, that can cause inappropriate elimination.  Symptoms include frequent voiding, straining at the end of urination, and blood in the urine.  If you notice any of these symptoms have your cat seen by his or her veterinarian immediately.  Especially in a male cat this could be life threatening. 

Once you rule out a physical problem, then you need to do a little detective work to get to the bottom of what's fussing your feline.  Think back to when you noticed the problems first started.  Was there any sudden change in or around the household?  A new baby?  A new pet?  A loss of another pet?  Construction or loud noises in or around the house?  Strangers coming and going?  Where the cat's litter box has been - was it suddenly moved?  Could something have scared the cat when he/she went to use the box - something fall, loud noise, being attacked by another pet ?  Many people like to keep the litter box away from the main area of the house - for good reason - but it may not be located in an area the cat would choose.  If it's in the laundry room - the noise of the washer or rattling of the dryer may scare the cat - remember their ears are far more sensitive to noise than ours.  Their noses are also much more sensitive - so be aware of cleaning the litter box!  Cat's have a natural sense of cleanliness - so if you think the box smells bad, imagine how it smells to your cat.  Don't use harsh chemicals to clean the box - plain soap and water (with a little vinegar if needed) is all you need.  Strong cleaning smells may cause the cat to avoid the box.  Also, avoid strong scented cat litters - you may like the smell of "fresh linen" but your cat my find it offensive!

Location- location-location.  It's everything to a cat.  If she doesn't like where it is, she may not use it.  Never place a litter box too close to her food or water.  Cats don't like to eat and eliminate in the same area.  If the box is too far away - she likes to sleep on the 3rd floor and the box is in the basement - maybe she can't get there in time, or she may think it's too much bother.  Cats like quiet, safe, private places to do their business -- so if you have a noisy hot water heater or furnace....consider moving the box somewhere quiet.

Change the litter.  Have you switched to a new type of litter?  Cats don't care for change - they like familiar.  What appeals to one cat may not appeal to another - so keep using the same litter.  Remember the saying, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".  If your cat was used to going outside and suddenly finds himself an indoor-only cat - try mixing in some dirt or sand into the box, what he may have been familiar digging in outdoors. 

Box size and shape.  If for some reason your cat doesn't like the box, she may not use it.  Some don't like hooded boxes, some are fussy about how high the sides are, or even how deep the litter is.  Experiment to find out what she likes. 

If you continue to have problems - don't get frustrated with the cat.  Call a professional.  99.9% of all problems can be solved - but patience is the key.  Contact your veterinarian, or contact us for a referral to a behavior specialist. 

Next time:  how to help an abused cat recover