Cat litter box problems can look similar on the surface but have very different explanations. Start with the exact pattern you are seeing, then use the matching guide below to work through what to check and what to do next.
Peeing Outside the Litter Box
- Why Is My Cat Peeing Outside the Litter Box but Still Pooping in It?
- Why Is My Cat Peeing Right Next to the Litter Box?
- Why Is My Cat Peeing on My Bed but Still Using the Litter Box?
- Why Is My Cat Peeing Over the Edge of the Litter Box?
Pooping Outside the Litter Box
- Why Is My Cat Pooping Outside the Litter Box but Still Peeing in It?
- Why Is My Cat Pooping Right Next to the Litter Box?
Litter Box Setup, Litter Changes, and Preferences
- Why Won’t My Cat Use a Covered Litter Box?
- Why Won’t My Cat Use the Litter Box After I Changed the Litter?
- Why Does My Cat Use One Litter Box to Pee and Another to Poop?
If the change is sudden, painful-looking, or accompanied by straining, repeated trips with little or no urine, blood, vomiting, lethargy, appetite loss, or another significant behavior change, veterinary care may be appropriate. A male cat producing little or no urine can have a life-threatening urinary obstruction and needs urgent veterinary attention.