Senior Cats and House Soiling

Why is my cat no longer using its litter box? Cat soiling in the house is one of the most talked about issues for pet owners.

- Theresa Gleason EdD., MS.

The obvious reasons may range from a medical problem to cats not liking their litter, where the litter box is placed in the house, or the litter box itself. It is important to consider several potential motivators to house soiling, including age. For instance, we should think about when the soiling began and how it has progressed over time.1 Figuring out what your cat is trying to tell you may involve putting on your detective hat to uncover any and all possibilities that may contribute to the soiling behavior. In this article, we will discuss some considerations to help understand why a cat may choose to stop using a litter box. Factors to consider are physical and/or biologic changes, the floor plan of the home, the location of the soiling as compared to the location of the litter box, and when it may be time to use medications. While unbelievably frustrating, the senior cat is trying to communicate its preference when soiling outside the litter box. It is up to pet owners to decipher the code. The first step is a visit to the veterinarian to rule out a medical condition.

Physical Examination

If you have more than one cat, hopefully you have figured out which one is soiling. If not, work with your veterinarian, who can prescribe a non-toxic identifier that will show up in urine or feces to determine the culprit. After you have identified the cat, it is important to have a physical exam and (if indicated) diagnostic testing. Because cats often do not show symptoms of illness,1 diagnostic tests will help to pinpoint a medical issue. In a longitudinal study reported by Morier, et al., (2024), frequent veterinary physical assessments are valuable in otherwise healthy senior cats age seven years or greater to detect non-apparent disease to provide early intervention.2