Tidy Cats Cat Behavior & Training FAQs

Cats avoid the litter box for a number of different reasons. It's important to keep in mind, your cat is not being spiteful when they go outside of the litter box. Their behavior is their way of communicating that something is not right for them. It could be as simple as you may need to clean their box more frequently, put the box in a more accessible location or as serious as they are having a health emergency that makes going inside the litter box painful. Get Tidy’s inside scoop on cat litter box behavior and some litter box tips. If the problem persists, check with your veterinarian in case there’s a medical reason your cat’s bathroom behavior changed. 

Cats prefer to use a clean litter box with no obstructions. Not cleaning the box often enough can be stressful for your cat and affect their elimination behavior. That's why Tidy recommends scooping solid waste daily from the Tidy Cats cat litter. Every week or so, dump out the entire box and wash with warm, soapy water. When you refill, be sure to use at least 2-3 inches of non-clumping cat litter or 3-4 inches of clumping litter to allow your cat plenty of room to dig and bury. Learn more about the do’s and don’ts of cat litter. 

Training a kitten to use the litter box can be easier than it seems! First, pick the right size litter box (not too big or hard to access!) and the right litter for your kitten. (Non-clumping litter, or the Breeze system are both excellent options). Next, be sure to achieve a good balance of access and privacy- place it somewhere they can get to it easily, but not too out in the open where they’ll feel uncomfortable. It can help to restrict how much of the house your kitten can roam around in so that they don't find themselves too far from the box when they have to go. Encouraging them to stay close to the box right after meals/drinking can also help them be successful. Finally, show your cat around the box. Introduce them to it, and if they don’t enter it on their own, gently place them inside it. Be sure to reward good litter box usage and show understanding when accidents happen- they're kittens, after all! Read our litter box tips and learn more about litter training your kitten. 

Cats are likely to spray if they feel the need to mark their territory. Look for changes in their environment, inside and outside the home that could be causing them stress. If your cat is spraying on areas that lead outside, such as door and window frames, they could be frightened by something they saw outside. If the spraying occurs on chair legs, tables, etc., it could mean that they’re feeling insecure. To stop this behavior, don’t reprimand or punish- that will only stress them more. Instead, foster an environment of support for them, by securing their spaces from other cats, slowly adapting them in the case of a move or even just leaving a toy for them in all the rooms they visit to help them feel safe.  

Cats also tend to mark their environment in other ways (by rubbing the scent glands on their face/base of their tail, or scratching). Be sure to provide appropriate opportunities for your cat to mark in these ways (with scratching posts, beds, and toys) to allow your cat to feel more secure and less likely to resort to urine spraying. Learn more about why cats spray.