My cat needs to go! What can I use as an emergency litter box?

If you don't have money to purchase several litter boxes, you can use things like lasagna pans or even like small, shallow cardboard boxes that cans of cat food come in. Either of these are suitable containers for holding cat litter. The best way to train cats to use the litter box is to confine them to smaller areas with litter boxes until they are using them with regularity. Once they are, consider expanding the area of freedom slowly day by day until you are confident in their ability to go to the bathroom in the appropriate location.

Best thing to do is to get a long, shallow plastic storage container (obviously just the box and not the lid) like the ones you get to store things under the bed. Seems to work the best. Cats like it because it is long. ( https://www.walmart.com/ip/Homz-60-Quart-Twin-King-Under-Bed-Clear-Latching-Storage-set-of-2/40977741 ) Other option is to take a regular large storage container and cut a hole in it on the side so he can go in/out. You can make it any size you want. Here is an example: ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JaVrsy-RgY ) Remember, the more shallow it is for him to get in effectively, the higher chance litter will be scattered everywhere..... Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hi there. Most cats prefer an unscented clumping litter with a fine, sand-like texture - so I would recommend offering something like this. The litter box should be large with low sides, so it's easy for her to get in. If you try this and she still has no interest in using the litter box, then you may need to observe what type of surface she prefers to potty on and use something similar to this in her litter box.

I'm so sorry that you're dealing with this with scruff. I would consider Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter (https://www.drelseys.com/shop/cat-attract/) or additive (https://www.drelseys.com/shop/ultra-litter-attractant/). I would also consider covering part of a litterbox in sand or dirt to attract Scruff if she is used to going outside. Some cats hate covered litter boxes and some love them. I would try to use the hints of where Scruff is going to try to replicate those conditions in the litterbox. If she is going in the bath tub or on a tile floor, then leave half of the litter box empty for her go on a hard surface. If she likes soft surfaces, then try shredded paper or a soft paper litter. I would also consider something like Yesterdays News because kittens often like to dig in it (https://www.yesterdaysnews.com/Products/CatLitter.aspx). Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Feline Pine and Yesterday's News are both more "pellet-like" options. I actually like these two brands a lot as they have the added benefit of not containing any additives or chemicals. Good luck! Thanks for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

That's a tough situation. Unfortunately, short of keeping Honey inside, there really isn't anything you can do. Cats develop substrate preferences, and Honey appears to like dirt, so you can make litter boxes for her inside filled with a mixture of dirt and sand. However, I suspect the outside litter box/garden will still be more appealing to her.

I love that you have already switched to the unscented litter as that can be a big problem for many cats. Putting the litter box in the shower is a great idea. I would also make sure to clean up the spots he went outside the litterbox using an enzymatic pet stain cleaner to ensure he does not keep smelling urine/feces there and think that it is akin to a litterbox. Other things, like cleaning the litter box often, having multiple litterboxes which are different types of boxes, and trying different types of litter (such as fine-grain litter) may also help you figure out what type of litter Mittens likes. While it certainly sounds like Mittens is having trouble getting used to his new litterbox, it is important to remember that internal diseases (like organ, hormonal, or orthopedic diseases, among other possible causes) can cause Mittens to have a hard time making it into the litterbox so it is important to take Mittens to your vet for evaluation to make sure we are not missing something else that is making it hard for Mittens to make it to the litterbox. I have attached a link to an article with more great suggestions below. Good luck! https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-train-your-cat-to-use-a-litter-box/