Why is my cat hiding and not using the litter box in a small home?

Poor BB! I would recommend putting his litter box, food and water bowls, etc. in the room with the bed and leaving him alone with the door closed for now. He will eventually come out to eat, drink, and use the bathroom when things are quiet and he feels comfortable - many cats wait until nighttime when everyone is asleep to do this. A Feliway pheromone diffuser in the room may also help. It may take a week or two for him to be comfortable enough to come out from under the bed for more than a moment or two, so I would be patient for now and give him time to adjust. Once he's acting normal again, you can transition his food and water bowls, litter box, etc. to wherever you would like them to be in the long term :)

She is very unlikely to come out until she boosts get confidence, so earning her trust in the bedroom is most likely to be beneficial. It can be very helpful to confine on a half covered crate with bed and litter tray and handle frequently when offering small meals so she builds positive associations with you and uses tray

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/

That is perfectly normal. Your cat is likely afraid of the other cats in the household and the smell he is not used to and the new place. It would be best if your friend could keep your cat in a room separate from the other cats, so that he will feel safe to come out to eat and use the litter box.

Offer her a carboard box or a cat condo with a hiding place in it. It may entice her from under the bed. That she is coming out to sit with you is a good sign and I think, as she settles in to her new home, she will come out more and more. If you can entice her from under the bed and then limit her access to that room it may force her to seek a new hiding place of your choosing, but don't make a big deal out of it or it may make her want to hide more. Take your time and be patient, it may take some time for her to acclimate and get braver. She may be timid by nature. Move her food out of that room if it is practical to do so so that she needs to come out to eat. Even if no one is awake when she comes out to eat, it will still give her a chance to explore while everything is calm. Provide her with plenty of toys and see if she likes treats, you can use these to entice her out and reward her for getting braver. Make sure she has plenty of places to hide around the house, places to scratch and perch to look out the window. I had a very timid cat that hide for weeks when we moved but she eventually came out of her shell and ended up being even more playful and social that she had ever been before so it can be done. Good luck with your new friend!

That does seem odd. It is important to encourage her to use the litter box as holding the urine can increase the risk for a bladder infection. Cats are sensitive to the type of litter, size of the box and location of the box. If you have more cats, you need 1 litter box per cat + 1 additional box. You should also have a litter box on every floor of the house. This article discusses different types of litter and litter boxes: https://www.petcoach.co/article/cat-litter-finding-the-right-fit-for-your-cat/ In general though, cats prefer large, uncovered litter boxes, clay-based clumping litter that is scoped every day and a private, quiet location. If you have other cats or dogs, if they can access the litter box, it may cause your kitty to be afraid that she could be trapped in the box. Cats are a prey species in the wild and they still retain those instincts. Here is a great article about cat's instinctual needs: https://www.petcoach.co/article/why-every-cat-needs-a-place-to-climb/ Use a Feliway diffuser, set aside 30 minutes a day for vigorous play and/or switch the food to Royal Canin Calm. Most cats response best to combination therapy. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Feel free to ask as many questions as you like :-) Yes, that could cause her fear of the box, and may keep her from using it correctly. She may not like the cover on the box. I would set up two more litter boxes in the house without covers on them, show her where they are by placing her in them, and see if that helps with her using the box.