Why does my cat always make a mess pulling litter from the box?

Hello. Some kitties are just very exuberant diggers, & perhaps Mella is just searching for a familiar odor that is removed with the new litter. I do not think you will be able to change her behavior, but you may help keep things neater by using a litter box with higher sides, or switching to a box with a cover. At least this way the litter stays in the box while she happily digs through it. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

You most likely cannot change to habits of LB in the litter box but you could invest in a litter box with a lid or higher sides. This will help keep the litter inside the box and less messy. Hope that helps

Thanks for more information on Frejya! It could be that there are too many cats using two litter boxes. It's recommended that each cat has their own litter box, plus one; therefore, if you have five cats, you should have six boxes. You are doing exactly right by scooping them every day and fully cleaning them once a week. I would try setting up at least two different litter boxes in separate areas of your home to see if that helps the problem. She may just want to use a box that isn't used to every other cat in the home. Cats can be extremely finicky about litter boxes, and will often refuse to use a box if too many cats are also using it. Try this first to see if that helps with her eliminating outside the box. If it doesn't, then I would take her into the vet for an exam to see if there is a medical cause behind this behavior.

It sounds like your new cat may be a digger! I highly recommend purchasing a litter box that has tall sides or an enclosed lid to help keep the litter better contained. You can also place a litter matter under it to help catch any litter that may be falling out. If you've only gotten her today she's likely still adjusting to her new home. I would give her a few weeks to settle in completely. If she doesn't go potty at all in the next day or so, or seems ill or in distress, a vet visit is also a good idea (and is a good idea with any new pet regardless!)

Hello, thank you for your question about Eevee. Since Eevee is still young it is possible that she is still learning how to use the litterbox effectively without creating a mess. However, this could also be a sign of an underlying problem. If she is having small frequent urinations or urinations in an abnormal place it is possible that she may have a UTI. If possible I would recommend having her seen by her veterinarian to rule out that there is an underlying problem. One other thing to try would be switching the type of litter that is used. There are litters that are made with substances other than clay - some out of paper or pellets. These may prevent Eevvee from making such a mess in the house. Hope this helps, good luck!

It is best to try a long tupperware like the under-the-bed sweater box ( see the one linked below) for a litter box. All the studies done show that cats prefer to have a litter box that is 1-1/2 times their length. See if this helps. I would also recommend using some Feliway diffusers especially in the room that contains the litter box (es). If all this fails, I suggest you take Crispy to your vet for an exam and fecal test to check for any abnormalities. https://www.walmart.com/ip/IRIS-USA-41-Quart-Underbed-Plastic-Storage-Box-Clear/54515534 https://www.feliway.com/us/Products/FELIWAY-CLASSIC-Diffuser

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.