My cat stopped using litter box. Is it okay if he only goes outside?

That could be tough. You can try taking away the litter box for short periods of time. Make sure he has access to the outside. If everything seems to be going well, gradually length in the amount of time the litter box is removed. Be careful though, he may find another place to go inside the house. You could also try gradually moving the litter box to the door from its current location. And then move the litter box outside the door. Then take it away. Of course he would still need to watched that he is not finding an alternative place to go in the house. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Yes, no problem but consider that if you need to keep him indoor in the future (even for few days), and he is not trained to use the litter tray, he might urinate/defecate in inappropriate places within the house. Hopefully will never happen but consider that won't be possible to check for any change in urine/feces pattern or appearance in case Oliver get sick (i.e. diarrhea, urine tract infection,..). Please post again on the forum or request a consultation if you would like to discuss it any further.

It’s impossible to know why Snoops is doing this but he must have either gotten used to it or he decided he liked the experience. This is actually not unusual for cats. At some point his tastes may change and he may begin going outside again but until then, keep the litter box available. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Yes, even if a cat spends most of his time outdoors it is a good idea to have a littler box available Incase he has to go while he is indoors. If no box is available he will likely choose a spot which is not desirable! Good luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Yes, i would definitely recommend offering him a litter tray and possibly also a coveted, three sided sand tray in a quiet section of the garden. Urine retention and stress is a concern in cats and a trigger for significant inflammation and blockage so should be minimised as much as possible

Inappropriate elimination in cats is often a behavioral problem rather than a medical problem, so the first step is to have him seen by your vet to eliminate any kind of illness or condition as a cause for his defecating outside the box. Once medical issues are ruled out, take a look at other explanations. Has there been a lot of activity that wasn't normal? Were you away and your cat was left at home or boarded? Is the litterbox located in a busy area? Has anything happened recently in this area to make him reluctant to use it again? Is there another cat, pet or person that is preventing him from getting to the box? Have you changed it from a hooded to an open box, or vice versa? Have you changed the brand of litter or kind? Is there something about the spot he has chosen to use that is attracting him in some way? Cats dislike disturbances to their routine and may act out to express their dissatisfaction. The litter box may not be big enough. The general rule of thumb is one litter box per cat in the household, plus one. That way each cat can have a place of their own to go in case the box is occupied or another cat has claimed it as territory. They should be scooped daily, if not more often and changed completely weekly washed with soap and water only. You can also offer one kind of litter in one box and another kind in another to see if there is a preference. I don't recommend the crystal kind, it makes a hissing sound when wet that can startle some cats and make them reluctant to use it again. The litter boxes should be located in a quiet, low-traffic area so that the cat can use them in peace. Make sure any other pets or people aren't giving them a hard time around or in the litter box. It may take some investigation and experimentation to find your cat's preference and accommodate him so that everyone is satisfied with the situation. And, when cleaning up pet accidents, don’t use any cleaner containing ammonia. This leaves behind a scent similar to urine

I would give Ostin a few days to settle down and get used to being inside. If he hasn't used his litter box, bringing him to it so he can explore it, or bringing in a little substrate he prefers to go potty in (such as some dirt from the garden) and mixing it with the litter may make it more obvious to him where he needs to go. If he continues to act lethargic, doesn't use the bathroom at all, or shows other signs of illness, an exam with your vet is best to make sure there isn't anything else going on.