My cat refuses to use a new automatic litter box
Cats often refuse to step into a new automatic or two-tier litter box, opting to lie next to it or jump out immediately if placed inside. This resistance leaves owners worried that their pet will stubbornly hold their waste or start going to the bathroom elsewhere in the home.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Placing the automatic box right next to the old litter boxDid this help you?
- 2Adding old litter to the automatic box to familiarize the cat with the scentDid this help you?
- 3Giving treats and praise near the new boxDid this help you?
- 4Using litter attractant and catnipDid this help you?
- 5Stopping cleaning the old box so the cat is forced to use the new oneDid this help you?
- 6Catching the cats and placing them manually on the top tier before they pottyDid this help you?
- 7Installing a jump pad or ordering a staircase for easier accessDid this help you?
- 8Moving the setup away from a low ceiling so cats have enough headroom for their preferred posesDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Hi there, I really need any advice or tips when it comes to helping your cat adjust to a new automatic litterbox.”source ↗
“It’s been 6 days now and he refuses to use it or even get in it.”source ↗
“We have a dog that stays downstairs that eats cat poop and we are limited on storage upstair (which is why I made the poop hotel)”source ↗
“I’m just so nervous that Dutch is stubborn enough to hold it in or go somewhere else in our apartment lol.”source ↗
“The issue im having now is my cats wont use the top section- and they just lay next to it???”source ↗
“I have been trying to catch them before using the potty so I can place them on the top litter box instead… but they jump off immediately.”source ↗
“Has anyone successfully used a 2 tier litter box before? How can I get them to utilize the top box as well.”source ↗