Something changed — litter batch, a scented insert, the machine’s position, or the cat itself. Check the equipment variables, and call a vet, because a sudden change in toileting is one of the things they ask about.
A sudden stop after months of reliable use is different from a refusal at the start.
Equipment things that change without you noticing
A new batch of litter with a different texture, a scented deodorizing insert someone added, a machine moved during cleaning, a cycle delay reset after a power cut, or a drawer left a few days too long.
Check them in that order
Each is quick, and each is more likely than a machine fault.
The one that is not equipment
A cat that was reliable and is no longer is one of the signs vets specifically ask about. Make the call while you work through the list above — the two are not alternatives.
What not to do
Punish, or shut the cat in with the box. Both make an aversion worse.
Last reviewed 2026-08-17