Because our house is large we put one litter box in the mudroom (first floor) and one in the master bedroom (second floor) for the new kitten. He's big enough now to go up and down the stairs during the night without us, and we are slowing weaning him off the upstairs litter box. We moved it down the hallway and showed him. He forgot, and in the morning he cried looking for it so I showed it to him again. We'll leave it there for a week or so and then keeping moving it closer to the other one. Cats are all different. My previous cat could have her box moved daily and it didn't phase her. This one isn't as sharp. We had the same issue with the butt hanging over the edge of the litter box (with the previous cat). We started using a mortar pan (available at HD) and that worked well. And larger container would work. I would take the litter box out of the bedroom and close the door. Put it right outside the bedroom. Slowing move it towards where you eventually want it to go.

We've had him since he was three months. He came to us in May and was ok until we attempted to make a litter change. We changed back but he continued the behavior. We actually do think that the Prozac is helping. This was happening multiple times per day, now it's not always every day. We are using the unscented So Phresh. He's known the other cats since birth. We did bring two home after him, but he had been with them previously. There was a bit of tension with the introduction, but all was good after 24 hrs. That was in June and this started in Aug. We haven't noticed any signs of tension and we've been looking for it. They all play together and interact. He usually poops/pees near a box and pretty close to a wall. We've never found it just out in the middle of the floor. A few times he's used more random spots, but always near a wall. We have boxes in multiple places in the house. We actually think that he's gotten it into his head that the floor is an ok substitute, which is why we were hoping that the retraining would work. And it did - while he was in the bathroom. I think it's very interesting that he found the spot on the floor where the towels had come apart and used that, not the towel. I taped them together last night. It seems random and I think that is the most puzzling and frustrating part for us and the vets. Sometimes he poops on the floor but doesn't pee, sometimes the opposite, sometimes he'll use the litter box consistently for more than 24 hours. We haven't been able to figure out the trigger for the times when he doesn't use it.

I think that going to the university is your best bet. These litter box aversions can be quite difficult to figure out. The longer this goes on, the more difficult it will be to change (as behavior turns into habit and habits become more and more set over time). It sounds like your veterinarians have done a really good job for Maverick so far. With the recommendation that you go to the university, they are telling you that they would like to refer him for care (and potentially additional diagnostic tests) that they are not able to provide. This isn't a failure on their part, it's actually an indication that you have good veterinarians who recognize the need for input from veterinary specialists. I know it seems like this started with a litter change, but the timing may just coincidental. If you go to the university, before getting into all things psychological, the veterinary behaviorist will probably revisit the possibility that this could be resulting from a medical problem. They may recommend additional diagnostic tests to rule out medical causes. This is a really good thing because, sometimes, medical causes can be quite tricky to diagnose and they can also be subtle. I suspect that, with five kitties, you have a fair amount of social stress in the household. This can also be really subtle and, as humans, we often miss things that are a really big deal to cats. Cats can experience a great deal of stress from very subtle things...it can be as subtle as the cats looking at each other wrong or for too long or where a certain cat hangs out. Just because they aren't obviously fighting doesn't mean there isn't significant stress. They may really not be getting along, in very subtle ways. I hope I can convince you to at least consider an outdoor cat enclosure. :-) These are secure structures, with a roof. They are often put on patios and contain litterboxes and multiple cat trees. You can hang bird feeders nearby, so the cats can watch birds (without the risk that they will catch a bird). It's not the same as letting your cats outside to roam (which is very unsafe). Properly constructed cat enclosures are safe and cats don't get dirty or anything in a nice cat enclosure. It's a form of environmental enrichment and most cats who are fortunate enough to have a cat enclosure really love it. I don't think this will solve Maverick's litter box aversion. I just think your cats (including Maverick) might really like it. Mine definitely like theirs. It was recommended to me by a veterinary behaviorist.

I know I started off this thread asking how often you clean your litter area, but I wanted to come back and update on the litter box. It was time for new ones. I looked at all the suggestions here and the measurements were too similar or exactly what I already had. (I wish they wouldn't slant the insides of most boxes!) Reviewers of the The Nature's Miracle ones were commenting how the plastic is now flimsy and the top breaks when changing litter. I still almost ordered the corner one because it was at least a litter wider than what I had. After doing a little more reseach I settled on this big mamma jamma. Meet the Petmate Giant Litter Pan. Petmate Lots of review photos, but someone submitted one with their five year old kid in the box to demonstrate the size! My child also fit in the box and was happy to test it out. :) People mentioned the photos just don't do it justice and they were surprised how large it was in real life. I found that to be true. I do wish the front wasn't curved and I'm not sure what I'll use the sides for. Perhaps a container of disinfectant wipes. The side areas are much wider and deeper than I expected as well. The plastic has Microban antimicrobial protection and is nice and thick. Even though the sides don't look like it from photos, they're high. The inside is shiny because I sprayed non-stick litter spray inside. (OT note - Walls aren't black they're BM Caponata.) I didn't buy one of those washer pans for underneath. I figure if pee does end up out of the box, whether floor or pan, I'll have to clean it up either way. I do want to get a new scatter mat. I saw a few that looked promising on Amazon. For now I put a puppy pad underneath. I see on the packaging it says there's 'built-in attractant' soooooo.... hopefully that's not an issue. Dogs and cats are different. I'll find out. I was going to order a washable one, but liked the idea of disposable in this case. Happy with my Litter Champ too. Love that the scoop hooks to the side and doesn't touch anything!