Start with a plastic liner to protect the litter box itself. Otherwise, the smells will eventually permanently reside in the litter box. The most common 'kitty litter' is actually simply clay. it absorbs smells and liquids effectively. Higher quality materials have more sophisticated odor control elements mixed in the clay.
"Clumping" litter can be scooped out, leaving the litter itself for a longer time in the litter box.
Litter & liner should be replaced at least every week, sooner if you have multiple cats or when using litter without odor controls.
Interesting note: Expect your cat to put the litterbox to use immediately each time you change the litter.
It might be a glitch as it would be unnatural for a cat to be on a litterbox for so long.
When its young, put it in the litterbox.
Get a smaller litterbox
Your cat may have bladder stones (this happened to me) and wants to find a comfortable place to urinate, as the litterbox is obviously less comfortable than a bed.
the cat is leaving its scent
Oh yeah!
one litterbox per cat
Baby Diaper Factory, The Giant Cat Litterbox,and BellaMarket! :)
you should teach your cat where its litterbox is
One of the most common reasons for this sort of behavior is urinary tract infection. It hurts the cat to urinate, the cat associates the hurt with the litter box, and starts trying to find someplace to urinate which makes it not hurt. Please take your cat to the vet and have this checked.
sad to say, but you rub their face in it and smack them and say no. or get them a litterbox and teach them..
A cat pooping outside the litter box might be due to a change in the cat's routine but it's probably best to take him to the vet to rule out any health issues.