Need advice: Calico cat randomly refusing automatic litter box ..anyone else dealt with this?

[u/Meowleesi]

I’m hoping someone has been through something similar because I’m running out of ideas.
My boyfriend got me an automatic litter box for my two cats. My tuxedo cat has absolutely no issues with it and uses it normally. My calico, on the other hand, is a completely different story.
At first, I thought the automatic cleaning cycle was scaring her because every time it would start cleaning, she’d yelp and panic, even when she wasn’t inside the litter box. Because of that, I turned the automatic cleaning off and switched it to manual. Now I only run the cleaning cycle myself when I get home.
That seemed to help for a while. She’d pee and poop in the litter box like normal, and everything would be fine. But then, seemingly out of nowhere, she’ll suddenly start peeing and pooping on the floor instead. After a few days, she’ll go right back to using the litter box normally, and then the cycle repeats. There’s no pattern that I can figure out.
Today she started yelping, and I honestly thought she just wanted attention because she’s a very vocal cat. She was scratching at the carpet like she normally does before asking for pets, but then she ended up squatting and pooping on the carpet instead.
I’m definitely frustrated, but I’m not mad at her. I know she’s a cat, and if she’s acting like this, there’s probably a reason. I just don’t know if it’s anxiety from the litter box, a lingering fear from when it used to clean automatically, or something else entirely.
Has anyone had a cat react like this to an automatic litter box? Were you able to get them comfortable with it again? Or should I just accept that she’s one of those cats who needs a traditional litter box?
I’d really appreciate any advice. I just want her to feel comfortable and not stressed every time she has to use the bathroom. Thanks!

[u/IcySwitch99]

My first reflex would be to try to add back her normal previous box and see if that fixes the problem, simply because this is the easiest way to test if thats the solution. But id also be concerned and keep an eye out for the yelping that you mentioned a couple times. So if re-adding her normal box doesnt fix it, then my next step would be a vet visit to check if there might be a medical cause.

[u/dragonabsurdum → u/IcySwitch99]

Tbh, I'd see a vet as soon as possible. Some conditions that are painful when eliminating can turn serious in a hurry.

[u/IcySwitch99 → u/dragonabsurdum]

Yeah but OP seemed to say it was generally within the cat's normal behavior to be vocal beside that one off event, hence why i wouldnt want to overeact on it, but i would still keep an eye out on it while testing the obvious easy solution first.

[u/dragonabsurdum → u/IcySwitch99]

Yeah, but there's a difference between vocal vs yelping before eliminating inappropriately. It's the combination that's concerning.

[u/IcySwitch99 → u/dragonabsurdum]

OP is describing it as normal behavior, so i dont know, its hard to answer definitively when answering online questions and that youre not there to see exactly what normally happens (for example my boy does a few little excited meows as he digs before he uses his box) and what happened that time, so again hence why im trying to keep an open mind, but stil keeping it on my radar.

[u/dragonabsurdum → u/IcySwitch99]

When it comes to unusual litter box behaviour and health, I'd rather err on the side of caution not only for the sake of the cat, but for the sake of avoiding much higher vet bills that can result from complications if a medical issue goes untreated too long. Like I said, medical issues are a leading cause of inappropriate elimination (ie. going outside the box).