They may dig or even urinate or defecate beside the box. They may cry or meow on the way to the box, or may quickly run out of it as soon as they are done. Alternately, your cat may not have an aversion to the litter box, but simply may have found a substrate it likes better. This is often seen when a cat defecates inside the box but urinates outside it or vice versa. It is more commonly seen with urination rather than with defecation.
Many cats prefer soft surfaces such as towels, bedding, clothing, or carpeting.
Others like smooth surfaces such as bathtubs, sinks, linoleum, or wood floors. Usually your cat will choose areas that are quiet and secluded. Once your cat has begun to use an area inappropriately, it continues to use that area because of the odor there. When the odor gets too strong, your cat will typically move to an area nearby. Emotional causes of litter box problems are rare, although they do occur.