Litter Box

Litter Box Problems

If you live with a cat, you know how difficult it can be when the cat stops using the litter box. However, this is not in a cat’s nature, so you can assume she is trying to tell us something – either they are sick or upset. Getting your feline friend to the vet instantly is the first step. Urinary problems can be very serious – perhaps even life threatening for cats. Always rule out a medical problem before assuming it is a behavioral problem.

A very common reason for cats to stop using their litter box is because the box is not clean enough. Keep in mind that their idea of clean may be much more particular than you think. Cats are very sanitary animals and do not like a dirty box. They will find a clean spot that is usually a spot we don’t like. Keeping the litter scooped daily can usually help solve the problem. Also provide your kitty with another litter box somewhere, so that if you do lapse a little, he will have an appropriate alternative. Remember that if your cat is sick, the first signs usually show up in the litter box. Cleaning it daily will allow you to be able to spot a problem quickly.

Each cat has her own likes and dislikes, so make sure you provide her with a likeable box. Make sure the box is big enough for the cat. It may just be that he is not comfortable using the box. Cats do not always like the covers (the dome-like cover over a litter box). If the box is placed in a noisy public place, the cat may opt to go somewhere with more privacy such as a closet or bedroom. If your cat is used to a certain type of litter, it is usually not a good idea to try and switch. Try to stick with a litter that does not have a strong scent to it. Regular clay litter works well.

Environmentally, cats are extremely sensitive and can react to a change by urinating out of the box. This change could be subtle such as moving a piece of furniture or as obvious as a move or a new baby in the house. Once you determine your cat is healthy with your vet, retraining can be an option. To retrain your cat, you will need to confine him to a small area when you cannot be there to supervise - usually a bathroom or laundry room works well. Just remember to kitty proof the area so you don’t come home to a mess. Place the litter box in the room with other amenities such as water, bed, and toys. However, do not place these items too close to the litter box, as cats like to keep these activities separate. While you are not home, the cat will hopefully use the box because it has little choice of where to go. When you are home, you will want to show the cat the litter box occasionally in hopes of catching him going in the box so you may reinforce with a lot of praise and treats.

Refrain from punishing a cat for going to the bathroom outside of his litter box, as this may confuse the cat. Hitting the cat is counterproductive and will only cause more behavioral problems such as biting, nervousness, or hiding from you to go to the bathroom. Do not use a spray bottle or loud noise in this case because you do not want the cat to think that whenever he goes to the bathroom he will get misted with water or yelled at – even in the litter box.

If your cat does have an accident, clean it up with a product that neutralizes the odor. There are many such products on the market. Make sure you do not clean it up with anything that contains ammonia, as this is a component of urine and can encourage the cat to go there again.

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