Keeping your Cats Happy with their Litterboxes

One of the leading complaints from cat owners about their cats is when they are using places other than the litter box to urinate or defecate. Cats are so easy to care for because they have their toilet habits conveniently confined to their litter box. It is a big inconvenience and problem when they go out of the box.

So why do cats go out of the box? It is actually for a number of reasons. There may also be more than one reason working on your cat at any time, so being aware of the possible reasons is important.

The leading reasons are Pain- when it hurts to urinate or defecate; the cat associates that with the litter box since this is where the pain is occurring. So they avoid what they think is causing the pain, seeking out other places. This is why there may be multiple spots where they are going although some may go in just one place. Infections, arthritis, impacted anal glands, constipation are just some reasons for pain and can only be discovered by a veterinary exam.

Fear is another reason – does a dog, person, loud noises occur at or near the box scaring the cat?

Cleanliness – cats want to put their urine and stool where there is not any. So when they see or smell it they really are looking for a clean place. If it is not clean they will go elsewhere. Strong odors repel cats so deodorizing pellets may deter the cat also. Boxes need to be scooped clean of all stool and urine daily.

Cats also have a need for their own box, food dishes and places to perch. Even if they share with other cats, they feel happier with a second box away from the first one.

Feliway is a product that can also help cats get back in the box if they are stressed about the  home.  It is available here.

At least half of litter box problems are medical, so bring your cat in for an exam as soon as they go out of the box. The longer the problem goes on no matter what it is due to, the longer it will take to correct it. If you have tried some of these suggestions and your cat is still not using the litter box consistantly, you need to schedule a behavior consult. You can call us to set up an appointment or take a look at some of the services we offer.