Litter Box Issues

Litter Box Overview

It is instinctual for cats to dig in loose materials and bury their urine and feces. By the age of about four weeks, a kitten will start using a litter box for elimination if one is available. Kittens should be introduced to the litter box early. If your kitten goes outside the litter box, pick up the waste with a paper towel and put it in the box, and then help the kitten cover it up – this will help her catch on. Declawed cats can be more reluctant to dig in the litter, and may require a lighter litter. Older, handicapped, and injured catswill appreciate more and shallower litter boxes.

In addition, start monitoring your cat’s litter box behaviors, and be alert to any changes. When you scoop, check out the litter box contents. Also, occasionally watch your cat as she uses the litter box, as long as this doesn’t bother her. The urine amount emptied should be more than tiny; stools should be brown, not immediately hard, and not runny. Your cat should seem comfortable when using her litter box and digging in the litter. There is some room for natural variation in these behaviors – when in doubt, call your vet.

Litter Box Location

Location of the litter box is also important to your cat. The litter box needs to be in a quiet place without much traffic, and the cat must be able to have access to the location at all times. The litter box should not be close to the cat’s water and food bowls. Do not move the location of the litter box around: Your cat needs to know where it is at all times. Cats also need to have an escape route when using the litter box. They need to see what is coming, so that they can escape if they need to. Look at the location from the viewpoint of your cat. Can she see the doorway and most of the room the box is in? Avoid putting the box near anything that will startle the cat when in the litter box, such as large appliances. The litter box should not be in a hard to find place. The farthest reaches of your basement might be the most appealing location for you, but your cat needs to have the box available when it is needed. Some cats do not like to use an already soiled litter box, therefore more boxes in a variety of locations around your home may be required.

The litter box, or pan, should be shallow enough for the cat to jump in and out of, but the sides should be high enough to contain the litter when she digs in it. Commercially sold litter boxes are fine. You will also need to consider whether to use a covered or uncovered litter box, as many cats do not like covered litter boxes. There should be 1 litter pan per cat, plus 1 extra. If your cat is new to your home, she will need you to show her where the litter box is located. Cats are fastidious and have a keen sense of smell, so it is best to keep the litter box as clean as possible. If you can, remove the waste at least twice daily.

The type of litter you use in the litter box can also be a contributor to a litter box problem. Unscented scoopable litter is the best choice; the fine texture of this type of litter is more like what your cat would choose out in the wild. Cats do not like the perfumes in scented litters and can choose to find a more appealing place to eliminate. Each litter box should be scooped out on a daily basis and completely cleaned out once a week. Clean out litter boxes with mild unscented soap, wash out with a solution of one part bleach and twenty parts water, then rinse thoroughly. For the best possible results, replace old litter boxes every three months. Finally, never place the litter pan near the cat’s food.

Litter Box Problems

First and most important, improper elimination can be an indication of a serious illness, and your cat should be checked by your veterinarian for any health problems that could be causing this behavior. Your veterinarian might even recommend blood work tests and urine culture tests, which are perfectly normal to rule out any medical issues. Assuming your cat does not have a medical- or health-related issue, there are several things that can be done to help with a cat who does not use the litter box. Stress or a past illness could also be a trigger for a litter box problem. Occasionally a cat who has had a medical problem that caused pain when eliminating may associate the pain with the litter box. If you want your cat to overcome her problems with the litter box, never hit or rub her nose in urine or feces to discipline her for improper elimination – this will teach your cat to be afraid of you. Clean any soiled area with an enzyme-based deodorizer available at pet stores to eliminate the smell which could attract future elimination in the area.

Retraining Your Cat to Use the Litter Box

Retraining is necessary when the above remedies do not work. To retrain your cat to use the litter box, you will need to have a wire mesh cage or kennel that is big enough for food, water, a litter box and a place for the cat to stretch out. Put down some towels so your cat can be comfortable. This is not a place to be used as punishment. It is a comfortable home for your cat while learning to use the litter box. When you cat is consistently using the litter box, let him or her out loose in the house for an hour or so. Over a period of weeks or months, gradually increase the amount of free time in the home.

If you have any questions or problems, please call the Tree House Behavior Counselor at 773-784-5488 ext.228.

 

 

 

Copyright 2005 by Tree House Animal Foundation. All rights reserved.