Pet Tech and Transport LLC

Terry Kelley CVT, CPDT, CAP1
First Published in Hudson Litchfield News, January 23, 2009

"Tails" from the Litter Box

Cats! They purr, they cuddle, and they rub up against us, soothing our frayed nerves after a hard day at work. We love them for their independence and living life on their terms. But when they start having litter box problems that is where trouble begins.

Elimination Issues

When kitty starts to have accidents outside of the litter box, you need to determine if this is normal urination, a medical issue or territorial scent marking also known as “spraying”. First, if your kitty has a change in her hygiene behavior it is wise to have her examined by your veterinarian to rule out possible health issues immediately.

Failure to use the litter box is one of the top three reasons, felines are surrendered to shelters. Most of the time, this issue could be remedied if owners invested a little time and detective work into solving their problem.

Urine or stool accidents can result from having a litter box that is too small for the cat, a cat that is having a medical issue such as a urinary tract infection, arthritis, diabetes and other health problems.

If the urine or stool is located right outside or next to the litter box, it may be just a normal accident. Often cats are actually in the box, but squatting near an edge. When they urinate, the urine flows over and outside of the box. The same thing can occur with bowel movements. A simple remedy to this problem is to buy the largest litter box you can find, so kitty has plenty of space to move around and eliminate. My favorite solution is to buy one of those large, inexpensive, plastic storage boxes with high sides (at least 10 inches) and use it for a new litter box. Cut an 8 inch wide opening in one of the long sides, about 4 inches up from the bottom, fill with litter and voila! Your problem may be solved.

Cats experiencing medical issues such as urinary tract infections may need to eliminate frequently and often cannot hold their urine. Aging cats, suffering from arthritis, may not be able to climb into their litter box due to stiff joints and pain. Senior cats could be suffering from cognitive issues and forget their house training.

Litter Box Etiquette

Studies and years of living with felines have shown they certainly know what they want in life. The sooner you address a litter box issue, the more likely you will be able to prevent it from occurring again. However, if your cat has been urinating or defecating outside of the approved box, then you may not be able to eliminate the problem entirely.

If your kitty has stopped using her litter box, here are changes to consider making to her bathroom to get her back in the box.

The number one reason why Fluffy refuses to use her litter box is ... it is too dirty. Cats are extremely clean and will often refuse to use a soiled litter box. Who can blame them! Ever go into a bathroom and find the person before you was inconsiderate, left the seat all wet or not flushed. Yuck! Who wants to deal with that? Cats are no different. Poor kitty also sits closer to the actual waste products, is more exposed to the odors and bacteria and ends up touching it with her paws. No wonder she chooses the carpet for potty, over a dirty litter box!

So, pick up your handy scooper and scoop every litter box at least once a day. Twice a day is preferable. Dispose of soiled litter in a sealed container or double plastic bag and keep way from the litter box. Your kitty will thank you for it.

Number of litter boxes. The rule is one litter box for each cat in your household, plus one extra box. Mathematically that means 3 cats equals 4 litter boxes. There are a number of reasons why this strategy is successful. No one likes to wait in line for the bathroom and if there is no where else to go, kitty may become creative. Some cats become territorial about the litter box and scare off cats attempting to use it. Other cats may only use a box, if no other cat has used it ... even once!

Have at least one litter box on each floor of your house. If your home is one level, then place litter boxes at opposite ends. This is especially true for kittens who are trying to race to the box and it is so far away. Oops.

Type of box. Some cats prefer open boxes, while other cats prefer the privacy of a hooded box. If you are in doubt as to what kitty fancies, offer her one of each and see which one she selects for her bathroom needs.

Location of box. We all have our favorite spots in our homes and kitty’s litter box is no different. The litter box should be placed in a quiet, safe, easy to reach, low traffic area of the home, where kitty can attend to her personal needs in solitude. It should also be situated so kitty can see who may be entering her area. Some cats like to have an escape route if needed.

Never place a litter box in an area where your cat has water or food bowls or a sleeping area. Major faux ‘paw’. Keep dining and sleeping areas distinct and your kitty will thank you.

Litter Variety. Also called substrate, litter comes in a variety of shapes, textures and smells. From finely ground to coarse texture to pellets, litter can be odorless or scented, clumping or non-clumping, made from clay, corn, wheat, newspaper, tree bark (pine, cedar), man-made materials, peat moss and more. Yes, cats do have litter preferences. Try several varieties and see what she prefers.

Remember scented litters were designed to mask the smell of urine and stool for humans and often the odor is too pungent for kitty’s sensitive nose. These litters lull the two legged family members into believing the box is still clean, because we cannot smell it. But daily cleaning of soiled materials is imperative. Depth of litter is important as well, as cats like to dig in the litter. Some like a deep 4 inch base of litter so they can dig, dig, dig. Others are happy with 2 inches of litter.

Liners. People love lining the litter box with plastic liners. Most cats, well, hate them. While a liner may be convenient for the person cleaning the box, there are a number of down-sides from kitty’s perspective. Liners trap urine and stool into corners and crevices, retaining the smell and soiled particles. These crevices become an oasis for bacteria to grow in, thus increasing the chance of disease transmission. Toss the liners.

At least once a week, all litter should be disposed of and the litter box washed. Clean the box with warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly. This removes odors, soiled litter and waste particles. Dry and refill.

Scent Marking

Cats’ social hierarchy, while not as well defined as canines, does exist. Cats are very adept at recognizing members of their family (humans, cats and dogs as well) and members who are outside of their group. Fluffy may approve of her litter box and use it appropriately and still scent mark (urine, stool or both) in the house. This is a behavior cats use to communicate to other felines regarding issues of territory.

Scent marking occurs when a cat sprays urine (or drops stool) on vertical surfaces. While it is more common for intact males to scent mark, females can engage in the behavior as well. Scent marking can also occur in spayed or neutered cats, but is much less common (another excellent reason to spay/neuter your cat).

The stance of a cat scent marking is very clear. Kitty backs up to the (usually) vertical surface they intend to mark, with their tail straight in the air (it may quiver). You may notice them kneading their front paws and then in a flash they spray urine directly onto their target.

Why would Fluffy engage in this behavior out of the blue? Well ...

Stress. Has there been a change in kitty’s routine that is causing her anxiety and stress? Did you move, change jobs or schedules, get another pet, have a baby, get divorced, find a new boyfriend, get her a haircut, change her food, go on vacation, has she been ill ... the list of things that could stress out Fluffy is endless. Like us, some animals can roll with the punches and nothing bothers them. Others are nervous Nellies and even the smallest change creates havoc in their lives.
Boundaries. If you recently added a new cat (or pet, or family member), your cat may be trying to communicate to the world where their territory lies. Translation “This is MINE”. I have had the ‘pleasure’ of a spayed, female cat marking me as ‘hers’ once she realized I would share my lunch with her. She backed right up to my leg and left her feline signature, much to my surprise.
When your new boyfriend starts reclining on kitty’s side of the bed, don’t be surprised to find a pee spot there. Is there a stray cat or wildlife hanging around the house and kitty can see it through a door or window? Owners often find urine along the perimeter of doors and windows, when strays or wildlife appear in their neighborhood.
Aversion to the litter box. Sometimes we cannot figure out why a cat suddenly stops using their litter box. Maybe something scared kitty while she was in the litter box and she nows associates the experience with the box and is marking new terrain. Or she simply may not like the box type, location, litter and chooses to take her ‘business’ elsewhere.

Solutions

If you have more than one cat in your household, it may be difficult to discover the source of the marking, regardless of whether it is a medical issue or scent marking. You will need to isolate each cat in a separate room, one at a time and then monitor the home for urine spots. Once the cat is identified, rule out any medical issues by scheduling a check-up with your veterinarian. Then follow your veterinarian’s advice on treatments. Otherwise, here are some suggestions to try. It may take weeks or months to resolve the problem, but it is worth the effort.

If your cat is not neutered or spayed, make an appointment with your vet to have this done as soon as possible. Sexual hormones increase the likelihood that a cat will begin to mark its territory.
Never punish your cat, even if you catch her in the act of spraying. Punishing her will only frighten her more and will begin to negatively impact your relationship further. Try distracting her and then simply clean up the spot with an odor neutralizer (there are many brands on the market).
Reduce stress. Give your cat more attention and exercise. Schedule daily times to play with her, groom her and interact with her by rubbing her head, back or belly. If she is watching the neighborhood stray, close the blinds to try and block her view. Distract her with some treats or play time until the roving Tom is gone.
Positively reinforce kitty when you find her using the litter box. Keep some of her favorite treats in your pocket. When you hear her scratching in the box, start talking to her in a very soothing voice and telling her what a good girl she is. Make sure you are waiting for her as she leaves the litter box and offer her the tasty treat!
Find all of the urine marks in your house and eliminate them. Invest in a black light and when it is dark outside, turn off your inside lights and scan every part of your house where you believe kitty marked. Urine will glow orange to orange yellow under a black light. Clean all spots where stool may have been dropped as well. Any scent left will continue to attract kitty back to the area. In some instances, it might be easier to replace the item and start over.
If kitty is marking only one specific area consistently, clean it and place a new litter box there. Maybe she likes the view better.
If you find multiple areas where kitty marks, clean all of them and then cover the areas with new cat beds, food bowls or scratching posts. This might help change your cat’s view of the areas from ‘bathroom’ to dining or napping area.
Try one of the litters on the market that are designed to attract your cat back to the box. “Cat Attract” is a popular brand and is certainly worth a try.
Feliway. This is a product that you spray in the areas where kitty has been scent marking. It mimics the feline pheromone (chemical substance) that causes cats to feel relaxed (some theorize from when they were kittens with Mom). It is a bit pricey, but it often works to calm cats and reduce their desire to scent mark.
If all else fails, consult with your veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist. There are a number of behavioral medications that can be highly effective for reducing anxiety in felines. Like all medications, there can be side effects and some medical conditions prevent their use.

Buzzy is a good kitty and always uses the litter box

Buzzy has excellent litter box manners

Daisy kitty

Daisy had excellent manners too

Snow has litter box 'issues'

Gina and her 7 kittens

Chelsea at 7 weeks old

Murphy at 7 weeks old

Potato & Texas hanging out together

Patch

Patch never missed the litter box day in his life ... what a good boy!

Willow & Trixie sisters

Willow & Trixie are sisters who always are neat and clean

Kayley urine marks territory

Megan, unlike sister Kayley nevers misses the litter box

Megan, unlike sister Kayley, nevers misses the litter box


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