Dealing With Cat Litter Problems
Hi SHARE Folks -
Just for your information, here are some suggestions I give to people with litter box problems.
First, when any cat stops using a litter box, a trip to the vet should be done to rule out any physical and/or medical problems.
Next, obviously, the cat should be "fixed" - spayed or neutered. This often prevents problems from starting, but many "fixed" cats do spray and mark.
Third, if your cat is consistently messing in the same place, your best solution would be to place a litter box there. The cat is showing you where she would prefer to go. If the location is not a good place for a box (on your bed, for example), you can cover the area with a plastic shower curtain liner or painter’s tarp (buy a bunch at the dollar store). This will at least make clean up easy and protect the area from saturation.
Fourth, check for possible causes -
* Has there been a recent move to a new home? Change can be very stressful for cats.
* Has there been a recent change in type of litter or location of box? Some cats prefer sand, clay, scoopable, scented or unscented, shredded newspaper, or other substances.
* Is the litter box kept clean? Some cats refuse to use a litter box that is not immaculate - but be careful of cleaning products that may be toxic.
* Have there been any changes in the home - new baby, additional pet, new rugs or furniture? Again, change can be very stressful for cats.
* Are there other cats in the home that might be causing a territorial reaction or fear of using the litter pan? There should be at least one pan for each cat, and they should be placed in easily accessible locations.
* Are there neighborhood cats who might be causing a territorial reaction by coming close to the house - windows or doors? Indoor cats frequently react by marking their territory.
* Has there been a change in family schedule?
* Has there been a change of food?
If all of these have been examined and do not seem to be the cause, the best solution can be confinement. Do NOT put the cat outside. The average life expectancy of an indoor cat is about 15 years - for an
outdoor cat, it's about 2 years! Problems include fleas, poison from pesticides or antifreeze, cars, vandalism, fights with other cats, dogs, and hunters, among others.
Confinement can be either in a room or a cat cage. The room should be small, like a bathroom or any other room that is easy to clean. The cat should have a sleeping area, food and water dishes, and a clean
litter pan. If a bathroom is used, obviously the toilet lid should be closed!
If a cat cage is used, make sure it is one of those "kitty condo" types - with a couple of shelves at various heights, and plenty of room for the food and water to be separate from the litter. Put a
tarp or shower curtain liner under the cage, just in case the cat still sprays.
Neither form of confinement should be a punishment - the cat can be on your lap whenever you can give the cat your complete attention. You know that it takes only a moment for a cat to mark territory, so if you
are going to be distracted even for that moment, the cat should be confined. But when you can pay full attention to the cat, you can play with her, pet her, groom her, and enjoy her company. But if you have to answer the phone, cook a meal, or do anything else, the cat should be confined.
This confinement should ensure that the cat does not spray outside the litter pan. And hopefully, in a period of time, the cat will be retrained to use only the litter. With some cats, retraining takes a few weeks. With others, it may be a lifelong situation.
Meanwhile, it's essential that all traces of urine be removed from the inappropriate areas. Get a cheap "black light" - an ultraviolet bulb, available from Spencer Gifts or other places for about $ 25.
When the room is dark, turn on the black light and turn off the other room lights, and move the light all around the rooms that may have urine. Cat urine turns a chartreuse color under black light. These areas need cleaning.
First dilute the urine as much as possible with plain water, and blot it up. Then do it again - several times, to remove most of the urine. Then, use one of the products that has enzymes to neutralize the
remaining urine - such as Nature's Miracle or a similar product. These are available at most pet supply stores, such as PetsMart and PetCo. Follow the directions on the bottle.
Hope these suggestions help –
Posted on SHARE Yahoo group Jun 9, 2004