Litter Box Problems

Up until the 1950s, cats roamed neighborhoods freely, with the world’s biggest litter box at their paws -- the great outdoors. A few cat owners, used pans filled with dirt but it wasn’t until 1960s that litter boxes really caught on.

Cats are fussy animals, and if the litter box is dirty, they may look elsewhere for a place to go. For once, I think we can understand and sympathize with cats, what if we were put in a similar situation in a public restroom?! At least ten percent of all cats develop elimination or soiling problems. These problems can develop as a result of conflict between multiple cats in a home, a dislike for the litter-box style, the litter itself or the box location, or as a result of a current or past medical condition. The best approach is to prevent these problems before they happen by making your cat’s litter boxes as cat-friendly as possible.

Most of us get around to cleaning out the litter box every few days or even when the sight or smell reminds us. We remove a few clumps and top up with more litter. Here are a few tips to keeping the box feline friendly.

Give a brand new box a good scrubbing with hot water and soap, rinse well, and let it air dry.  Cats have a much better sense of smell than we do, and they may be put off by the odor a new box has picked up through its manufacturing, and storage before you bought it. Don't forget that even when you scoop frequently, you still have to scrub out and disinfect your litter box on a regular basis. When in doubt, clean it out!

You can almost always offer your cat a clean bathroom if you provide two litter boxes, placed side by side. Some cats even prefer the two-box system: They urinate in one and defecate in the other. Provide enough litter boxes for multi cat households – the rule is one litter box for each cat plus one. If you have three cats, you will need four litter boxes! If you have a multistory home, a box on each floor is suggested. Too much litter may not be a good thing, it has been shown that cats prefer 1-2 inches of litter.

Some common box aversions can be easily identified and changed. The problem with plastic liners is that some cats don't like them - they find the odor offensive or they don't like the feel of the plastic underfoot when their claws catch on them. Self-cleaning boxes can be worth every penny towards convenience and cleanliness. However, there are always some cats will be put off by the noise and motion, so be prepared when making this purchase. Special needs kitties may not be able to get into a covered box, small box or top entry box and benefit from a low-sided style. Offer different choices of litter side by side to determine what texture and style your cat prefers.

Household stress can cause litter box problems. Addition of new pets, a move, or a loud noise or event which upset your cat while they were in the litter box can cause a problem. Even if another cat isn’t actually confronting a cat in the litter box, any conflict between cats in a household can create enough stress to cause litter-box problems. If your cat soils, clean the area thoroughly with an enzymatic cleanser designed to neutralize pet odors, avoid ammonia cleaners which cat cause more harm. You can find this kind of cleaner at most pet stores.

A veterinarian may be able to help you identify a problem in a multicat household. They can suggest giving a fluorescent dye to one cat at a time. The dye will pass in the urine and can be detected through what's called a Wood's Lamp.

Medical problems can be the cause of accidents in the house. It is important to see your veterinarian immediately to rule out a possible medical problem. Symptoms of painful urination included frequent trips to the litter box, producing only small amounts of urine, straining, and mewing or crying when urinating, licking themselves, blood in their urine and urinating outside of the box. The cause of a medical problem include a urinary tract infection, interstitial cystitis (inflamed bladder), or bladder and kidney stones. These causes are very serious and can be life-threatening to your cat. They must be treated immediately by a veterinarian.