PREVENTING LITTER BOX PROBLEMS
Most of us know cats are finicky eaters, but they can also be pretty
picky when it comes to the other end of the digestive process€”making use
of a litter box. Fortunately, the following suggestions should keep your
cat from "thinking outside the box."
Location, Location, Location Most people are inclined to place
the litter box in an out-of-the-way spot to minimize odor and prevent
cat litter from being tracked throughout the house. But if the litter
box ends up in the basement€”next to an appliance or on a cold cement
floor€”your cat may be less than pleased, for a number of reasons. So you
may have to compromise.
The litter box should be kept in a spot that affords your cat some
privacy yet is also conveniently located. If you place the litter box in
a closet or a bathroom, be sure the door is wedged open from both sides
to prevent her from being trapped inside or locked out. Depending on the
location, you might consider cutting a hole in a closet door and adding
a pet door.
Pick of the Litter Research has shown that most cats prefer fine-grained
litters, presumably because they have a softer feel. The new scoopable
(clumping) litters usually have finer grains than the typical clay
litter and are very popular. But high-quality, dust-free, clay litters
are relatively small-grained and may be perfectly acceptable to your
cat.
If you suspect your cat has spent part of his life outdoors and is
likely to eliminate in your houseplants, try mixing some potting soil
with your regular litter; pellet-type litters or those made from citrus
peels are not recommended. Once you find a litter your cat likes, stick
with it. Buying the least expensive litter or the brand that's on sale
any given week could result in your cat not using the litter box.
Many cats are put off by the odor of scented or deodorant litters. For
the same reason, it's not a good idea to place a room deodorizer or air
freshener near the litter box. A thin layer of baking soda placed on the
bottom of the box will help absorb odors without repelling your cat, and
odors shouldn't really be a problem if you keep the litter box clean.
If you find the litter box odor offensive, your cat probably finds it
even more offensive and won't want to eliminate there. What's the Magic
Number? You should have at least as many litter boxes as you have cats.
That way, none of them will ever be prevented from eliminating in the
litter box because it's already occupied.
You might also consider placing litter boxes in several locations around
the house, so that no one cat can prevent the other cats from getting
access. We also recommend that you place at least one litter box on each
level of your house. It's not possible to designate a personal litter
box for each cat in your household, as cats may use any litter box
that's available, and that means a cat may occasionally refuse to use a
litter box after another cat has used it. In this case, all of the
litter boxes will need to be kept extremely clean and additional boxes
may be needed.
An Undercover Operation? Some people prefer to provide their cats
with a covered litter box, but doing so may introduce some potential
problems. To discover which type your cat prefers, you may want to
experiment by offering both types at first.
Potential Problems of Covered Litter Boxes You may forget to
clean the litter box as frequently as you should because the dirty
litter is "out of sight, out of mind." A covered litter box traps odors
inside, so it will need to be cleaned more often than an open one. A
dirty, covered litter box is to your cat what a portapotty is to you! A
covered litter box may not allow a large cat sufficient room to turn
around, scratch, dig, or position herself in the way she wants. A
covered litter box may make it easier for another cat to lay in wait and
"ambush" the user as she exits the box; on the other hand, a covered
litter box may feel more private, and timid cats may even prefer it.
Keeping It Clean To meet the needs of the most discriminating
cat, feces should be scooped out of the litter box daily. How often you
actually change (replace) the litter depends on the number of cats you
have, the number of litter boxes, and the type of litter you use. Twice
a week is a general guideline for clay litter, but depending on the
circumstances, you may need to replace it every other day or only once a
week.
If you clean the litter box daily, scoopable litter may only need to be
changed every two to three weeks. If you notice an odor or if much of
the litter is wet or clumped, it's time for a change. Don't use strong
smelling chemicals or cleaning products when washing the litter box, as
doing so may cause your cat to avoid the box. Some cleaning products are
toxic to cats. Washing with soap and water should be sufficient.
Liner Notes Some cats don't mind having a plastic liner in the
litter box, while others do. Again, you may want to experiment to see if
your cat is bothered by a liner in the box. If you do use a liner, make
sure it's anchored in place, so it can't easily catch your cat's claws
or be pulled out of place. Depth of Litter Some people think that the
more litter they put in the box, the less often they will have to clean
it, but that's a mistake. Most cats won't use litter that's more than
about two inches deep. In fact, some long-haired cats actually prefer
less litter and a smooth, slick surface, such as the bottom of the
litter box.
The fact is the litter box needs to be cleaned on a regular basis, and
adding extra litter is not a way around that chore.
"Litter-Training" Cats There's really no such thing as
"litter-training" a cat in the same way one would housetrain a dog. A
cat doesn't need to be taught what to do with a litter box because
instinct will generally take over. The only thing you need to do is
provide an acceptable, accessible litter box, using the suggestions
above. It's not necessary to take your cat to the litter box and move
her paws back and forth in the litter; in fact, we don't recommend it,
as such an unpleasant experience is likely to initiate a negative
association with the litter box.
If Problems Develop If your cat begins to eliminate in areas other than
the litter box, your first call should always be to your veterinarian.
Many medical conditions can cause a change in a cat's litter box habits.
If your veterinarian determines that your cat is healthy, the cause may
be a simple behavior problem that can be resolved by using behavior
modification techniques. Punishment is not the answer, nor is banishing
your cat outdoors. For long-standing or complex situations, contact an
animal behavior specialist who has experience working with cats.
Adapted from material originally developed by applied animal
behaviorists at the
Dumb Friends League, Denver, Colorado. All rights reserved.
If you have questions or need our services, please contact the shelter
at
618.346.5213 or contact us today via
e-mail
Copyrights 2009 WARREN BILLHARTZ ANIMAL SHELTER OF
COLLINSVILLE. A KTLLC Communications Solution