Today in Behavior Basics
Cat Litter Box Problems Eliminated
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When Pete Roberts’ cat Tony began to relieve himself while standing in the litter box, the Brooklyn, N.Y., resident was appalled. “We didn’t know what was wrong, but we had to do damage control fast,” he says. At a loss as to why Tony developed this annoying habit, which allowed him to spray over the top of his litter box, Roberts and his wife had to get creative. “We bought one of those litter boxes with a lid and made a ‘hinge’ inside with packaging tape,” says Roberts. This way, when Tony aimed higher than his 4-inch litter box, the only thing wet was the tape in the back of the box.
Countless other cat owners find themselves equally challenged by their pets’ sudden elimination mishaps. Perhaps even your own feline falls into that bathroom hit-or-miss group. Despite your feline’s mysterious nature, there are ways to discover why kitty is giving you grief, as well as steps you can take to solve common litter box problems.
Out-of-the-box Thinking
Readers of The Daily Cat have posted numerous questions on this very subject. For example, several owners are concerned because their feline friend pees all over expensive rugs and precious furniture. We asked animal behaviorist Suzanne Hetts, Ph.D., of Animal Behavior Associates Inc. in Littleton, Colo., to shed some light on the confusion.
“Medical problems must always be ruled out first,” says Dr. Hetts, who explains that health issues are the most common causes for changes in elimination habits. If your cat has a painful medical condition, such as a urinary tract infection, it may associate the litter box with pain. Other conditions, such as diabetes, can increase urination. Because cats don’t always act sick when they are feeling unwell, litter box avoidance may be your best sign of a health concern. Therefore, a good first step is to take your pet to your local veterinarian.
If kitty passes the medical exam with flying colors, plenty of other reasons could be causing its unfavorable behavior. Here are a few of the most common ones:
Litter essentials Cats are finicky about many things, including litter. Research shows that most cats enjoy the soft texture of fine-grained litter and hesitate to go near scented litter. The answer to your pet’s elimination problem could therefore be as simple as trying out various types of litter. Buying the cheapest litter may help your wallet, but if Fluffy doesn’t like it, it won’t think twice before going all over the couch instead. “But how can I avoid the strong stench of cat urine without deodorized litter?” asks one reader of The Daily Cat. The answer: Spread baking soda underneath the litter to help absorb odors without repelling your cat.
Cleanliness Put yourself in your cat’s paws: If you walked into a bathroom that stinks, would you be tempted to use it? Baking soda and unscented litter in the box may work temporarily, but if the box isn't consistently clean, the cat won’t use it. Cleaning doesn’t take a long time. Scoop it clean daily and you won’t have to change the actual litter for a couple of weeks. At least once a month, scrub the box with soap and water, avoiding strong-smelling chemicals or cleaning products. Then thoroughly dry the box with a few paper towels before refilling. Simply adding more litter does not equate to less-frequent cleaning. In fact, most cats avoid litter more than 2 inches deep.
Box particulars Not all cats are created equal, so not all litter boxes work for all cats. After weeks of replacing wet packaging tape in Tony’s covered litter box, Roberts searched for a more permanent litter box option that would suit Tony. “We looked online and browsed around the pet store, and we bought a Clevercat® litter box,” he says. Similar to a trash bin, this unique box includes a lid with a hole on top. When the cat needs to relieve itself, it hops inside through the hole, takes care of its business and then exits through the same hole. A built-in tracking mat removes the litter from the cat’s paws before it hops off. “We’ve used this ever since, but it may be hard for your own cat to hop in if he’s old,” says Roberts.
Although this type of setup was the perfect solution for agile Tony, old age or excessive weight may discourage your cat from using such a box. Before choosing a litter box, it’s therefore important to take into account your cat’s breed and preferences. From faux houseplants to washroom cabinets, a variety of innovative litter boxes are available on the CatLitterBoxes web site.
Stress Creatures of habit by nature, felines thrive in familiar surroundings. A new litter box location, a recent move to a different home or any kind of change in your cat’s surroundings may cause your pet to shy away from its litter box. To avoid such problems, gently reteach your cat where to go. Don’t add the unnecessary stress of punishment. Instead, encourage adjustment by gently picking up your cat and putting it in its litter box when you catch it eliminating at the wrong place.
If you have a multi-cat household, be sure to provide your pets with a sufficient number of litter boxes. The general rule is to have one litter box per cat, plus one. If you live in a home with stairs, remember to give your cat access to a box on each floor.
Social system Cats are territorial animals that are sometimes driven to exclude other cats, and even humans, from their turf. To communicate their boundaries to trespassers, they sometimes leave behind an odorous mark. Providing a private toilet area for your cat is one way to solve this problem. For multi-cat households, leave several feet between each cat’s box, if possible. That will prevent one cat from ambushing another while the latter is feeling vulnerable and trying to go.
Another possible solution is neutering/spaying. Research shows that 90 percent of male cats that sprayed urine stopped after being neutered. If your problem cat is male, neutering may be successful, since intact males are usually the marking culprits.
Disgruntlement with owner Some owners interpret litter box mishaps to be their pet’s way of showing spite towards them. “Definitely not,” insists Dr. Hetts. “This is an anthropomorphic interpretation and not a helpful perspective for solving the problem,” she adds.
When All Else Fails...
Exasperated with their cats, some readers of The Daily Cat claim they’ve tried everything and yet nothing works. “This is usually what happens when people take a ‘try this, try that’ approach,” explains Dr. Hetts. “They haven’t tried the right thing, because what they’ve tried has not been relevant to the reason or cause for the behavior.” The most effective solutions are the ones based on clues your cat gives you about the issue. For example, if your cat starts peeing next to the litter box instead of inside, it may not like the type of litter. Or if your pet stops using a box located next to a window, it may have felt threatened by a passing stray it saw while using the litter box one day.
Although cats cannot be litter-trained as dogs can be house-trained, “if you build it, they will come,” encourages Dr. Hetts. “Meaning, if you provide a cat-friendly litter box that meets the feline’s behavioral needs, she will use it.” So put your investigative hat on. With a bit of work and dedication, you can reach a compromise that will keep both you and kitty satisfied. “Problem solved,” laughs Roberts now, relieved that Tony is no longer relieving himself on a bedroom wall.
About the Author
Natalia Macrynikola is an editorial assistant at Studio One Networks, which publishes The Daily Cat. She adores her two fluffy feline roommates, despite their own occasional toilet troubles.
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Cat elimination problem
I just read all of the article on cat's eliminating outside their litter box and she is doing something totally different. Our female cat has had a peeing problem since a tiny kitten. The first time we brought her home, she peed on our bed. After that over the years she has found new areas to her liking. We have taken her to the vet, found a litter she likes, and she has her own litter box opposite the male cat. We keep the litter boxes in an extra bedroom we use as a home office, when we are in there she blatantly comes in and pees in the litter box in front of us, so she has no aversion to it. Help! We have been dealing with this for 4 years!
Posted by Michele Busse on 2008-11-05 at 10:25:03
cALICO CAT
sHE PEES ON THE COUCH AND BED. lAST NIGHT SHE GOT ON MY HUSBANDS LAP AND WENT ON HIM. wHAT IS WRONG?
Posted by ADA GEORGE on 2008-11-05 at 17:22:40
cat pee
my cat uses the litter box but also always pee's on my daughters bed clothes. also goes to the upstaires bedrooms and pee's and poop's allover. any answers why???
Posted by teresa kettlewell on 2008-11-08 at 14:35:46
female cat peeing on bed
we had our female cat for 4 yrs and our male cat for 5 yrs then we just adopted a female cat about a month ago and we had 2 dogs and about a week after we got the last female cat my dog died and after the dog died our first female cat started peeing on our bed once a week where the dog slept the night before he died what can we do
Posted by jackie on 2008-11-11 at 18:43:16
cALICO CAT
Your cat is likely ill - when our cat did the same we found out she was diabetic.
Posted by Geof on 2008-11-14 at 01:43:36
http://www.petloverspalace.com
I have had cats pee on beds,clothes,and every where eles except litter boxes,I hated to do it,but I put them in a cage for a week or so.If I saw them use the litter box I would reword them by leting them out for several hours. after a week or so they would use the litter boxes ,and I put the cage away.
Posted by Jeffrey L. New on 2008-11-16 at 16:44:45
New Kitten
I was just wondering if my daughter's 5 weeks old kitten digests some of the cat litter will it harm him?
Posted by CAROLYN on 2008-11-18 at 22:11:08
New sibling aggression
I have 2 male cats, 4 years old, and are brothers. They have always gotten along and out of the blue ,the less dominant one started chasing and fighting with the other. I have separated them for 4 weeks with occasional interaction with each in a separate cat carrier. Now the "fighter" wants to be "friends" again, but the "victim" hisses and runs and hides . A fight ensues if I don't intervene. I can't keep them together. Help!!!!!!!
Posted by Kim Dolan on 2008-11-19 at 15:33:34
Cat peeing outside the box
I have two cats and the one usually pees outside the box. I use scented clumping litter. I have two litter boxes. My two cats are males and they are litter mates. They are 4 years old. The one cat on occasion is spraying in the corners in my gameroom. What can I do to prevent this and get the smell out. I am having new carpet installed and I do not want this to have an odor.
Posted by Jackie on 2008-11-21 at 07:35:17
Cat pooping on new rug
Here's one for you - everytime my 9 yr old female cat gets mad at me, she goes in the bathroom and poops on the new rug right across from her litter box. She then will go and wait to see my reaction, peeking around the corner. I am not making this up! If I forget to give her her treats at the regular time, she will go and poop on the rug!
Posted by Donna on 2008-11-24 at 08:44:05
5-month Kitten Scared of Rainstorm
After being out in a rainstorm, my 5-month kitten lost his appetite. Is it possible that his he got so frightened of the rain, that he could have lost his psychologically lost his appetite? Any advice/comments will be appreciated. Thank you.
Posted by Melodie on 2008-11-27 at 12:14:16
cat going poo all over
6 years ago we adopted 2 sister cats from a local rescue group. They had been raised as indoor cats only & we have honored that. But lately one of them, without any reason we can think of, has been pooping all over the our house! No matter how clean we keep the litter boxes.. (we now have 3 litter boxes) , she still does it on our carpet, chairs, beds.... just everywhere!?? Any ideas? Thanks
Posted by Merry Gibson on 2008-11-30 at 08:32:27
kitty can't cover
I have two wonderful kittens, now about 8 mos old [littermates] The male, Smirk(8.5lbs), is fine, but his little sister, Snowball (6lbs), has one unusual problem. Let me give you a bit of background first: Snowball's always been shy, sweet and quiet, and Smirk has been more aggressive, though neither has ever scratched or bitten us or the other on purpose. The two sleep entwined, and rarely are more than a few feet away at any time day or night. They even clean each other before they fall asleep. The problem is using the litter box. Ever since we adopted them at 6 wks from the shelter (they'd just been neutered using microsurgical techniques) Snowball seems to have trouble sensing where the litter is. She goes in, does her business, then can't cover up properly: her paws hit the top and sides of the box, but rarely does she manage to get the litter over her wet spot or feces. [it's a large box w/ one of those curved covers to keep the litter inside]. Smirk often jumps in after her and 'finishes the job'. They are fine sharing the litter box (I clean it daily, and if it needs a bit more that day they'll actually let me know). But I can't figure out WHY she doesn't cover up like cat's should. I should mention I've tried teaching her by stroking her paws over the litter, and I've tried 3 different brands and textures to no avail. Thank you in advance! :) ps. I should also thank you for your articles on NOT declawing kittens:hubby was trying to convince me to get them done but after reading about how painful it was, and how much trouble it could cause he decided we would just keep trimming them. Awright!!!
Posted by Logikal1 on 2008-11-30 at 12:51:05
Kitten
We got a new kitten. And I would like to know why it meows so much. It is going to be a outside cat but it is to cold for it right now. Thanks Bob&Deb
Posted by Bob&Deb Hall on 2008-12-01 at 09:49:09
Litterbox Problems
My 1 yr old neutered male started peeing on the bed about a month ago. Took him to vet, was given antibiotics for a "possible" urinary problem, but he is still peeing on my bed in MY spot. Do you think it is because about a month ago he was in the litterbox and the other two male cats both jumped in with him. One cat is old, the other one is the same age as subject cat! I have tried just about everything and he is still peeing on my side of the bed! thanks! This cat is very fastidious, but also very sensitive.
Posted by Bobbie on 2008-12-04 at 14:30:22
litterbox !denied!
She uses the box for both almost all the time. Every now and then she likes to poo a few feet away next to the tub. once every couple of days. She just started this a couple months ago. I am going to try a "softer" litter with less scent and stop punishing her. What else could it be. I have never had a problem with her peeing. just the poo from time to time.
Posted by Seth on 2008-12-04 at 16:01:12
To Bob & Deb
Was your cat born as an indoor or outdoor cat? If it was born indoors with a mother who lived indoors you cannot make it into an outdoors cat. Either way, please make sure you get him/her nuetered while he/she is in the house with you now. As for the meowing, he/she is probably lonely. It's difficult for cats to be alone, you might want to think about getting a second cat and keeping both of them indoors. I'm sure he/she is used to being around his/her littermates and mother, especially if you took him/her before 3 mos old.
Posted by Courtney on 2008-12-05 at 15:52:44
Dear "Scared of Rainstorm"
Many things can happen when cats get out of the house. If this frequently happens you might want to think about getting a locating chip implanted by your vet. Also, take the cat immediately to the vet to check for medical problems, especially if you have other cats in the house. Diseases like Feline Luekema are common and can easily spead from cat to cat. One of the main symtoms of feline luekema is a loss of appetite. Even if you find that the cat isn't sick, getting the cat vaccinated against feline luekema is a good idea for the next time the cat might get out. Good luck!
Posted by Courtney on 2008-12-05 at 15:56:07
my pooping cat
why is my cat pooping behind my tv set does not always do this what can i do I AM POOPED OUT
Posted by anna on 2008-12-11 at 21:41:59
kitty can't cover
my cats are 4yr old litter mates and my female doesn't like to cover her poo either. She is very particular about keeping herself clean. I'm the only person who can pet her without her cleaning herself afterwards. My male is so boisterous with his covering half the litter is thrown outside the box. We have to give him a bath every so often because he is just not very good at cleaning himself. As far as I'm concerned - it doesn't bother me. Those are their personalities. My female is very picky and my male is carefree. I don't think there is anything wrong with snowball.
Posted by stephanie on 2008-12-12 at 15:12:29
litter box
I brought a stray male cat in from the cold I decided to take it to the vet he is fixed and I got him all his shots my question is He goes in the litter box but he lifts his buttup and goes on the wall
Posted by April on 2008-12-13 at 21:25:59
My male HimalangA
MY MALE CAT IS FOUR YEARS OLD. HE WILL NOT USE A LITTER BOX AT ALL. HE WILL PEE ON NEWPAPER. I HAD HAD HIM A KITTY. WHAT IS THE PROBLEM?
Posted by sharon lunt on 2008-12-18 at 14:00:10
licking problem
a cat that wont stop licking people
Posted by shell on 2008-12-28 at 14:39:36
cat not using litter box
i had a male cat--5 yrs old--he stopped pooping in box--instead went about a foot outside it-this went on for 2 yrs-he would pee in it but not poop--took to vet--alls ok--behavioral prob he said--finally i took his toys from the living room and spread them around the area he pooped in sure he wouldnt poop on HIS toys--lol and i was right!!! he pooped in the box for the next 5 yrs till he passed away--a little psycology that worked!!! outsmarted the little guy---god rest his little pea picking heart!
Posted by studranger on 2008-12-28 at 20:44:19
never owned a cat
What does a cat like. Do they like you to pet them. I never own a cat . She lets me pet her some times and she does not let me hold her. I love loving on her and I like to hold her. What am I doing wrong is it the way I hold her? Please advise
Posted by Maggie Cotham on 2008-12-29 at 14:07:47
Cat spraying, cat chasing and cat meowing
I had 2 male neutered cats about 5 years old and I just adopted another younger male cat also neutered about 2 years old, this new one ( cat number 3 ) plays a lot with my cat number 2 but he plays extremelly rough, I would even say that he tackles cat number 2 ) and chases the other number one, this has caused an stressful situation and now my older cats are spraying in front of my bed, what can I do??, I love my cats but of course I don`t want a smelly house?, my older cats ( number 1 ) that has been chased by the new one is scared of him and runs and of course that triggers more the chasing. Cat number 2 also meows very loud but this started before the new arrival, PLEASE HELP ME,,these cats are like the kids we never had and they are our babies but it breaks my heart that the first 2 are not having any more the peaceful life they use to have but I am already in love with the 3rd. one and I cannot give him away,,,PLEASE WHAT CAN I DO TO STOP THE SPRAYING, THE CHASING AND THE MEOWING???,,thanks a lot
Posted by Laura Snyder on 2008-12-29 at 20:38:40
Cat refuses to cover poop
I have a 9 month old cat. I had her spayed and declawed 1 month ago. She has had plenty of time to heal. She just refuses to cover her poop. I am using the same litter she used before she was s&d. But I changed her litterbox. Please tell me what I can do.
Posted by Naomi on 2008-12-29 at 21:31:58
male cat fighting with female cat
two cats are now fighting after 3 years of being fine. my male is not fixed, but, doesn't spray at all. he now smells my female fixed cat and are fighting I don;t know what happened... help
Posted by chris weber on 2009-01-01 at 11:16:14
cat not peeing in box
My 15 yr old cat refuses to pee in the litter box. He will poop in it but I have to put pads down in front of it or he will pee in different areas in my house. This has been going on for years. What can I do?
Posted by Vickie on 2009-01-01 at 19:51:49
Kitten
We lost our recuse cat Alice a few days ago we have now gotten a rescue kitten 8 weeks old he is amazing he uses his litter box never stops eating and is so kind he has to get used to our two dogs which he is doing very well, my Pit Bull Dal just wants to play with him but right now she could kill him with one foot and not know what she has done, so we have a strong mesh at the bedroom door and wonderful puppy sleeps with my husband, the other dog just could not less, it is sort of like another cat just do not bother me
Posted by Irene J Gould-Lund on 2009-01-01 at 21:35:00
15yr old indoor/outdoor
About 2 months ago she started urinating in the house. she has never used a litter box. What can I do?
Posted by Debbie on 2009-01-02 at 20:01:54
Kitty Litter
We have 4 cats and 3 litter boxes. Two of the litter boxes have covers on them, one box is in a place where a cover doesnt fit. The litter boxes are lined with at least 6 sheets of newspaper. Initially we put in shredded newspaper so the kitties could cover their business. Eventually we were surprised to learn they didn't need the shredded paper as long as we kept the boxes clean. Every morning we flush the solids down the toilet, throw out the used newspapers, spray the boxes with a household cleaner and rinse before laying another layer of newspapers. The only problem was when the last kitty arrived several years ago she wanted the cat liter she was used to having. So we bought the right cat litter and put it on top of the newspaper in one box, which she used. Gradually we started diluting the grainy litter (which goes all over the place) with shredded newspaper until she was using only shredded newspaper. After that we gradually removed the amount of shredded paper until 'her' box was just like everyone elses. This is a very fastidious little lady who will come and pee on your leg is she dosent like the condition of her litter box, so we were very careful not to change her litter box conditions too quickly. To date our early morning ritual with newspaper is keeping everyone happy.
Posted by Susan on 2009-01-03 at 17:17:22
litter box
I just rescued a 10 mo old kitty. his first nght at home, he totally ignored his new litter box and pooped and peed away from the box. The litter in the box is the same as what they were using at the adoption center. The box is taller than the other one but it has a lid too. The cat went to pee in the transporter I bought and pooped on the dash of the motorhome, all the while the box was just in reach of these two areas where the cat did his business. He has been neutered. I thought about putting the poo in the box and covering it with litter.Do you think this will give him an idea of what the box is for?
Posted by david on 2009-01-04 at 12:00:31
possible solution to pee probs
My daughter is an animal behaviorist. She says cats will go where they or some other pet has "gone" before. Take a blacklight and look for telltale stains in the dark. Then attack the stains with enzymatic cleaners to get rid of the spots!
Posted by nanikin on 2009-01-04 at 18:45:32
stray cat
i just got this cat and it only claws my now and then but DANG when she does its hurts HELP
Posted by justinlittrell on 2009-01-04 at 22:45:24
kneading
my cat now will back up to you while you are in bed and starts kneading with his hind legs. is this normal?
Posted by lewis javarone on 2009-01-07 at 16:04:22
cat peeing
Wow whqt an eye opener! I was at the end of my rope and ready to get rid of my older female cat because she had started to pee where ever she wanted to. I was at wits end but now after reading your artticules I found out that it was not her fault it was MINE!!!! Thank you so much for being here and haveing this here to read you saved me from making the biggest mistake in my life!!! Wayne
Posted by Wayne on 2009-01-08 at 02:20:42
Cat wags her tail like a dog
a stray female calico cat adopted us. she also presented us with 4 beautiful kittens. which are now 8 wks. old. She has the strangest behavior, she wags her tail like a dog when she greets me or when she's happy. And her kittens the kittens do the same when they greet me or if they're excited or happy. I've been a vet tech for 20 years, this is the first cat I've ever seen that wags her tail.like this any input about this unusual cat behavior.
Posted by Cindy on 2009-01-09 at 02:51:55
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