Oh, Those Litterbox Blues!
Who hasn't, at some time, had a problem with your cat going outside the litterbox? The root of this frustrating problem could be any number of reasons. Finding the solution can be a little bit of, pardon the pun, hit or miss. First, make sure your kitty doesn't have a medical condition such as a bladder or urinary tract infection (UTI) causing them to have irregular habits. After ruling out physical illnesses, try some of these tactics:
- Frequently clean the litterbox. Who wants to use a stinky, dirty toilet? Remove all the soiled litter and wash the box with mild soap and water about once a week. Then put in fresh litter and sprinkle in an odor-eliminating ingredient such as baking soda.
-Put their litterbox in a safe, quiet spot where they can have some
privacy.
-Keep their food and water away from their litterbox. Who wants their
meals in the bathroom?!?
-Some cats prefer a certain litter. Changing a brand or type of litter
can cause them to avoid or attract them to the box. There are many scents
and textures available to try. Besides clay and scoopable litters with
varying scents, there are also paper/wood-based litters.
-Provide one litterbox per cat then add one extra (e.g. if you have 2 cats, you'll need 3 litterboxes). Why all the boxes? Cats have a keen sense of smell and can be territorial. One cat can claim his stake over the box preventing the other from using it.
-Try moving the litterbox to the spot where they're currently urinating or defecating.
-Some may not like the enclosed litterboxes. They may make them feel trapped without an extra exit. Others, however, may get in the litterbox and have a little "overspray" which could be helped by the enclosed litterboxes. Try changing the type and size of your litterbox.
Other factors prohibiting litterbox use can be changes in the cat's household environment. Is there a new pet or new human sibling? Have you currently moved or made some radical changes to your home? Is there a new mate? Abnormal cat behaviors could be your cat's way of saying: "Hey, I used to your baby! I need more attention, please!"
Remember to treat the areas the cat has been using outside the litterbox. If they smell the area, they may be inclined to a "repeat performance" which could lead to a bad little habit. There are products available to eliminate the odors and also to repel the cat from going to this spot.
Keep working with your kitty! It is natural instinct for cats to use the litterbox so there is a reason why he or she isn't doing it. Be patient and try all available avenues. They are worth it all!
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