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Unfortunately, this is a potentially serious problem for
you and your cat. Inappropriate elimination is one of
the leading reasons why pet cats are abandoned and
turned over to animal shelters. There is no one
overriding reason why cats don’t use – or suddenly stop
using – your litter boxes. You will have to work through
a maze of possibilities for your sake and your cat’s.
The first step is a visit to your veterinarian to
eliminate any underlying medical causes of this problem.
A cat that has a bladder or urinary tract infection,
kidney disease or any number of other conditions may
have difficulty holding it long enough to reach a litter
box.
Your cat may also be getting up in years. Some elderly
cats will develop a tendency to eliminate
inappropriately due to a variety of factors.
Placing multiple litter boxes in the home will often
help these cats avoid accidents. For example, if you
have a two or three story home, a litter box should be
placed on every level. You can also position litter
boxes in different areas of the house that are favored
by your cat, such as the spot where he likes to sun
himself and the quiet area where he naps in the
afternoon.
Have there been any changes in your routine that could
affect the cat? For example, are you working longer
hours and away from home more? Perhaps the cat is
eliminating inappropriately out of stress, loneliness,
boredom, or because his litter box isn’t being cleaned
as often as it was in the past.
Maybe you got a new pet, either another cat or some
other animal; or perhaps a new person moved into the
family home, or a familiar family member left for
college. All of these changes in routine can be
unsettling to a cat, prompting litter box problems.
You should also explore these options:
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Litter Box Cleaning
– Cats are famously clean animals, so it isn’t
surprising that you’re reluctant to relieve
themselves in a litter box that’s dirty and smelly.
If you are having trouble keeping up with your pet’s
cleaning demands, you should try using a
self-cleaning litter box.
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Litter Box Dimensions
– Sometimes,
even a subtle change in a cat’s weight or age can
make an old litter box less inviting. A cat with
short legs or a less mobile pet will find it easier
to get in and out of a litter box with low sides. On
the other hand, a timid cat may benefit from
replacing an open litter box with a hooded box. So,
try a different kind of litter box.
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Position of the Litter Box
– Where is your pet’s litter box? A cat will have
trouble relaxing if his box is located in a noisy,
busy area. Cats are also more prone to avoid boxes
positioned in areas that don’t provide a ready
escape route.
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The Type of Litter
– You may want to change the type of litter
you’ve been using. Different cats react differently
to types of litter based on its scent and texture.
Sometimes switching from unscented to scented
litter, or clumping to non clumping, or even
changing brands of litter will make all the
difference in the world.
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Helping the Cat Relax
– Stress is often the cause of inappropriate
elimination. You can try a plug-in diffuser that
releases a feline relaxing pheromone in the litter
box room.
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Removing Tell-Tale Odors
– Cats will regard the scent of urine as a signal
that it is ok to urinate in a particular spot. So,
it’s essential that you clean up any accidents
promptly using a stain and odor remover designed for
pets.
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