cat-friendly litter box solutions that work!
Cats are creatures of habit, and not using the litter box can become a habit very quickly. If your cat stops using her box, immediately call on your inner detective to try to understand why so you can solve the problem. Here are some clues.
— Some illnesses can cause a cat to have to urinate so often and in such volume she stops using her box. Have your cat checked, not just for a urinary tract infection, but for hyperthyroidism, diabetes and kidney disease. All are very common in older cats.
— Stress is often the cause of litter box problems. A cat visiting outside, a new baby or puppy or kitten, overnight visitors and construction either inside or outdoors are just some of the reasons why a cat can become so stressed she won’t use her box.
Whatever the cause, resolving cat litter box issues takes some accommodation on both your part and the cat’s, so be prepared to compromise.
— Put your cat’s litter box where she wants it, even if it’s the livingroom. She’s using the floor in a place where she feels safe, and that’s where her box should be. Some cats use furniture because it’s up high and out of harm’s way. That’s especially true of cats who live with other cats, dogs or small children. If you can get your cat’s box up off the floor, she might be willing to use it. When she’s consistently using the box in its new location, you can try moving it very gradually to a place that’s acceptable to both of you.
— Give her the kind of filler she wants. If she likes soft surfaces, try giving her a towel, torn up T-shirts or clean shop towels in her box. Some cats appreciate shredded newspaper or potting soil. And many prefer an empty box with no litter in it at all. Putting a puppy training pad in the box will make cleanup easier for you.
— If all else fails, put puppy pads on the floor in the spots she’s using. She’ll be happy, and the floor will be protected.
— Some illnesses can cause a cat to have to urinate so often and in such volume she stops using her box. Have your cat checked, not just for a urinary tract infection, but for hyperthyroidism, diabetes and kidney disease. All are very common in older cats.
— Stress is often the cause of litter box problems. A cat visiting outside, a new baby or puppy or kitten, overnight visitors and construction either inside or outdoors are just some of the reasons why a cat can become so stressed she won’t use her box.
Whatever the cause, resolving cat litter box issues takes some accommodation on both your part and the cat’s, so be prepared to compromise.
— Put your cat’s litter box where she wants it, even if it’s the livingroom. She’s using the floor in a place where she feels safe, and that’s where her box should be. Some cats use furniture because it’s up high and out of harm’s way. That’s especially true of cats who live with other cats, dogs or small children. If you can get your cat’s box up off the floor, she might be willing to use it. When she’s consistently using the box in its new location, you can try moving it very gradually to a place that’s acceptable to both of you.
— Give her the kind of filler she wants. If she likes soft surfaces, try giving her a towel, torn up T-shirts or clean shop towels in her box. Some cats appreciate shredded newspaper or potting soil. And many prefer an empty box with no litter in it at all. Putting a puppy training pad in the box will make cleanup easier for you.
— If all else fails, put puppy pads on the floor in the spots she’s using. She’ll be happy, and the floor will be protected.
Deterrents
It's been our experience that accommodation works better than deterrents. But if you want to keep your cat away from certain areas, here are some things to try.
--- Try Feliway. The friendly (cheek hormone) scent. Catnip, too, is a friendly scent that can discourage spraying. Rub it on your cat's favorite spots. --- Cover the area she soils with something that feels uncomfortable underfoot. Some suggestions: vinyl carpet runner or vinyl floor protectors, bumpy side up. — Spray the area with a citrus scent or lavender. Most cats hate the smell of citrus and lavender. --- Put dishes of dry food in the cat's favorite spots. Remember, cats like separate living and toileting areas. --- Rub a cloth between your cat's eyes and ears. Then rub the cloth on the problem areas. The smell of her own scent may reassure her enough to stop using that place instead of her box. — Try an electronic ScatMat. The cat won’t like the tingling sensation underfoot and will stay away. — If your cat is spraying, cover the vertical area with shelf paper, sticky side down, or plastic. The urine will bounce off the shelf paper or plastic and hit the cat. Don’t put plastic on the floor. Some cats like to urinate on it. — Spray Feliway everyplace where the cat is spraying or put little mounds of catnip there. Again ,the friendly scent discourages urine marking. |
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