| LITTERBOX PROBLEMS? |
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| Take your cat immediately to a veterinarian & have it checked for a urinary tract problem ...... it may be associating the box with the pain it feels when it eliminates ...... although lower urinary tract problems are more common, diabetes or renal failure can cause excess urination resulting in a wet box a cat may wish to avoid. If not medical problem: Is your cat neutered or spayed? If not, do so immediately! Has your kitty been declawed? We find these problems arise frequently with declawed cats as they feel more vulnerable to perceived threats. Poor Location Box in high traffic area where kitty disturbed during potty time?Is box easy to access? or hard to find? or unpleasant to use? Box in corner where kitty feels trapped? Moving box too much? Do not place box in area where anything may suddenly make noise such as water heaters, washing machines, furnaces, etcKitty needs a private, easily accessible, quiet place. Dirty Litterbox All cats like a clean litterbox, but some like it cleaner than others. Kitty's sense of smell is much sharper than ours and may find the odor of the litterbox offensive and therefore avoid it. Litterbox should be scooped at least once daily - twice a day if necessary.Change litter completely once or twice a week - more often if necessary to maintain cleanliness and free of odor. Choice of Litter Switching litter brands. Cats can react negatively to changing the type of litter they are used to.Some prefer unscented litter.Texture of different litters can offend some cats.Other cats have extra-sensitive feet and experience discomfort stepping on harder types of litter.Especially "strong digging" cats can snag their claws on liners causing them to avoid the box. Many people have great success with CAT ATTRACT LITTER when all else fails. Size of LItterbox Small cat or kitten needs a box shallow enough to climb in easily.A large cat needs a box with room enough to maneuver.Some cats do not like the hood on covered litter boxes.Different cats prefer different types of litter boxes. You may have to experiment with several types to find the one that right for your feline. Need for Privacy Cats need privacy when using litter box.Box located in a high traffic area could be the problem. Box should be located in a quiet area where kitty will be undisturbed. Number of Litterboxes Multicat households may not have enough boxes. Ideally there should be one box for each cat.In multicat household, one or more cats may be territorial about the box, keeping the other/s away.Some cats will not urinate and defecate in the same litter box. Moving Location If box is moved to a noisier room, cat may find it hard to relax and attend to his needs.If you move the box to a room where an appliance makes a sudden noise, the cat could become afraid of the box by association.Moving litterbox to an area where kitty can hear noises from the outside such as other cats or dogs or near window where he can see stray cats can upset some cats leading to avoidance of the box. Intimidation Small child, dog, or another cat frightening kitty away from litter box. Cat must feel safe going to and from the box or while using it. |