The main concern of many owners of indoor cats is that their cats have stopped using their litter boxes. This is not just aggravating, but it can be very costly as trips to the vet and cleaning expenses add up quickly.
If this is happening, your cat is trying to tell you that something is wrong. It's up to us as our pet's caretaker to understand what exactly is wrong and then fix it! To do just that, let's consider a lot of the common reasons cats stop using their litter boxes.
Dirty Cat Litter Box. Indoor cats are really particular in terms of having a clean litter box. If you haven't been vigilant about keeping your cat's litter box nice and clean, then you can definitely expect litter box problems from your cat. In fact, we've probably all opted at least one time or another to go to the bathroom ourselves in the great outdoors instead of going in a filthy outhouse or gas station bathroom. It's no different for your cat.
If the box is dirty, then you'll need to thoroughly clean it along with the area around it. Empty out all the dirty litter, wash the box using a cleaning solution such as diluted bleach, and refill it with new litter. Use Nature's Miracle, an enzyme that kills odors, to wash the area around the cat litter box, including the walls. A black light will reveal where the stains are. Clean and/or replace any litter box rugs or mats you may keep outside the box.
Scoop out the litter frequently, at least one or two times per day. Completely replace the cat litter, taking good care to wash the box, each month.
Sickness. Indoor cats are prone to developing kidney and urinary tract infections. These conditions can be painful for cats and may lead them to eliminating outside the litter box. It's hard to tell when a cat is suffering because cats are good at hiding their symptoms. Therefore, if you at all suspect your cat may be ill, please seek immediate attention from your veterinarian! As with humans, the longer a health issue goes undetected and untreated, the more difficult it is to treat.
A good way to help prevent your cat from developing urinary complications to begin with is to make sure that your cat gets an adequate amount of water on a consistent basis. Feeding your cat quality canned food with good water content and providing your cat with a fountain are two of the best approaches to make sure your cat's water intake is sufficient on an ongoing basis.
Placement: Cats need peace and tranquility when they use their litter boxes. Maybe the cat litter box is near an appliance that makes intermittent noises, or perhaps your cat needs to walk past a grumpy dog. Look at this from your cat's viewpoint and choose a better location. Make sure your cat has free entry to the location at all times (i.e., if it's in the basement, make sure the basement door is constantly open). Also, make certain the cat litter box is away from your cat's eating area.
Types of Litter and/or Litter Box: If you are using scented cat litter, switch immediately to unscented cat litter. Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat is an excellent choice, and so is ScoopAway's unscented clumping cat litter. There are other types of litter out there, including corn or pine based cat litters. Many cats do not like these other types of litter. If uncertain, go with clay.
Enclosed litter boxes trap odors and dust, which can lead to respiratory problems; litter boxes that are too small aren't comfortable for cats to use; and self-cleaning boxes can malfunction and startle your cat. If any of these describes your situation, change to a large, uncovered litter pan.
Going Forward Since we all know that bad habits are hard to break, it's much better to keep them from developing in the first place. Here are seven things you can do to prevent future litter box problems: 1) Keep the litter box clean at all times. 2) Keep an extra litter box. The rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one. 3) To help prevent urinary illnesses, ensure your cat gets enough water by feeding canned food and supplying a fountain. Get your cat regular check-ups with your veterinarian. 4) Use scent-free litter. 5) Use a large, uncovered litter box. 6) Look for a quiet spot for the cat litter box that is nowhere near your cat's eating area. 7) Praise your indoor cats for using the box! Establish a code word, such as "box" and use it with your cat when you praise him so he learns the word. Then you can remind him if troubles do arise at some point down the road.
If this is happening, your cat is trying to tell you that something is wrong. It's up to us as our pet's caretaker to understand what exactly is wrong and then fix it! To do just that, let's consider a lot of the common reasons cats stop using their litter boxes.
Dirty Cat Litter Box. Indoor cats are really particular in terms of having a clean litter box. If you haven't been vigilant about keeping your cat's litter box nice and clean, then you can definitely expect litter box problems from your cat. In fact, we've probably all opted at least one time or another to go to the bathroom ourselves in the great outdoors instead of going in a filthy outhouse or gas station bathroom. It's no different for your cat.
If the box is dirty, then you'll need to thoroughly clean it along with the area around it. Empty out all the dirty litter, wash the box using a cleaning solution such as diluted bleach, and refill it with new litter. Use Nature's Miracle, an enzyme that kills odors, to wash the area around the cat litter box, including the walls. A black light will reveal where the stains are. Clean and/or replace any litter box rugs or mats you may keep outside the box.
Scoop out the litter frequently, at least one or two times per day. Completely replace the cat litter, taking good care to wash the box, each month.
Sickness. Indoor cats are prone to developing kidney and urinary tract infections. These conditions can be painful for cats and may lead them to eliminating outside the litter box. It's hard to tell when a cat is suffering because cats are good at hiding their symptoms. Therefore, if you at all suspect your cat may be ill, please seek immediate attention from your veterinarian! As with humans, the longer a health issue goes undetected and untreated, the more difficult it is to treat.
A good way to help prevent your cat from developing urinary complications to begin with is to make sure that your cat gets an adequate amount of water on a consistent basis. Feeding your cat quality canned food with good water content and providing your cat with a fountain are two of the best approaches to make sure your cat's water intake is sufficient on an ongoing basis.
Placement: Cats need peace and tranquility when they use their litter boxes. Maybe the cat litter box is near an appliance that makes intermittent noises, or perhaps your cat needs to walk past a grumpy dog. Look at this from your cat's viewpoint and choose a better location. Make sure your cat has free entry to the location at all times (i.e., if it's in the basement, make sure the basement door is constantly open). Also, make certain the cat litter box is away from your cat's eating area.
Types of Litter and/or Litter Box: If you are using scented cat litter, switch immediately to unscented cat litter. Dr. Elsey's Precious Cat is an excellent choice, and so is ScoopAway's unscented clumping cat litter. There are other types of litter out there, including corn or pine based cat litters. Many cats do not like these other types of litter. If uncertain, go with clay.
Enclosed litter boxes trap odors and dust, which can lead to respiratory problems; litter boxes that are too small aren't comfortable for cats to use; and self-cleaning boxes can malfunction and startle your cat. If any of these describes your situation, change to a large, uncovered litter pan.
Going Forward Since we all know that bad habits are hard to break, it's much better to keep them from developing in the first place. Here are seven things you can do to prevent future litter box problems: 1) Keep the litter box clean at all times. 2) Keep an extra litter box. The rule of thumb is one box per cat plus one. 3) To help prevent urinary illnesses, ensure your cat gets enough water by feeding canned food and supplying a fountain. Get your cat regular check-ups with your veterinarian. 4) Use scent-free litter. 5) Use a large, uncovered litter box. 6) Look for a quiet spot for the cat litter box that is nowhere near your cat's eating area. 7) Praise your indoor cats for using the box! Establish a code word, such as "box" and use it with your cat when you praise him so he learns the word. Then you can remind him if troubles do arise at some point down the road.
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