MEDFORD VETERINARY CLINIC
Small Animal Newsletter March 2015
Medford office 715-748-2341 898 S. Gibson Street 1010 North Division Street
Colby Office 715-223-2858 Medford, WI 54451 Colby, WI 54421
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Solving Cat Litter Box Problems
When your cat won’t use the litter box -- and at least 10% of all cats develop an elimination problem -- the cause could be anything from an unclean box to an illness.
If you’ve just introduced a new cat to your household, make sure the litter box is as cat-friendly as possible to prevent a problem in the future.
You can try some easy strategies to get them back in the litter box but have them checked out by a veterinarian to rule out a health problem if they don’t resolve quickly or the cat seems ill.
These common litter box problems could be repelling your cat:
· An unclean litter box
· Too few litter boxes for the cats in the household
· A cramped litter box
· A litter box with a hood or liner
· A litter box with sides that are high
· Too much litter in the box
· An uncomfortable location that doesn’t allow for privacy and multiple escape routes
· A change in the kind of litter your use
· Negative associations. Your cat may have been upset while using the box. They may also connect using the box with painful eliminations, even if their health is back to normal
· Stressors like moving, adding new animals or family members to the household
· A conflict with another cat in the household
· A new preference for eliminating on certain surfaces or textures like carpet, potting soil, or bedding
Medical conditions causing litter box problems
Your cat may have a medical condition that makes urinating too painful -- in or out of the litter box. Common medical conditions which may affect litter box use include:
· Urinary tract infection (UTI). If your cat frequently enters her litter box but produces small amounts of urine, she may have a UTI. Your veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics for this infection.
· Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. FIC is a complex form of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) that causes inflammation of the bladder. It can cause a cat to eliminate outside the litter box because of the urgency to urinate. Your veterinarian may recommend a treatment plan.
· Struvite or Calcium Oxalate crystals. Your veterinarian may recommend a prescription diet to dissolve crystals.
· Bladder stones. If your cat has bladder stones, she may frequently enter her litter box. She may also experience pain and meow or cry when she tries to eliminate. Some bladder stones may require surgery for removal.
· Urinary blockage occurs when no urine passes through the urethra resulting in frequent trips to the litter box but no urine is voided. Their abdomen may be tender to the touch and cry more than usual. This is fatal in a short amount of time. A surgical intervention will be needed with hospitalization.
When kitty eliminates outside the litter box
If your veterinarian has ruled out a health problem, you can make a few changes to see if you can steer your cat back to the litter box:
· Scoop and change your cat’s litter at least once a day.
· Thoroughly rinse out the box with baking soda or unscented soap once a week.
· Use less litter. Cats like a shallow bed of litter -- no more than two inches deep.
· Use a larger litter box.
· Use clumping, unscented litter of a medium to fine texture or the litter she used as a kitten. You could try putting a few clean boxes side by side, each with a different type of litter, to see which one your cat prefers.
· Don’t use box liners or lids.
· Try a self-cleaning box, which is generally cleaner than a traditional litter box.
· Move the litter box to a quiet, low-light location where your cat is able to see anyone approaching and can escape quickly. The litter box should be out of sight of her food and water dishes.
· Add a few litter boxes in different locations, all of which have multiple escape routes. Make sure that children or other animals don’t have access to the boxes.
· If your cat is old or arthritic, use a litter box with low sides so she can climb in easily.
· Provide a litter box for each of your cats, plus one extra. If you live in a multi-story residence, place a box on each level.
What not to do if your cat has a litter box problem
Getting kitty to eliminate in the box is about patience, not punishment. Here are a few no-no’s in retraining your cat:
Do not rub her nose in urine or feces.
Do not scold her and carry or drag her to the litter box.
Do not place the litter box near the place where pets eat or drink.
Do not give her treats to entice her to use the litter box. Cats don’t want to be disturbed while they are eliminating. However, you can place toys and treats near the box to help her overcome her aversion to the box.
Clean up accidents with an enzymatic cleanser rather than an ammonia-based cleanser. Then, cover the area with foil or plastic sheeting and block it off for a few weeks to give the neutralizer time to work.
Last-ditch efforts to combat litter box problems
If kitty doesn’t do her thing in the litter box, despite your efforts to make it as cat-friendly as possible, you may want to contact an animal behaviorist or consult with your veterinarian.