Love That Litter

Cats don't stop using their litter boxes out of anger or spite. There is always a reason. And in the cat's eyes, it's a good reason! A cat who has stopped using its litter box should been seen by a veterinarian immediately. Even the slightest infection can make a cat uncomfortable enough to avoid its box. Here are some suggestions for getting your cat to love that litter.

The Box
- Is the litter clean enough for the cat? Scoop the box daily. Change clay litter at least once a week.
- Provide enough boxes. The rule of thumb is one for every two cats. Some cats like to urinate in one box and defecate in another.
- Take the hood off your litter box. Some cats hate hooded boxes.
- The box should be easy for the cat to use. For instance, if your cat is elderly, she may do better with a storage box with lower sides.
- When you disinfect the box, rinse it thoroughly. The smell of disinfectant may mask the cat's own scent, discouraging her from using the box. Also, some cleaning compounds are toxic to cats.

The Litter
Remember, cats are creatures of habit and hate sudden changes. So be sure to conduct any experiments with a second box!
- Try different kinds of litter until you find one your cat likes.
- Many cats prefer the sandy feeling of clumping litter. Clumping litter also keeps the box neater.
-Also, many actually like the Pearl type or the natural type of pine or wheat.
- Adjust the amount of litter. Maybe there's too little - or too much - in the box.
- Try different materials. Your cat may prefer shredded newspaper, potting soil, carpet remnants...

The Location
- Make sure the litter box is in a location that's convenient for your cat. Many cats consider the basement inconvenient!
- Your cat should be able to see an escape route while she's in her box. The box should be in a private spot where she won't be disturbed or frightened.
- Keep the litter box away from your cat's food. Cats are very fastidious and like their toileting areas to be separate from their living space.
- Use a second box to experiment with new locations.
-Add additional boxes for each floor, especially if you have an elderly cat residing with you.

Causes Of Litter Box Aversion
- Illness
- Stress: A change in routine or the cat's environment, a new family member and visiting cats are all stressful and can cause litter box problems.
- Declawing: Some declawed cats develop litter box aversions.

Behavior Modification
- Clean soiled areas with a product specially formulated for pet clean-ups. Two favorites are Nature's Miracle and Simple Solution.
- Find and remove the source of the cat's stress. Chase away visiting outdoor cats; keep the dog away from the cat's litter box area; make the toddler stop tormenting the cat...
- Cover the area with vinyl carpet runner - bumpy side up. The cat won't like walking on this slippery, lumpy surface. As a further deterrent, spray the area with a citrus scent - most cats hate the smell of citrus.
- Cover the area with shelf paper, sticky side down. This is especially effective for spraying cats, since the urine bounces off the shelf paper and hits the cat.

Thinking Out Of The Box
There's no rule that says your cats need "official" litter boxes. Some cats prefer storage boxes because they're roomier. And some people prefer them be-cause the ones with high sides minimize the amount of litter scat-tered on the floor.
You don't have to use "real" litter either. Since your goal is to encourage your cat to use her box, you might have to compromise and use her choice of filler. Potting soil, carpet scraps, old towels, even an empty box - they'-ll all work if they please your cat.
- Put a dish of food in the cat's favorite soiling spot. Remember, cats like separate living and toileting areas.
- Ask your veterinarian about Feliway. The friendly (cheek hormone) scent discourages urine marking.
- Give the cat access to the outdoors: build an outdoor enclosure (you can buy a huge dog cage and use that); put a containment system on your fence; walk your cat on a leash or provide some supervised outdoor time. Being outside for even a short time is a great stress reliever for many cats.

If All Else Fails
- Confine your cat to one room until she gets into the habit of using her box again. Make sure she has plenty of her favorite food and water and lots of toys. Spend time with her, and shower her with praise when she uses her box.
- Ask your veterinarian about medication to relieve your cat's stress while you're working on behavior modification
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This was written with love for cats by Missy Zane of the Howard County Cat Club, and reprinted & edited with permission. This may not be duplicated with out written permission.