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Cat Article: Solving Cat Litter Box Problems - Part 1
Posted on Sunday, October 02, 2005====================================================
"Solving Cat Litter Box Problems" was written by Nan Kené Arthur, CPDT www.wholedogtraining.com.
Produced and edited by Well Beings - Senior Cat & Dog Products.
Copyright © 2005 WellBeings.com. All Rights Reserved.
====================================================
Healthy cats, both young and old alike, are regularly turned into shelters and often euthanized for inappropriate elimination problems. More cats are turned in for this than for any other behavior problem according to many statistics. In fact, in the United States 51% of all behavior help line calls for cats are about litter box issues.
What going on? No pun intended, but there seems to be an epidemic of littler box problems with our domestic cats. That's the bad news. The good news is that 75-80% of the problems can be solved with some management and simple changes in the household and daily routine. The remaining percentages can also be solved, but may require more of a thought process and a little more detective work to figure out why your cat is "thinking" outside of the box.
Whether you are trying to be pro-active to avoid any future problems with your cat's litter box, or problem solving an on-going litter box crisis, it's important that you rule out any health problems such as a urinary track infection or intestinal concerns that might lead to, or be the underlying reason for your cat's inappropriate elimination. A trip to the vet is always warranted when your cat's behavior or habits change.
Solving these issues can also be helped by keeping a written log to see if there are any patterns to the problem. There have been cases of cats going outside of their litter boxes each day due to air traffic, neighbors letting the barking dogs out, and when people are getting ready to go on vacation and the packing begins, to name just a few, so keeping a log can help flush out patterns that might otherwise go undetected is an important step to solving the problem.
Your log should include when your cat is fed, and the times of day when she used the litter box correctly, when she made a mistake, as well as notes about any stimulus in the environment such as noises, or visitors. Doing this for a couple of weeks may show you a pattern that can then be changed or at least modified to help your cat be more comfortable in her environment.
The food and water connection
There is more and more evidence that the quality of your cat's food may be a direct or in-direct link to your cat's current or future litter box problems. In the wild, cats eat their kill, which provides them with up to 80% of their daily intake of fluids. The urinary track system of a cat is a most efficient machine and acts as a super filter for toxins and waste, allowing the cat to absorb and utilize nearly their entire daily moisture intake from the small animals they eat. What little left over waste there is, it is highly concentrated and has very pungent order-- as any cat parent will note.
For years, cats seemed to be doing just fine when hunting for their own food, but the advent of dry food (which offers up convenience), found its way into homes across America, and low and behold, the onset of more litterbox issues. Modern veterinarians now recognize that too much of a good thing might just be the cause of a widespread problem, not to mention the increase in bladder and kidney disease.
The lack of moisture in the modern diets can be associated with the formation of crystals in the urine, causing pain, irritation, and, in the worst cases, blockages in the urinary track which if not handled immediately can be deadly.
There is also more evidence pointing toward the lack of moisture and all the grains used as protein and filler in dry food that might be associated with an increase in mega-bowel syndrome, which happens when food doesn't pass through the intestinal system as quickly as designed. Food then starts to compile and allows the bowel to stretch in places where waste becomes trapped and causes painful constipation and sometimes death if not treated.
Both of these conditions can create litter box problems since your cat feels pain when she enters the litter box to relieve herself. She then might decide it must be that darn litter box that is the cause of her discomfort.
For convenience, many feed their cats one of the **high-end dry foods minus all the grains, along with a course of quality wet food each day to prevent litter box problems associated with some of the medical issues, as well as help to get current litter box problems back on the right tract. Others have chosen to feed raw diets, and while these also have their benefits; they are not as convenient as some of the commercial brands.
Whether the verdict is in or not connecting the association between the increase of litter box problems and dry food diets, your cat will thank you with extra years of life and less vet visits by eating a better quality food.
**Please see food references at the end of this article.
How clean is your cat's water supply?
Adding to the problem of dry food woes is the fact that many cats are not drinking enough water on a daily basis. Cats have a powerful sense of smell and can detect even the smallest of odors. With that said, it's important that cats are provided fresh water everyday. Just because the water looks clean, doesn't mean it is. Cats carry a lot of bacteria in the ridges of their teeth as a means of defense. If they bite another cat, the wound often becomes infected, and if not treated, can cause death and thus get rid of other cats challenging their territory. People that work in the animal field will tell you they would rather be bitten by a dog than a cat for this reason.
It's not hard to imagine that the bacteria from your cat's mouth can easily contaminate the water source and prevent your cat or other cats in the household from drinking the required daily amounts of water.
Just as important as changing the water daily is the quality of the water. If your water has a high mineral content it could be adding to your cat's litter box issues by expediting the formation of crystals in their urine. In addition, if your tap water has high chlorine content, or has strong smells (strong in a cat sense) your cat might not choose to drink the water you offer. Using filtered or bottled water is an easy solution to ensure the best quality for your cat, and to help eliminate some of the associated problems.
The ins and outs of your cat's litter box
The type of box is the next consideration for successful litter box use. Many people think it's just a matter of buying a box and keeping it clean only to be surprised when Fluffy picks a different place to eliminate. Getting all the components correct sometimes may seem as obscure as waiting for all the planets to align, but being diligent is the real answer for finding the right combination of box, litter and location.
Many factors can contribute to potential litter box problems-- the type of litter, the type of box, the number of boxes, and location of boxes can all be important factors. In the wild, cats have access to lots of different places to eliminate and are able to find the surfaces they like; where as in our homes, they are often relegated to one place, with one type of surface available for elimination, which may or may not be in a place where the cat is comfortable.
The easiest way to prevent problems or help your cat be successful with the litter box is to have a couple of boxes in different locations. This is really important if you have more than one cat, with the rule of thumb being at least one box per cat, plus one more. These should be in different locations, (not lined up next to each other) so your cat has a choice of where to go when in different parts of the home.
It may seem a little extreme to some people to have that many boxes in a limited space home, but dealing with litter box problems is much more inconvenient than having a few litter boxes around. Luckily there are some space-saving options available.
Types of cat litter boxes
Covered litter boxes are such a nice convenience for us, but often found to be the root of many litter box issues for cats. The combination of multi-cat households and covered boxes is one of the more common reasons for litter box problems. This is especially true if one cat bullies the other around, or is new to the household. A timid cat can feel extremely vulnerable in a covered box since she won't be able to see the other cat that might be preparing to ambush her.
Another problem with covered boxes is that they can retain very strong odors inside (the reason humans like them), but those smells may be overly offensive to some cats, especially if it's not their odor, but from other cats in the house.
Some cats are just plain scared of going into a covered box and will avoid using one no matter how attractive it's been made. It might be compared to us having to use a porta-potty at night-- you just never know what might be lurking in there!
Corner litter boxes are great for multi-cat homes since your cat will have walls behind her on two sides and a great visual from the front to keep an eye open for things that might concern her, like other cats or a dog. These are also a favorite for saving space in smaller homes and for those people that might feel like the litter boxes have become the centerpieces of their decor. These can be easily disguised by a piece of furniture or a nice little screen.
The self-scooping boxes can be great for cats that are picky about box cleanliness, but be aware that some cats find the motor noise scary and will avoid them. There are a number of new machines on the market, but most are expensive and have a number of moving parts that could be frightening for your kitty.
The basic rectangle box is the standard classic. This type of box comes in many sizes and depths, which will give you lots of choices in your search to find the perfect box for your cat. The best thing is to have a couple of options since some felines prefer really deep litter and others very shallow. Giving your cat a couple of choices until you have figured out her favorite is the ideal way to discover your cat's preference. The Cats International's website suggests that all boxes be at least 16 X 22 inches to give your cat enough room to move around comfortably when in the box.
There are some cats that would prefer to have more vertical areas when they urinate and that can be accommodated by using two boxes-- one flat, the other tipped on its side with one side cut out so it can sit flat inside the other box to provide a nice and tidy vertical surface. You might also entertain making some special wall guards from Plexiglas that can sit behind and under the box, but can still be easily cleaned to accommodate your cat. This is not just a male preference; many female cats also like to urinate more vertically.
Liners and litter box mats can also be problematic for some cats. Use caution when placing anything plastic under the box, as some cats hate walking on plastic and others love to urinate on it. The same with box liners- some cats are fine with them when the litter is shallow, but other cats wouldn't consider using a box were they could feel the plastic under their feet. Again, this is the kind of detective work that you will need to do to find the right combinations for your cat.
Choosing the best location for your cat's litter box
Many cats are unable to handle a noisy or busy location such as a laundry room or hallway where there is a lot of foot traffic. When considering different locations for boxes, look and listen to detect if there are things that might worry or scare your cat. Laundry rooms, while a nice area to keep the box out of sight, are often disastrous for cats. Not only are some cats scared by the noises, but also the smells of soaps and bleaches are offensive to many cats.
Also consider that going to great lengths to locate and travel to her litter box might not be on your cat's agenda when the carpet or your bed is more conveniently located. That is why it is essential to consider having at least one box on each level, and each end of the house, (including the basement if you have one) to make it as convenient as possible for your cat to us it. This is especially true if you have an older cat that prefers to stay in one area of the house or in multi-cat households where the cats have established territories that they wouldn't want to leave.
Get to know your cat and watch her in different parts of the house. Watch to see if she appears fearful or cautious as she walks around in different areas. If your cat shows any signs of stress or anxiety in one area or another, relocate the box elsewhere.
Sometimes solving a litter box problem is as simple as moving the box away from sliding windows, (or any window) where your cat might see a cat or a dog outside from time to time. These visuals can be very intimidating to some cats. There was a recent case where the litter box was next to a slider window so the woman could open it a bit to give her cat some fresh air during the day and to help keep the litter box odor down. The cat in question was pooping under a table, about 10 feet away from the box, but not all the time. As it turned out, there was a neighborhood cat marking the screen of the slider and whenever the window was open, her cat refused to go near the box since she was then able to smell the other cat right next to her box. As soon as the box was moved, the problem was solved.
If you are already experiencing problems with your cat, you may need to confine her to a smaller space with access to her box. If you decide to use confinement, think resort, not jail and enrich the area with fun things for your cat such as a climbing tree and food-dispensing toys. Also remember, that you are the most important thing in your cat's life, so visit often so she doesn't feel abandoned during this behavior modification process. You will use all of the same ideas and products that are mentioned here, but in a smaller area to prevent your cat from continuing her inappropriate elimination habits.
Selecting the best cat litter
From clay to clumping, un-scented to crystals or pearls, there is an ever-growing abundance of litter box products on the market. Not all, but a good number of these products are designed with the human nose in mind, and not necessarily your cat's comfort - some of the crystal-type products are a good example. Many cats use these products one time, and refuse to step in the box again. This is because when the high-acid urine mixes with the crystals, there is a chemical reaction that causes the crystals to make a little sizzling sound under your cat's behind - oh, my!
Litter preferences are in the eye of the beholder, so to speak, and you may have to try a number of different products to find one that your cat likes. You may also need to have a couple of different types for those cats that like to urinate in one type of litter, and poop in another.
Some finicky cats also have a preference for different types of textures. If your cat tends to have accidents on soft items such as clothing or bedding, try a fine-grain, and softer litter. If your cat goes on smooth hard surfaces such as tile, linoleum, etc., try only a tiny scattering of litter to cover the plastic of the box so she feels the hard surface under her feet. Some cats like their litterbox lined in newspaper (be careful not to use papers with colored ink as it can be toxic) and some cats will use only litter made from newspaper.
Whatever type of litter you find your cat will use, be sure to stick with it and don't be lured to buy the cheaper brands when they are on sale, as it may not be such a bargain after all.
How often should you clean your cat's litter box?
Keeping the litter box clean is important not only for health reasons, but many cats will not seek out a box that isn't manicured at least daily, and sometimes more.
As a rule, most cats will urinate where they have urinated in the past, but the majority of cats will not defecate in the exact spot as before. If you have one of those cats, it's important that you scoop the feces shortly after your cat uses the box.
Other than completely changing the litter on a regular schedule, the only other cleaning the box needs is a mild soap and warm water rinsing once a month or so. Using harsh chemicals to clean the box is not only dangerous for cats since they can absorb chemicals into their bodies very quickly; many of the smells are deterrents to cats. Bleach is a no-no for cats, as are most products that use heavy perfumes, and especially those with citrus or pine scents. These can all be deterrents as well as toxic for your cat, so a simple cleaning routine is called for.
Lysol-type products can cause a number of physical problems, including death for cats, so avoid using deodorants to cover the smell, rather, pledge to keep the box cleaner.
If your cat does have accidents it imperative that you get the entire odor out so your cat is not drawn to use that space again. Products that use enzymes, such as Urine-Off, Nature's Miracle or Anti-Icky-Poo, are among the best cleaners to use on cat urine.
Other factors to consider when dealing with litter box problems
Cats have a distinct and powerful range of smells that include a heightened ability to smell nitrogen which is found in urine, feces and rotting meat of all things (no wonder they won't touch the left over food in their bowls after a couple of hours). A cat's sense of smell is a far more powerful sense than their eyesight, which is approximately 10 times less than ours-- some experts describe a cat's eyesight akin to looking through the bottom of a soda bottle. (Just to clarify, what your cat gives up in their ability to see sharpness, they gain with seeing movement at a heightened level as well as being able to see that movement in very low lighting situations, although not in total darkness as some might believe.)
A cat's nose has about 200 million odor-sensitive cells, (humans have only about 5 million), making the cat's sense of smell so sensitive that they can detect a single odorant in their environment. It's no wonder that some cats are highly stressed when something is added or changed in their world.
Changes like adding a new piece of furniture, a new roommate, changing the litter to a scented brand, or even coming home with the smell of cigarettes on you could send your cat into a tail-spin and leave her feeling like she needs to re-establish her territory by urinating outside of the box.
Beyond the sense of smell, cats also get used to their routines and are very unsettled when things are not the norm. New people moving into the house or people leaving (going away to school, divorce, etc.) can upset a cat greatly, resulting in your cat using comfort areas of the house such as places where your scent remains- the bed, a couch, laundry, etc., as her toilet to make her feel more at ease with the change in routine.
Even something that might seem minor in your eyes, such as rearranging furniture, can be major and unsettling to your cat. That does not mean you can't do such things, you will just need be aware and watch your cat for any negative reactions. The correlation between lifestyle changes and inappropriate urination problems are often prevalent.
Using a product called Feliway is another way to greatly diminish your cat's anxiety. It is a cat pheromone spray or plug-in dispenser that mimics the pheromones located in a cat's cheek scent glands-the scent she rubs all over when she is happy and content! By spraying the product on surfaces or having the plug-in type in the area where your cat has had accidents will send her the message that she doesn't have to "mark" since this area already has her scent.
====================================================
"Solving Cat Litter Box Problems" was written by Nan Kené Arthur, CPDT www.wholedogtraining.com.
Produced and edited by Well Beings - Senior Cat & Dog Products.
Copyright © 2005 WellBeings.com. All Rights Reserved.
====================================================
<--------------- End Of Article Part 1 ----------------->
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