Dealing with litterbox issues

Dealing with Litter Box Issues

First and foremost, the cat must be checked out by a veterinarian to make sure there is no infection or anything medically going on. If this is a urination problem, there could be a urinary tract infection (UTI). If this is a defecation problem, the cat could have worms, giardia, or an allergy to a new food. If this has already been checked out, just follow the next steps.

Second and also very important, do not allow the cat to have the run of your house. It needs to be confined to one small room, such as a bathroom or laundry room. The room should not have carpeting.

Have there been any changes in the cat's life style: new pet, new baby, new house, a change in brand or type of litter, new additive to litter such as deodorizer, different type of litter box, person leaving home, or any other change? Cats do not like change.

The cat should have two litter boxes put in its room, one covered and one uncovered. Make one of the litter boxes a larger box than the cat usually uses; sometimes they need additional space. Some cats do not like covered boxes because they can be cornered with no escape route. Some cats like to use one box for urination and one for defecation. You will quickly find the answers to these questions when you clean the boxes. You will know which type of box the cat prefers.

The room should have a bed for the cat, food, and water, as well as favorite toys. Use only bottled, filtered, or distilled water. Sometimes a change in water can cause the problem.

Litter boxes need to be scooped or dumped twice a day, morning and night, so that the cat does not have an issue with whether its boxes are clean. If you find that scooping does not work, use only a small amount of litter and dump it daily. You can use the cheapest clay litter if this happens.

After a week, if the cat is using the litter box, let it out while you are home. Do this for only a few hours a day, as long as the cat continues to use the litter box. The cat should spend the night or any alone time in its room.

After a week of this, as long as the cat continues to use the litter box, let it out permanently.

If the cat should have an accident, be sure to clean up immediately and thoroughly. If the accident is on carpet, an enzyme cleaner should be used so that the smell is totally destroyed. Simple Solution by Brampton or Nature's Miracle are good cleaners and deodorizers. Note that the carpet pad may also need to be pulled out. There is also a product called Feliway that is guaranteed to work. It is used on the area where the accident occurred. Feliway also has an outlet plug in.

Thoroughly clean the litter boxes at least once a week. Do not use bleach unless you rinse all the bleach out and let the box dry in the sun. Bleach and urine combine to form a gas and also to create ammonia. Bleach will cause a cat to stop using the litter box.