Understanding and Correcting Litter Pan Problems

Uh-oh, Kitty left a present in the corner.  Maybe it was the bathtub, or a burner on the stove, or- heaven forbid- your bed.  Has this happened before or is this a new behavior?  Did your cat make sure that she had your attention immediately before the indiscretion took place?  It is very important to rule out a medical problem when a cat stops using their litter pan. Urinary tract infections, intestinal upsets, parasites or impacted anal glands are just a few medical causes of inappropriate elimination.  If your cat receives a clean bill of health from your veterinarian, it's time to look elsewhere for the cause. Don't overlook the obvious -cats who have not been spayed or neutered will often spray urine.  This practice is prevalent among tom cats and females in season (heat).  Having your pet neutered will in most cases stop the behavior immediately.

Cats are very clean animals, and their sense of smell is at least 60 times greater than a human's.  So, if YOU can smell the litter pan, imagine what your cat is smelling!  Cleanliness is the biggest rule.  What is the first thing you do upon entering a public toilet that has not been flushed?  You turn around and leave, don't you?  You must scoop their litter pans daily to prevent unwanted odor and kitty presents in the corner.  It may be necessary to put out more than one litter pan, each with a different type of litter to see what your cat prefers.  Some cats will not use heavily scented litters, or litter made out of things other than clay.

Some cats show a preference between covered versus uncovered litter pans.  If you have more than one cat, you will need on the average one litter pan per each cat.  At least every 2 weeks, and preferably weekly, you should discard all cat litter from your pans, and soak the litter pans in a bleach/water solution (1 part household bleach to 32 parts water) for 30 minutes in order to disinfect and deodorize them. Use care to completely rinse the bleach solution from the litter pans. Do not use any other type of a household cleaner. Lysol and PineSol for example, are highly toxic to cats.

Sometimes, a cats failure to use a litter pan is stress induced.  Did you move your furniture around recently?  Cats HATE that.  Is there a new person or pet in the house?  Did you change brands of cat litter or move their litter pan?  Are you going through a rough time yourself?  Cats are very sensitive creatures; litter box problems can be triggered by a change so slight that you may not recognize it as the cause.  In general, cats do like privacy, and prefer that their litter boxes be placed in a low-traffic area.

If your cat has an accident, it is very important that all traces are removed.  That sensitive nose on your kitty that keeps her out of a dirty litter box will lead her back to accident sites time again. (Go figure...)  Contact your carpet manufacturer for cleaning instructions.  On hard surfaces, blot up any accidents and wash the area thoroughly with a vinegar/water solution, or a commercial pet stain cleaner containing enzymes that will eliminate any slight odor.  You may cover the newly cleaned area with a piece of aluminum foil, or move your cats feeding dish to the spot as a further deterrent.

If Fluffy loves to use your prized floor plants in lieu of her litter pan, wrap the tops of the pots with aluminum foil, or add pine cones as a deterrent.  I like the pine cones myself..

 On the toughest cases of litter box avoidance, it may be necessary to confine the cat to a small room such as a bathroom until potty habits are re-established.  The cat may then have access to 2 rooms, then 3, and so on.  Many people have had great success with a product called Dr. Elsey's Cat Attract litter.  Sometimes it is necessary to medicate a kitty with tranquilizers, anti- depressants, or hormone therapy to change their behavior.  This should ONLY be done with direct veterinary supervision.

Don't give up!  Feline misbehavior can be corrected given understanding,  patience and effort on their owners' part.