Some of the things we have learned through trial and error are that cats are PICKY. (Betcha didn’t know that, eh? All us cat lovers have been keeping that a secret from the rest of the world.) Cats are notorious about their litter box preferences. Cats have accidents. Cats will alert you of changes in medical and temperament conditions via the litter box.
Cats are picky- yep, they sure are. How many of you have come home to find litter strewn about? How many of you have come home to discover pee and poo right beside the litter box? (Or elsewhere?) How many have tried to change litter brands, only to be informed in theatrical ways that the previous litter was the preferred one for the user not the buyer?
How many of you (with multiple cats) when switching to another type of litter (from clumping to pine) discovered all save one cat found the new type comparable; however, being he one was one of your seniors and known to be persnickety (as well as over anxious), you ultimately opted not to switch after all. (All of the cats didn’t seem to mind). We are now on an even keel with a mixture of both clay and clumping. Not only does it last longer (a must for any home with more than one cat) but the mixture provides an all over better smell, thus the cats prefer it.
Through trial and error we have learned where the best strategic places for litter boxes are. Doors to closets? Who needs doors? We removed them for more litter box space and easier access, replacing them with curtains. We have even learned that some curtains need to be pulled back lest the curtain gets pulled into the litter box and is sprinkled upon, creating a non inviting look and aroma. We have learned that when multiple cats are involved it is best to have a variety of litter boxes available. Some do prefer hooded to open. Some prefer the corner ones, and some even prefer top entering hooded ones, as opposed to the front entering ones. If you are opting for the automatic litter boxes, please be sure your cat is aware of the change and has a chance to become acclimated to the noise and different feel to the litter box. A change such as this could create unwanted litter box problems in a home. But if you have multiple cats, this type of litter box is not one I would recommend.
Cats have accidents. Yes, they sure do. But sometimes they are not accidents. They are signs and symptoms. Is your cat straining to urinate in the litter box? Is your cat only peeing in one, and pooping elsewhere? Is your cat having diarrhea? Is your cat urinating only in little dribbles and not a steady stream? Is there blood in the poo or urine? Is your cat declawed? Most people are not aware of the fact that one of the main reasons behind poor litter box habits is that a cat is declawed. The cat does not like the feel of litter on its paws. Without claws, they cannot maintain a sense of distance from their own waste (even though cats are also notorious for having litter paw, foot, tail, bum, etc). They do not want to *touch* it or another’s. Ick- how nasty for them, these regal creatures. So they let you know by peeing and pooping outside the litter box or by not covering it up, creating an unpleasant situation for the next user. If you notice that your cat is exhibiting any of these signs, take the cat in for a urinalysis. Determine what the problem is and how to *fix* it. The sooner, the best.
Did you know that some breeders paper train their cats? It cuts down on the silica dust in the cats’ fur. If you continue to have a problem with improper litter box habits, try a litter box with newspaper.
A few remedies to try
~ keep the cat confined to small space, such as a bathroom or closet (or a kennel)
~ change their food to a premium food, not the*junk* food found in grocery stores
~ try having one more litter box than you have cats
~ know that some cats like to pee in one, and poo in another
~ use cat attract litter
Clean litter boxes more than once daily. Clean often, the more there are cleaned the more they are used. The more they are cleaned the less volume you scoop up at each cleaning interval.
We may say it’s the least favorite thing about being owned by a cat(s) but, as with a baby and changing diapers- IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE.
