Your cat may be avoiding its litter box as a consequence of different causes. Cats are notoriously pickyand this could be the reason some avoid, mysteriously, the use their litter box. To their heightened sense of smell, their litter box is stinky. If that's the only problem the solution is easy. The cat parent should clean the litter box and add some fresh litter.
Indoor / outdoor cats are used to going outside and any attempt to get them to use a litter box doesn’t work. This is particularly true for more mature cats who are resistant to training. Some more mature cats can be trained to use a litter box, but many cannot.
Other situations that can lead to a cat not to prefer its litter box includes a new pet being adopted into the household. A new animal can be a cause of stress for the resident cat, especially if the guardian wasn’t introducing them. A cat may also feel stressed if they’re surprisingly put upon by lots of people, if friends or neighbors drop by, or if there’s a new roommate or a new baby.
Sometimes health problems can cause a cat not to use the litter box. If a cat has cystitis, or a bladder infection, they might start to urinate around the house. Old cats might become a little incontinent and just not be able to get to the litter box in time. For this problem, some people suggest the loving solution of having more than one litter box just so the old boy or girl won’t have to travel so far.
Some cats, and not just more mature cats, suffer from joint disease, and so they can’t move as fast as they need to. In that case, the cat should see a vet where the joint disease can be properly diagnosed and cared for. A hot water bottle or a heating pad in their bed may ease their pain. There are even heated cat beds for that extra special accommodation.
If you've just brought home a new kitten, then you'll need to introduce the kitten gradually to the household. Your kitten may not know where the sand box is, so to prevent accidents it's advised to start your kitten in one room, with its own litterbox.
Other cats won’t use the litter box when they’re constipated due to diet or some problem in their g.i. tract. They unconsciously avoid the litter box as a source of pain. They don’t comprehend that the pain signifies there’s something improper with them. Of course, finding sand box substitutes in another spot doesn’t eliminate the pain either. Periodically giving the cat a bit of liquid paraffin could help them with constipation, but if it doesn’t, visiting a veterinarian is may be required. The cat’s digestive tract could be blocked by a fur ball and hopefully nothing more substantial than that.
The cat may also have blocked and infected anal glands. The owner can unblock them, but this is not a pleasant procedure, and it’s preferable to have a vet do it.
After the constipation or blockage has been treated, the owner may want to add some dietary fiber to the cat’s diet, such as bran.
Some cats eat the wrong thing and have a bout of diarrhea and again can’t get to the litter box on time. The owner should put the cat on a 24 hour fast and only feed it some mineral water. Then, they should introduce a teaspoon of plain yogurt three times a day. The owner should make sure the yogurt has live cultures. If the diarrhea persists, then the cat should see the vet.
As we’ve seen, most cat litter problems can be resolved!
Indoor / outdoor cats are used to going outside and any attempt to get them to use a litter box doesn’t work. This is particularly true for more mature cats who are resistant to training. Some more mature cats can be trained to use a litter box, but many cannot.
Other situations that can lead to a cat not to prefer its litter box includes a new pet being adopted into the household. A new animal can be a cause of stress for the resident cat, especially if the guardian wasn’t introducing them. A cat may also feel stressed if they’re surprisingly put upon by lots of people, if friends or neighbors drop by, or if there’s a new roommate or a new baby.
Sometimes health problems can cause a cat not to use the litter box. If a cat has cystitis, or a bladder infection, they might start to urinate around the house. Old cats might become a little incontinent and just not be able to get to the litter box in time. For this problem, some people suggest the loving solution of having more than one litter box just so the old boy or girl won’t have to travel so far.
Some cats, and not just more mature cats, suffer from joint disease, and so they can’t move as fast as they need to. In that case, the cat should see a vet where the joint disease can be properly diagnosed and cared for. A hot water bottle or a heating pad in their bed may ease their pain. There are even heated cat beds for that extra special accommodation.
If you've just brought home a new kitten, then you'll need to introduce the kitten gradually to the household. Your kitten may not know where the sand box is, so to prevent accidents it's advised to start your kitten in one room, with its own litterbox.
Other cats won’t use the litter box when they’re constipated due to diet or some problem in their g.i. tract. They unconsciously avoid the litter box as a source of pain. They don’t comprehend that the pain signifies there’s something improper with them. Of course, finding sand box substitutes in another spot doesn’t eliminate the pain either. Periodically giving the cat a bit of liquid paraffin could help them with constipation, but if it doesn’t, visiting a veterinarian is may be required. The cat’s digestive tract could be blocked by a fur ball and hopefully nothing more substantial than that.
The cat may also have blocked and infected anal glands. The owner can unblock them, but this is not a pleasant procedure, and it’s preferable to have a vet do it.
After the constipation or blockage has been treated, the owner may want to add some dietary fiber to the cat’s diet, such as bran.
Some cats eat the wrong thing and have a bout of diarrhea and again can’t get to the litter box on time. The owner should put the cat on a 24 hour fast and only feed it some mineral water. Then, they should introduce a teaspoon of plain yogurt three times a day. The owner should make sure the yogurt has live cultures. If the diarrhea persists, then the cat should see the vet.
As we’ve seen, most cat litter problems can be resolved!
About the Author:
Arlene McKanic is a longtime fan of the feline world, an experienced cat writer and occasional contributor to upscalecats.com. For another scoop into cat litter box cacotopias, check out Cat Behavior - Litter Box Omissions.
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