Pelushka Persians

 

Inappropriate Elimination

 

 

Urinating and defecating outside of the litter box, also known as “inappropriate elimination,” is one of the most common problems encountered by cat owners. Once you have made certain that there is not an underlying medical cause, you can be quite sure that your cat's behavour is the result of a problem with his/her litter tray.

 

Sadly, in many cases the fault lies not with the cat, but with the owner.  When someone is asked how often they flush their toilet, the answer is usually, "every time it is used."   We would be appalled at the thought of anything less, so why do owners expect their cats to use dirty litter boxes instead of just going somewhere else?  People tend to forget that a cat’s sense of smell is infinitely more sensitive than their own.  This, added to the fact that cats are, by nature, clean animals, can create a problem when litter trays are allowed to become unpleasant for the cat to use.  Think about how a feral cat would behave in the wild.  He wouldn’t be confined to one specific area approximately 1’ x 2’, nor would he choose to walk around in his own waste.  He would simply find another place to use.

 

Main reasons for a cat to stop using the Litter Tray

 

·         Medical problem -This should always be the first consideration.

·         Dirty Litter Tray

·         Poor choice of Cat Litter

·         Poor location of Litter Tray

·         Litter Tray too small

·         Insufficient number of Litter Trays

 

Many medical issues such as diabetes, cystitis and bladder stones can be avoided by feeding alternative food other than dry food. The increased water content and the decreased carbohydrate content of wet/canned food are considered healthier for your cat than dry. 

 

The Do’s and Do Not's

Do:

·         Seek veterinary attention if your cat stops using the litter box.

·         Scoop the litter box a minimum of twice daily.

·         Use clumping litter. 

·         Use unscented litter.

·         Keep the litter deep and to the recommended level.

·         Use large litter trays.

·         Have enough litter trays available.

·         Have litter trays placed in a quiet area.

·         If you use a litter mat, make sure it is comfortable for your cat to walk on.

 

Do Not:

• Use litters that do not clump.
• Use pellet (pine or newspaper) or crystal/white pearl litters.
• Use scented litters or deodorizers.
• Use hooded litter boxes merely to mask odours!
• Use plastic 'grass' mats.
• Punish your cat for not using the litter box.
• Leave litter tray cleaning for your children to take care of.

Types of Litter

 

It is crucial to be able to remove both the faeces and urine each time the box is cleaned.  Clumping litter is the only litter that allows for this to be done.  Complete removal of the urine is not possible with the non-clumping clay, pearl or pellet type litters and even a small amount of urine will smell strong to a cat.  

 

Always try to use unscented litters and do not add any deodorizers to the litter or around the litter box.  Cats are often put off by scented litters and perfumed environments.  In addition, the perfume chemicals can get on their coats. If a litter tray is cleaned and maintained correctly there is no need for perfumed additives. Furthermore, you should be removing the odours not trying to disguise them!

 

Do not use plastic liners in the litter tray as cats can get their claws stuck in them when ‘digging’.

 

 

 

Litter Tray – Size, Number and Location        

 

Whilst I don’t recommend the use of ‘Hooded’ litter boxes, there may be occasions when the combination of a litter tray and a hooded box can be useful in giving your cat a choice and offering privacy to a timid cat. However, it may also have the effect of making the cat feel trapped, and of course will trap odours as well.  If you decide to try a hooded box, remove any filter that may be in the top so that you create better ventilation and light and allow any odour to escape, and check frequently for usage.

 

The size of the litter tray is very important.  It is very common for people to choose a tray that is too small.  The larger the tray the better, as there is less chance of your cat missing and soiling the area outside or stepping in the waste material, and also the more inviting the litter box is to your cat, the more likely he/she is to use it. 

 

Not only the number but also the location of the litter tray is very important. Some cats will not use a litter tray if it has been used by another cat and others may prefer to urinate in one tray and defecate in another.  A timid cat may find his way to the litter tray blocked by a more dominant cat in the household. In these situations it is important to have enough litter trays placed in both quiet and ‘safe’ areas. A utility/laundry room is often not the ideal place due to the noise from a washing machine, tumble dryer etc., and has led to many litter tray problems.  Also, do not place the litter trays near to your cat’s eating area, (I doubt whether you would want to eat your meals in the bathroom!)

 

If you decide to use a Litter Mat to reduce the trail of litter, do not use a plastic 'grass' type mat as this is very uncomfortable for your cat to walk on, and could lead to him/her avoiding the litter tray. An off cut of carpet works just as well as commercially manufactured mats.

 

 

Cleaning the Litter Tray

 

Scoop the litter tray at least twice a day removing all faeces and urine and top up the level as necessary. If the sides of the tray become soiled, transfer the litter into a clean tray, wash the soiled one in warm soapy water and rinse with a solution of diluted (1:30) bleach.  By keeping the litter and tray clean in this manner, you will find you will not have to discard the whole contents of the tray quite so often, and your cat will certainly appreciate your efforts!

It is also important to keep the Scoop clean.  Using a dirty scoop will add bacteria to the litter.

 

Finally, it is much easier to prevent an ‘inappropriate elimination’ problem by proper management of the litter tray than it is to rectify one once it starts.  Not all of the issues that cause cats to stop using the litter tray are within their owner’s control, but many are!