Top 5 Litterbox Problems Solved
Our experts provide answers to conquer common litterbox frustrations.
Wouldn’t it be great if we lived in a world where all cats were toilet-trained? Unfortunately, until that magical day arrives, we and our cats are stuck with litterboxes, and the complications that can accompany them. That’s why we asked several pet experts to answer the five most common complaints they encounter.
1. HOW DO I GET MY CAT TO STOP ELIMINATING OUTSIDE OF THE LITTERBOX?
One of the most common complaints veterinarians hear from pet owners is that their cats won’t use the litterbox. This problem is known as inappropriate elimination and can be a complex quandary. Your first step in solving this problem is to have your vet examine your cats to make sure there are no medical reasons for their behavior. If your cat is healthy, you can start to look at environmental factors causing your cats’ accidents.
As with real estate, the location of your cat’s litterbox does matter. “The single biggest problem that I find, at least with my clients, is that they often have an inappropriate location [for the litterbox].” says John Wright, a certified animal behaviorist and professor of psychology at Mercer University in Macon, Ga.
The litterbox must be in a quiet, private and safe place, Wright says. Places such as laundry rooms where washers and dryers rumble or basements where furnace heaters thump and hiss are not recommended, he says.
Not only does the litterbox need to be in the right location, but also keep it far from your cat’s food and water dishes. Cats don’t like to eat and drink in the same vicinity where they go to the bathroom, so keep them in separate rooms, says Jennifer Rockwell, a veterinarian with Montana Veterinary Specialists General Care in Helena, Mont. Would you want to eat by a Porta-Potty?
To ensure cats feel safe, make sure they have plenty of vacating options from the litterbox. Because cats are natural predators, they also are natural prey, so they need escape routes available to them when going to the bathroom. Cats can feel trapped in covered litterboxes, Rockwell says. Similarly, if you have a multi-cat household, keep litterboxes spread throughout the house to prevent any one cat becoming territorial over a litterbox and bullying others away from it, she says.
The number of litterboxes is also important to halting inappropriate elimination issues. Rockwell recommends keeping one litterbox per cat and then one extra. If you have three cats, you need four letterboxes.
Litterbox size plays another pivotal role. Larger cats require larger boxes. “Sometimes when I do my house calls, I’ll see [the owners] haven’t changed the size of the litterbox from what it was when the cat was a kitten and will find defecation outside of the box,” Wright says. “The cat wants to go in, but the litterbox is not big enough to do the job.”
Cats are finicky - no newsflash there - so also check to see if the litter itself is the source of avoidance. To test what litter(s) your cat prefers, set up about four litterboxes each filled with different types of litter that vary greatly in composition, texture and scent. At the end of each day write down which litter(s) your cat used, recommends Janice Willard, a veterinarian and behaviorist. At the end of the week, you should know your cat’s preference.
Were there any changes in your home lately? Holidays, new people moving into or out of the home, new pets, babies who have graduated into the toddler stage, and other animals that prowl outside the home are a few environmental stressors that can cause cats to go outside of the box, Willard says.
“[Your cat] isn’t doing it because he’s mad you got a boyfriend. He’s upset because he doesn’t have time with you and feels a loss of companionship.” Willard says. “People often think cats urinate outside the box because they’re doing it maliciously, but cats don’t do it maliciously.”
2. I’VE FOLLOWED ALL THE PROPER STEPS, SO WHY DOES MY CAT STILL REFUSE TO USE THE LITTERBOX?
Your cat may associate the litterbox with negative experiences, Wright says. He uses humans and going to the dentist as an example. If you’ve had only uhownpleasant experiences at the dentist, you may avoid going altogether. Cats can respond similarly. Cats suffering from urinary tract diseases, for example, may associate the litterbox with pain and discomfort and therefore avoid using it. In drastic cases such as these, Wright recommends changing as many of the environmental factors associated with the litterbox as possible, such as a new location, size, shape and the smells surrounding the litterbox. Continue to work with your veterinarian on different changes and consider consulting a behaviorist to devise a solution.
3. HOW DO I GET RID OF LITTERBOX ODORS?
Cleanliness is the primary force to banish litterbox odors. Scoop the box at least once a day and clean the litterbox with warm water and a mild dish soap at least once a week, Rockwell says. Avoid ammonia-type cleaners because cats dislike the ammonia scent. Next, try scented litters, but make sure your cat accepts them. Cats can develop aversions to foreign litters.
Rockwell also recommends scooping litter clumps whole instead of breaking them up. By breaking up clumps, you may miss some smaller pieces that can leave behind their smell. Odor-eliminating products are another option. These are sprinkled into the litter to bind and to absorb urine ammonia, but make sure your cat tolerates this.
4. HOW DO I KEEP MY FLOORS LITTER-FREE?
Is it difficult to distinguish where the litterbox ends and your floor begins? Litter tracked around the area surrounding the litterbox is another frustrating complaint of cat owners. Besides regular vacuuming and/or sweeping, here are other alternatives:
“I know one thing that’s really helped in my household is the plastic mats you can put right in front of the litterbox.” Rockwell says. Plastic or carpeted mats around the litterbox help catch the excess litter from your cat’s trip from the box. Plastic liners and litterbox lids can prevent litter confetti from covering your floor, but the petroleum smell or confinement can offend some cats, so make sure your cat agrees with these products.
5. HOW CAN I STOP THE DOGS FROM SNACKING IN THE LITTERBOX?
Many people who live in multi-pet homes are all too familiar with catching their dogs dining on the cat’s waste. While a freshly scooped box is the best defense against this, dogs sometimes beat owners to it. A baby gate can resolve this problem, Rockwell says. Place the gate on the floor to block the dogs but allow cats to jump over or position it about a foot off the ground to allow cats to crawl under and still restrict larger dogs.
Litterbox problems may arise as changes occur within your home and your cat, but knowing these solutions to basic problems will help you understand and solve them.
Cats and Overeating
Overeating can be a behavioral problem or a health issue.
Does your cat wake you up in the morning begging to be fed? Even worse, does he wake you in the middle of the night for a midnight snack?
There’s always a reason for excessive hunger in cats. Sometimes it signals underlying illness; sometimes it’s a matter of training or even boredom. Here’s what you need to know about your ravenous cat.
It seems obvious to say that a cat that is overweight is eating too much. However, some cats can free-feed and they’ll eat what they want and maintain a good weight. Other cats will eat everything put out and ask for more.
How much should your cat weigh? Optimum weight varies from one breed to another. Maine Coon cats are a large breed and should weigh in heavier than another breed, such as a Siamese. Body condition is where the focus is rather than body weight.
Assessing the body condition is done by feeling the cat’s ribs behind his shoulder blades and run your fingers lightly over his sides and chest. You should feel your fingers slightly fall in the gaps between the ribs.
To understand how this should feel, slide your fingers along the metacarpal bones on your opposite hand. Your cat’s ribs should feel the same way. Make a fist and slide your fingers over the knuckles of the fist. If your cat’s ribs feel like this – too prominent – then your cat is too thin and may be losing weight even if he eats a lot. Next, turn your hand over flat and feel the heel area of your hand (under the thumb). If your cat feels like this, he is too fat.
Check for abdominal fat by feeling the abdomen. You should not feel a pouch with fat in it. The abdomen should feel taut. Check both areas because some cats will carry their fat around the ribs while others will carry it in their abdomen.
Examine your cat’s conditioning once a month because weight can creep up over time. If you catch it early, you can take steps to reduce it before it becomes a problem. Even eating as little as one teaspoon more of food daily can add one pound of body fat by the end of a year.
Overeating as a Sign of Illness
If your cat seems extremely hungry and is gaining weight – or losing weight – see your veterinarian to determine if the increased appetite indicates an underlying disease. Causes of increased appetite include hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland), parasites in the intestinal tract, diabetes, and steroids.
Behavioral Reasons for Overeating
There are a number of reasons why your cat might overeat out of habit. The instinct to gorge oneself with food seems to be more prevalent in cats that have been strays or deprived of food in their early years.
Overeating often occurs in multi-pet households. With multiple cats that are free-fed, cats will compete to eat as much as they can because of fear that someone else will get their food if they don’t gobble it.
As with humans, some cats will eat out of boredom. This is especially true for cats left alone all day. If you think boredom is the problem, leave some toys around the house. There are toys that make the cat work for his reward of food, plus give him the benefit of activity.
The most common reason why cats overeat may be the behavior of their human family. Giving food is an important part of bonding and affection with people and we extend this to our pets. What is more valuable to the pet than the treat is the time you spend with interacting with him. Show your cat love by playing together more.
In rare cases, pets will eat and eat because they are emotionally incapable of stopping. It is very similar to the mental disorder suffered by humans called obsessive-compulsive disorder.
If all other causes are ruled out, check with your veterinarian to see if medications could help your cat control his urge to eat. Take weight concerns seriously because a little overweight for a pet can shorten life. Changes in eating, elimination, urination, vomiting, or diarrhea should be checked by your veterinarian, as well as increased thirst. Keep track 
how much you feed your cat and how many treats or other sources of food your cat gets. When your cat is in for its annual examination, the doctor will check your cat for weight issues; however remember to examine the cat’s body condition monthly at home. Before putting your cat on a diet, consult in your veterinarian for recommendations.
