P.O. Box 80663

Lincoln, NE  68501

402 - 476 - 4414

info@animalrescuesoc.org

Litterbox Issues and Problems

Let me begin by saying that litterbox issues should be few and far between and are very much the exception rather than the norm. It wouldn't be a stretch to say they are actually very rare. Cats, being the extraordinarily clean animals that they are, would prefer not to go in a box in the house at all, but if had their druthers would prefer to potty outdoors--another reason we advocate a balanced indoor-outdoor lifestyle. Just think of all the money one would save on litter and all the time one would save on emptying and cleaning litter boxes!  With the extra money one could prepare or purchase higher quality food for their companion and keep medical issues to a minimum.

Let us assume for a moment your cat has a perfectly balanced life and enjoys a high-quality diet that they really enjoy. But he/she is still pottying on the floor (often right outside the box). Happy, well-adjusted cats do not potty on the floor as it is natural for them to want to cover their feces. The first thing one must do is rule out any sort of health problem, beginning with UTI or  a "urinary tract infection."  Probably the easiest way to deal with this problem is a change of diet.  Switching to a higher-quality food or a formula sans grain might be called for  but incorporating fresh food into their diet is a must right now.  If they have previously been eating processed or commercially-prepared cat food, the first thing to do is introduce them to raw meat.  If the cat has never eaten anything but commercially-prepared food, this may be challenging at first. But we have found by being persistent that eventually almost every cat will come around and try the new raw food. In many cases, once it becomes accustomed to it, it will begin "asking" for it.  Remember, cats are a lot like children and sometimes have to be coaxed to try new things. We recommend starting the cat on ground turkey or chicken which you can buy in rolls (usually frozen).  No need to worry about bacteria even though some batches may contain salmonella or listeria or another bacteria.  Cat's guts are much shorter than humans and food passes through relatively quickly. That way if the food contains bacteria it does not stay in the digestive tract long enough to cause a problem.  Your cat may have an occasional bout with diarrhea but the live enzymes in the raw meat your cat will now be getting will be so beneficial  an occasional bout with diarrhea will be worth it.

The cat can be taken to the Vet to be diagnosed and may be given some antibiotics. We prefer minimal use of antibiotics but an occasional round should not hurt your cat and it will usually eliminate the problem.

If diet has been ruled out one must do a little investigative work to see what might be bothering the cat. Remember, they cannot talk to us and the only way they can communicate is through their behavior.  Following are some reasons why your cat may be acting out:

• Territorial Rivals  Does the cat have other cats they must share space with? How well does he/she get along with the other cat(s)? If complete harmony does not exist between the cats, one can be assured there is some "marking" going on in addition to the litterbox displays.  Often the only way one can tell for sure is to use a "blacklight" to reveal the suspected areas.
  

• Companions Does the cat have to spend a considerable amount of time alone?  We find this to be a very common problem.  Cats get bored easily and crave attention. This is another reason we advocate balance in their lifestyle.  If you are lucky enough to find another companion they get along with, this will often solve the boredom problem. 
  

• Lifestyle Balance  Are they getting outdoors so they may know what it is like to be a cat? We realize there is so much anti-sentiment against allowing cats outdoors but not doing so, in my opinion, leads to even greater problems than allowing them outside on a regular basis ever will.
  

• Clothing odors.  Cats have a very good sense of smell and often they will smell odors on your clothing or bedding and choose to mark it with urine, (and sometimes even their feces), thereby saying "this is my property."  It is not unusual for the cat to seek out dirty socks, underwear of all types and shoes.  This type of clothing often holds their human's pheromones within the fiber and the cat is quick to pick up the scent..
  

To summarize, health and lifestyle issues are usually at the root of almost all litterbox problems.  We are not saying there could be some reason we are not aware of, but addressing these issues will usually alleviate over 95% of the problems.