It is getting late in the summer. For us this is the time of year when all of those tiny kittens from the end of spring are finishing up their series of kitten vaccinations and considering spay or neuter surgery. This is also the time when we begin to hear some concerns about litterbox habits.
Litterbox training of kittens is usually much simpler than housetraining a puppy. You present the kitten with a clean box of sandy substrate to dig in and she eliminates there immediately! But sometimes this process becomes complicated. The first thing to keep in mind is that cats like a clean litterbox. Clean means different things to different cats. Some single cats will tolerate infrequent cleaning of their litterbox and use it regardless of how dirty it is. Most cats, however, prefer their litterbox be spotless. A box that has been used a few times is usually OK but if the cat has to tread on dirty parts of the box or dig through waste it will find somewhere cleaner to go. Marking is a big part of cat elimination, and if one area smells very used then another area of your cat's territory that is "diggable" (like the rug in the bathroom or a comforter on a bed) will be more appealing. Too much or too little litter can also be an issue- most cats like a few inches of litter, but if you fill your large box to the top hoping that you won't have to clean it for awhile your cat may avoid her box. The type of litter that you use can also be important- strongly scented litter can cause eye and sinus irritation in some cats, especially in a covered litterbox. Scoopable cat litter is great as long as your cat doesn't go into the box with wet feet. Its ability to clump to anything wet makes scoopable litter inappropriate for very young and sometimes very old cats.
Hormonal changes can make male and female cats urinate in inappropriate places. Cats are very territorial and at puberty (around 6 months of age) some cats start to urine mark their home as advertising to members of the opposite sex. This is why we recommend that kittens be spayed or neutered at 5 to 6 months of age.
Cats may also avoid a catbox if there is another cat who is dominiant using the box before them. The dominant cat has effectively marked the box by using it, and your submissive cat may be worried about being ambushed if she uses the box that the dominant cat "owns". Some cats may also guard their litterbox and harass other cats if they try to use it. This behavior forces the bullied cat to go elsewhere. Because group behavior issues are frequently an issue in multi-cat households, it is recommended that you supply a litterbox for each cat plus an extra. This means that if you have 3 cats and one is not using the litterbox you should start by ensuring that you have 4 litterboxes.
Physical problems can also cause litterbox avoidance. Cats associate discomfort with the location where they felt unconfortable or painful. If your cat has a urinary tract or kidney infection and urinating is painful, she may avoid the litterbox because she thinks that the discomfort she is feeling is because of the place she was in when she felt it. Cats can also have issues like arthritis or electrolyte and heart problems that cause weakness and make it difficult to get into or out of the litterbox. It is always a good idea to have your cat examined by your veterinarian if she is having litterbox issues.
If your cat is having litterbox issues you can visit this link for some excellent advice on how to proceed: http://jfm.sagepub.com/content/suppl/2014/06/17/16.7.579.DC1/Take_home_instructions_for_cat_owners.pdf
If you still have litterbox questions (or any questions!) please feel free to call me at the clinic. Have a great end of summer!
Dr. Renee Grudzien
