BANISH Litter Box Woes - includes related articles on preventing cat toilet problems and marking behavior - Brief Article

Animals, Nov, 1998 by Amy Marder

How to maintain a litter box your cat will love to use.

Lots of folks think cats are easier to care for than dogs, especially when it comes to bathroom habits. Dogs need to be walked several times a day. But most of the time all you need to do for a cat or kitten is put down a litter" box and instinct takes over.

Yet when cats choose the dining-room floor or living-room carpet over the litter box, the consequences can be harsh. A recent study conducted by Tufts University researchers reported that inappropriate elimination was the behavior problem most likely to prompt cat owners to relinquish their pets to animal shelters.

In fact, urination or defecation outside the litter box is the behavior' problem most frequently reported by cat owners. Usually the reason is trait the box is unacceptable to the cat. A dirty box is a common reason for the box to be rejected. But sometimes a medical problem, such as feline lower urinary `tract disease or diarrhea, is to blame. So it your cat suddenly begins to eliminate outside the box, see your veterinarian as soon as possible.

If your pet gets a clean bill of health, the problem is most likely behavioral, A cat in competition with other cats may be marking territory. Cats that are "leaving their calling card" do so in many spots, Posture is a tip-off: cats often mark while standing up so that the urine is deposited onto vertical surfaces. Cats using a new location for their toilet for some other behavior-based reason usually pick only one or two places.

The good news is that most litter box problems can be successfully treated with behavior modification techniques, sometimes accompanied by drug therapy, But treatment may be time-consuming and costly. Prevention is always better. Follow the boxed tips to avoid litter box woes.

Even if you already have a problem, try to implement some of these prevention techniques. If they are ineffective, see your veterinarian. He or she may provide some helpful suggestions or refer you to a companion animal-behavior specialist who will be able to help.

RELATED ARTICLE: To prevent toilet problems:

1. Provide a box that is bigger than your cat. Some veterinarians specializing in feline medicine recommend boxes one and a half times the size of the cat.

2. Place the box in a quiet, secluded area away from heavy foot traffic.

3. Provide one box per cat (within limits!). More boxes reduce competition and ensure that the boxes stay cleaner. Many cats like to urinate in one box and defecate in another. Even if you have a single cat, two boxes may be appreciated.

4. Put two to three inches of litter in the box, no matter the type.

5. Scoop urine and feces once daily, no matter the type of litter. The wet litter can be easily scooped from plain clay by tilting the box and using a spoon to take out the wet spots. Add fresh lifter daily.

6. Completely change the box weekly, or sooner if it has a bad odor. (Although clumpable litter may be changed less often, it should still be completely changed when there is an odor.)

7. When you change the box, clean it with a mild detergent, never a strong-smelling one. Rinse well.

8. Don't frighten your cat while it's in the box. Watch small children and dogs. Never use a visit to the box as an opportunity to catch your cat to medicate, groom, or do anything unpleasant.

9. Most cats prefer uncovered litter boxes and clumpable, nondeodorized litter. To find out what your cat likes best, experiment, Put two or three boxes out in a row with different litters in each. Or make one box hooded and the other unhooded; put the same litter in both. Your cat's idea of a friendly litter box may not be the same as yours. Keeping your cat happy is one of the best ways to prevent problems.

10. Praise your cat whenever you see him use the box.

RELATED ARTICLE: To prevent marking problems:

1. Urine marking is most likely to occur in intact male cats and commonly occurs in intact female cats when in estrus, so spaying/neutering is the best preventive.

2. Neutered males and spayed females sometimes mark when bombarded with stimuli that elicit competition and sexual behavior (introducing a new cat, for example). Limiting the number of cats in the household can help.

3 If introducing a new cat to your resident feline, choose one of the same sex and age. (Studies have shown that urine marking is less frequent in same-sex households.)

Veterinarian Amy Marder is the animal-behavior consultant for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals/American Humane Education Society.