Litterbox Issues

Fifty percent of litter box avoidance issues are caused by urinary tract infections, so our very first step will be to make sure the cat doesn't have a painful infection. This will be a quick trip to the medical clinic where they'll check the urine. When cats have UTI's, like humans, it hurts to urinate so they quickly associate the box with pain and avoid it at all costs. It'll be important to rule that out first because if it is an infection, all of the behavior modification we can offer won't help. Should you get the kitty home from the clinic and there is no infection, then there are still some other things we can try with their litter box. 

● If you have one cat, make sure she has two boxes. Some cats will only pee in one and poop in another, some are lazy and won't travel to the box if they're in another area of the house, etc. So give her two boxes and place them on opposite ends of your home so she always has a convenient option. 

● Choose the largest box you can. The best rule of thumb to follow for litter box size is to pick one that is 1.5 x the length of your kitty. You also want to make sure the litter box is uncovered. Humans like covered boxes more, but cats like them far less. A covered box creates an outhouse effect inside with odors trapped inside and they can be seen as a trap for the cat as there's only one way out. 

● If you have covered boxes, try removing the covers. Also, make sure the boxes are not next to an appliance that could kick on and scare her, like a washing machine, and away from any strong smells or anything that may spook her and make the box seem scary or unpleasant. 

● If you have recently changed litters, this can be enough to trigger an avoidance problem. The general rule is to find one litter that kitty likes and stick to it. They can be sensitive to smells so a very fine, clumping, unscented version is recommended. 

● The next thing we recommend is picking up a bag of Cat Attract cat litter, which you can find at any Petsmart/Petco. This litter contains an herbal blend that is irresistible to cats and makes them want to use the box. In our experience, it works GREAT. You do not have to use it forever, just until the problem is solved. We recommend placing the Cat Attract in one box an her normal litter in the second. You’ll also want to thoroughly clean all soiled areas with a product made just for cat urine. I like a brand called Anti Icky Poo that you can get online. Remember, cats can smell much better than we can so even if we can't smell anything, a cat can. So it's important to use a product that destroys all evidence of the smell.