"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead
Cat Box Fixes
Are you having trouble with your cat? Does your cat go to the bathroom in inappropriate places? Are you tearing your hair out, cursing, screaming "WHY WON'T MY CAT USE THE LITTER PAN?!!"
I had the same troubles with my cats. Before you get rid of your cat, or do something you might regret later, ask yourself the following questions and try some of these fixes for your problem. They worked for me.
1. Have you changed your brand of cat litter recently?
Your cat may object to the new brand, especially if you are switching from a traditional style cat litter to one of the new varieties, such as pine shavings or newspaper pellets. Switch back to traditional cat litter. Get the clumping kind (see #2).
For a more successful transition from one type of cat litter to another, I'm told you should mix small amounts of the new type in with the old type and slowly work up to full pans of it. I don't know if that works though.
2. Is your cat pan clean?
Some cats are very particular. Get a clumping cat litter and sift your cat litter at least once a day. Think of it this way - would you want to step in your poo when you had to go? Your cat doesn't want to either.
3. Is your cat pan big enough?
Most cat pans are not made for larger cats. Skip buying a "cat pan" and go to the plastic storage bin isle of your local store. Buy a long, low storage tub, the kind that could fit under your bed. Fill the tub with cat litter, find a spot for it, and presto! You have a big cat pan. Get rid of the top at your local recycler.
4. Does your cat pan have a top?
If so, it may be that your cat is too tall to get comfortable in the pan. Take the top off.
Cat pan tops also hold the smells inside the cat pan. This may be good for you to not smell cat poo, but your cat doesn't want to go somewhere that smells bad. His nose is better than yours, so he thinks it smells worse than you do. Take the top off.
5. Do you make a big fuss when the cat goes outside the pan?
He may want attention. When he makes a mess, ignore him and clean it up without making a fuss. Praise him when you catch him going in the cat pan. Keep some cat treats on hand to give him after he gets done with his business in the cat pan. Soon he will associate the pan with good things.
.6. Have you thoroughly cleaned where the mess was?
Your cat has a keener sense of smell than you do. If it smells like somewhere to go to the bathroom, that must mean that's where you do it. You can either have your carpet professionally cleaned or if you want the cheaper option, go to a pet supply store and buy stuff to remove the scent of cat urine. There is such a product and it does work.
7. Is your cat fixed?
If you have a male cat, and he's not fixed, then what he's doing is marking his territory. This is normal behavior and you won't solve it with any of the above solutions. Go get your cat neutered.
8. Is your cat declawed?
If so - and nothing else has worked - you may want to go to your vet and see if there are problems with his paws. There may be small bone spurs left from when the declawing was done and this makes it uncomfortable for him to use the pan. A good veterinarian can remove these bony spurs and this may get him back to using the cat pan.
9. Is your cat incontinent? Do his bowels work right?
If nothing has worked, now its time to take your cat to the vet. If you have seen him scooting his butt along the floor, that is a sign of constipation.
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