are multiple cats in a household,
the cat’s urethra and elevates the
a covered litter box is the
pH of the urine. If not caught early
perfect place for a dominant
enough, a severe UTI can form
cat to ambush an otherwise
crystals, which can become lodged
unsuspecting bathroom-goer
in the urethra, causing blockages
on their way out of the box. Try
and pain. So, when your cat goes to
taking the top off.
the litter box and experiences pain
• Is the litter box cleaned on
while trying to urinate, she may
a regular basis? Cats are
associate the litter box with that
extremely fastidious creatures
pain, thus causing her to seek other,
and if displeased by the
less painful locations to pee. In
cleanliness of their bathroom,
addition to going in strange places,
they may choose to go
other symptoms to look for include:
elsewhere...I can’t say I blame
them here.
• Visiting the litter box more than
usual
• What kind of litter do you use?
There are so many different
• Spending a longer time in the
types of litter and you may
litter box without leaving any
need to experiment to find the
deposits
right one for your kitty. There
is one particular brand called
• Blood in the urine
Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract that has
worked wonders for me and
• Drinking more water than usual
many others.
and a decreased appetite.
If you see any of these signs, take
your kitty to the vet as soon as
possible to nip the infection in the
bud (usually a course of antibiotics
does the trick).
territory.
If after taking a look at all of the
above, your kitty is still refusing
the litter box, you may need to re-
train her by putting her in a small
room or large cage with her litter
box for a few days. This could help
re-acquaint her with the process.
In severe cases, your veterinarian
may recommend and prescribe
medication to help as well.
While it is very frustrating when
your kitty does a little too much
“thinking outside the box,” it’s
important to try to find the root
of the problem before resorting
to re-homing. Speaking to your
veterinarian to work through
possible issues and causes will
ensure a long and happy life for
your kitty and you as well!
• How many litter boxes are
provided? The rule of thumb is
one box for each kitty that you
have PLUS one more. If you
are freakishly obsessed with
keeping your litter boxes clean
like me, you could likely get
away with less boxes.
Once you have ruled out any
medical causes, it’s time to take
a look at behavioral causes. This
• Where is the litter box located?
really is a process of elimination
Do you have an old kitty but
(pardon the pun there...happy
keep the litter box far away so
accident) until you can pinpoint the
that she has to travel a longer
cause of your kitty’s discontent.
distance to get to her box? You
may want to consider moving
Litter Boxes – Most issues stem
it to another, more convenient
from the litter box, so my first
location. Perhaps the litter box
suggestion will always be to take a
is in a high-traffic location –
look at the type, state, location, and
moveit.
number of litter boxes you have for
your cat(s):
Stress and Anxiety – An anxious cat
might urinate elsewhere as a way
• Is the litter box large enough
for your kitty to get in and spin to relieve her anxiety because the
around? If not, get a bigger box. smell of her own urine makes her
feel safer. Outdoor cats lingering in
your yard may also cause stress for
• Is there a cover on the litter
your cat who might choose to pee
box? Some kitties like privacy
near the front door as a possible
in the bathroom and others
response to mark or claim his/her
don’t. Oftentimes, when there
For additonal information visit: www.alleycatspetservice.com
JANUARY 2019
|
WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE |
19