- Home
- Career Opportunities
- About Us
- Services
- Resources
- Location
- Emergencies
(248)666-5287
www.ecats.vet
Why a cat may stop using a litter boxDon’t assume that your cat likes the litter because he/she uses it. Just because we have used a gas station restroom, port-a-john, or a public rest room does not mean we liked it, it was just the best option at the time.
We do not train our cats to use a litter box. We may show them where it is, but they use it instinctively because it works for them, not because it is “right.” Similarly, if they eliminate outside of their box, they are not “breaking the rules”. They do not know that eliminating out of their box is “wrong”. They are doing what they have always done--eliminating where they want to. Do not punish. Your cat does know when you are angry, but they do not understand why.
Don’t make arbitrary changes. If you are making changes to the litter box (es), be sure you have a plan. Be patient. Be observant. Feel free to ask our staff for guidance so that we can help you.
Some reasons why a cat may stop using the litter box are:
Inconsistencies regarding any of the below: Too dirty (for some cats that means used once)
Size of box Style of box (covered vs. open) Addition of plastic liner
Competition (ideally, should have 1 more box than the number of cats)
Location (doors, stairs, other pets)
Depth of litter
Smell of litter (or litter area, deodorizers) Taste of litter Feel of litter Effectiveness of litter (ease of burying, absorbency)
Painful experiences at the box (medical problems with voiding urine or passing stool)
Frightening experiences at the box (dogs, children, adults--punishment, mechanical equipment) GENERAL LITTER RECOMMENDATIONS(Consider Chewy.com or Amazon if not readily available)
Plain clay litter
Example: Premium Choice Carefree Kitty, usually available at pet stores.
Unscented Scoopable (clumping) Litter
Examples:
** Note that Fresh Step Unscented litter is objectionable to many cats.
Please let us know what is available to you and what litter you think your cats prefer. Brand availability is always changing. Converted Storage Bins In some cases, a converted storage bin may serve as an excellent solution to certain problems, such as large cats that find the average commercially available litter box too small, cats that tend to urinate on or over the edge of a box, or cats that scratch the litter a bit too enthusiastically and fling litter across the room.
|