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LITTER BOX PROBLEMS
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Litter box problems are the number one behavioral problem of cats. Many cats are euthanized every year because of this behavior. Some label it "inappropriate". Others say the cat is "bad". I often hear the phrase "the cat does it on purpose to get even." Another common statement is "she did it out of spite" or "he was mad at my boyfriend so he urinated on his things."While I agree that the cat's behavior at those times is "inappropriate" from a human standpoint, I don't know that the cat would agree. I strongly believe that cats are not "bad", they do not do things "to get even" or "out of spite", and they do not get "mad" at us as we mean it.
photo by PantyBuncher
We have taken cats out of their natural environment outdoors and brought them in to live with us and while there are obviously mutual benefits for people and cats, they have had to make some major adjustments to their innate behavior. The most serious of these is the requirement for them to urinate and defecate in small boxes with very little "dirt" in them. We've taken away their room to position in the manner in which they desire. We've taken away their ability to dig and dig to their heart's content so they cover their eliminations as much as they wish. Along the way, we've created different shapes of boxes, added little steps up into them, put a "ceiling" on their space, given them hundreds of different substances to dig in, and horror of horrors, put plastic liners in the bottom of the pans to further annoy, frighten, and inconvenience them. We've taken away their privacy by placing these boxes out in the open, in noisy places, in basements where washers and dryers and furnaces and hot water heaters go on and off with a roar. We often have one litter box and it's in the basement even though the house has 2 floors plus basement and attic; in other words, we've asked them to learn to "hold it".
"This white stuff is much better than the grey things they put in that horrible box! " photo by Zanastardust We sometimes require that the arthritic or overweight cats climb flights of stairs to get to their elimination location, regardless of how much it hurts. I could go on and on, but I imagine you get my point by now. And we wonder why they have litter box problems? However, the greatest injustice of all occurs when we find that our beloved cat is urinating or defecating outside the box and we jump to the immediate conclusion that "it's a behavioral problem". Cats, both male and female, are very prone to urinary tract infections, inflammation, blockages, and stones. To not address the possibility that one of those conditions might be causing the undesirable behavior is doing a disservice to both your cat and you.
Therefore, if your cat is eliminating outside the box, regardless of what else may be going on, you must see a vet right away so a urinalysis can be performed in addition to an exam. Only after you find out your cat is fine medically should you seek help with addressing litter box problems as a behavioral issue. The questions and answers in this section will focus on behavioral litter box problems. Other sections will cover urinary tract infections, stones, obstruction, inflammation, constipation and diarrhea.
Return From LITTER BOX PROBLEMS to HOME 
FROM RUGS TO HUGS - Retraining Your Cat To Think INSIDE The Box The Definitive Guide To Curing Inappropriate Urination by Dr. Shelby Neely
COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT LITTER BOX PROBLEMSClick below to see questions from other visitors to this page...
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