Your Cat May Think Outside of the Litter Box
Cats are wonderful pets. They are independent, self cleaning (most of the time), and dont require a lot of the maintenance that dogs do. Though cats are relatively easy to care for, there is one thing that MUST be done on a regular basis if your cat is to remain healthy and happy. Any guesses? If you said, clean the litter box, then you are right on target!
Your cat’s litter box is a big part of its life, and it can become a big and stinky part of yours, as well. Litter boxes can tell you a lot about your cat’s health. For example, one of the most common cat-owner complaints is urinating outside the litter box, also known as inappropriate urination or inappropriate elimination (think #1 and #2).
You know you have a problem to deal with when your cat suddenly poops in your favorite sneakers. Though your initial reaction might be anger, your cat is trying to tell you something. For one thing, you may not be living up to your cat’s over-the-top cleanliness standards. Kitty expects a clean box and will often rebel by choosing a new location if you aren’t doing your job. You should scoop your cat’s box (of urine and feces) on a daily basis.
Your realtor can tell you another reason your cat may opt for another spot. Location, location, location! Not only may your cat have a preferred location for its box to begin with, he may not take kindly to your changing that location after he’s grown comfortable with your first choice. Avoid noisy or high traffic areas. How would you like an audience when doing your business?
Owning a cat, you probably already know how picky they can be. They’re not less finicky when it comes to their litter. If you find poo in your shoe and you’ve recently changed your cat’s litter, you might be to blame. Cat’s get accustomed to a type of litter and expect it to be their when nature calls. Should you wish to change litters, do so slowly by mixing the new in with the old in small, but increasing amounts until you’ve managed to pull the old switcheroo. Your cat will be none the wiser and your shoes will be spared.
Of course, your cat may avoid its box from the start. This may be due to something as simple as distaste for the type of litter you’ve chosen. Your cat may not like the scent or texture of the litter and may exhibit its objection by rejecting your offer.
Also, as a rule, you should have one litter box per cat in your household. If that sounds a little over the top, let me put it into human terms for you. Imagine being one of the last people to use a gas station restroom. That queasy stomach feeling you’ve just experienced is what your cat experiences when it’s the last kitty to come to the box. More boxes will give kitty more options. Of course, that comes at the added cost of you having more boxes to clean. But that’s certainly better than finding surprises in your laundry.
Equally painful in result (ruined shoes) but more serious are potential medical conditions. If your cat is suffering from bladder stones, constipation or a urinary tract infection, it may experience pain during elimination. While not the smartest conclusion to draw, cats can associate the pain of elimination with their litter box and decide to change locations to get away from that pain. This is where your poor shoes come into the equation again. If your cat suddenly changes its bathroom habits, contact your vet just to rule out a medical condition.
The litter box will play a very important role in your cats life. It will also be an important part of your life as well! By keeping an eye on your cats litter box behaviors, you will be able to determine, to a certain extent, the health and happiness of your feline friend. The most important thing you can do to keep your cat happy is to scoop the poop on a daily basis! And that my friend, is the scoop on litter boxes!
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