Trouble Beyond the Litter Box: Easy Cat Care Fix

Feb 11, 2016 | Behaviour & Training | 10 comments

Sopurrfect house soiling trouble outside the litter box

Trouble Beyond the Litter Box: Easy Cat Care Fix

Even cats who are well trained in the art of the litter box can start soiling the house. No-one wants to spend time cleaning cat poop off the floor first thing in the morning when they could be sitting down to a stack of pancakes or waffles instead! So here are a few helpful tips on the ominous topic of house-soiling: trouble beyond the litter box. You may be surprised at how easy this problem is to clear up (pardon the pun!) for good.

 

Questions to ask yourself

If your cat is not sticking to the litter box and is instead soiling the floor, ask yourself these three questions first.
1) Is your cat stressed out about something? Cats often fall out of bad bathroom habits when something has stressed them out. Whether it is a break in, a visiting toddler who makes a lot of noise, or some building work being done in your neighbor’s attic, stress can cause your cat to soil the floor. Isolating and removing the cause of stress may be all that you need to do to solve the issue of house-soiling.
2) Is the litter box clean? Cats are fastidious animals, and using a litter box that has not been cleaned for a few days is often not a very attractive prospect for them. So, they often see the floor as their only other option. As you have probably guessed, there is a simple solution here: clean your litter box and clean it regularly! Very often, you will find that your cat starts using the litter box again right away. Remember, your kitty has a much more acute sense of smell than you do, so if you find their litter box a little malodorous, chances are it seems much worse to them!
3) Has the litter box been moved? Cats can become attached to having their bathroom in a particular corner of the house. If you have moved the litter box from the hallway to the basement, it may take them a little while to realize that they need to head down to the basement to use the bathroom! If all else fails, moving the litter box back to its original position (as long as that remains convenient for you) may be the only step that you need to take to solve the issue once and for all.

 

Location, location, location

Choosing the best location for your litter box is essential if you want your kitty to use it religiously. A good litter box location gives your cat some privacy and is nice and quiet too, so it is situated in a corner or someplace where humans aren’t always hanging around. It is also best not to put the cat’s litter box right next to their water bowl or their food either – no-one wants that! Choose soft litter that traps odor and isn’t too harsh on your kitty’s paws so that they do not find using the litter box annoying or even painful. Clean the box regularly and if needs be replace the box completely (you should do this at least once every year as a minimum anyway).

 

Do you have any extra suggestions for litter problems? If so, leave us a comment with what has worked for your cats!

Meow for now … Kristian Taylor

 

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  • pilch92 .

    My Lucy was an out of box thinker. I just put puppy pads next to the box and she would use those. I did have her tested several times for urinary infections.

    • Kristian Taylor

      If she always went outside the box I would look at things like the plastic smell of the box, so try another type of container. Litter, some cats are very particular with what litter they like.

      Start noticing when she does go in the box, is it right after you clean it – new litter – just scoop – wash the container.

      I had ongoing issues with Frosty one of my cats and eventually worked out she didn’t like scooping at all. Once she had been in the box that’s it …. I need to throw out the litter completely . So I now put a very thin layer in the bottom and throw it away each day. If I am lazy or forget to clean it that day then she will go next to the box. It’s like a laziness tax lol.

      Kristian

  • Alzheimer’s Carers

    Trouble Beyond the Litter Box: Easy Cat Care Fix

    If only thee were an easy fix.

    We have a elderly-teenage female cat.

    We are facing a major problem with Molly deficating outside the litter box pees in the boxes after many years of proper use.

    1) Is your cat stressed out about something?
    Litter manufacturer says cat is identifyin with painful deficating and identifys the litter o with the pain.

    2) Is the litter box clean?
    litter is cleaned of clumps and poop often within a few miuntes.
    litter boxes are washed regularly

    {Choosing the best location for your litter box is essential if you want your kitty to use it religiously. A good It is also best not to put the cat’s litter box right next to their water bowl or their food.}

    ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,for many years the most active box was next to the feeding bowl. The issues started when we moved that box.
    The cat is an indoor cat never goes outside.
    Currently using cat attract litter in three different rooms.

    Sure would like a simple fix {G}

    Would adding catnip to litter help?

    Just spent $400 at Vet for evaluation change to pate’

    • Kristian Taylor

      Hey, thanks for getting in touch.

      litter problems can be very frustrating I’ve had my fair share of issues especially fostering.

      First thing to start with is: what changed, you said the issues started when you moved the litter boxes. I would return everything the way it was when there was no issues. It’s recommended to not have litter near their food(and most cats don’t like it near food) but if you cat is ok with it and it was working then stick with that. Ultimately your cat will tell you what they like.

      Identifying with litter: Cats don’t reason like we do. If it’s painful using the toilet we reason that it’s not the location but us. For a cat they think: Ouch that was painful, if I go over here maybe it won’t hurt… no that didn’t work …. I’ll try over here…. etc. Or it will associate it with the smell of a location or what changed i.e. moving the litter box to a new location happened at the same time it started to hurt, wasn’t the move but just happened at the same time it moved so they think the new location is what caused it.

      Cleaning: it’s good to scoop daily. Only wash it once a week as you don’t want it to stink but having some “toilet smell” helps your cat know where to go. The fact that she pee’s inside the box means she knows where the box is and what to use it for.

      Catnip: no putting catnip in the box would be quite bad. They associate catnip as fun and cats being very clean don’t want to play in their litter box.

      If you have had the vet check her and everything was ok (pain and health wise) Here is where I would start: Return everything back to exactly how it was when she was using the litter box correctly.
      -Location
      -Type of litter
      -Smell
      -Actual physical litter box she was using (if possible)
      Try to get her to go in the box, this may take a bit of watching and limiting her to the room where you and Molly can be (with the original litter box), when she looks like she needs to go place her in the litter box. repeat this until she uses the box.

      It’s important to be patient with her. If she uses the box pat her and encourage her with and encouraging tone. Avoid using a disappointed voice tone if she goes outside the box. I know it’s hard because it’s frustrating but this causes her more anxiety around going to the toilet(cats can tell your mood by the tone of your voice). I say things like “it’s ok molly you missed the box again, next time you will get it right” and place her in the litter box and pat her.

      Try this and let me know how you get on. I am always here to help.

      Keep a record of what changed, did she use the box, does she always go in the same spot, did the spot where she goes change etc. This will help us get closer to a solution.

      Rgds
      Kristian

      • Alzheimer’s Carers

        The good news is ==> she is now starting to dump in the litter again. Two times this morning…

        Box is in a kitchen corner so smell is an issue
        Food next to box is a non-issue.

        She eats and a few moments later dumps.

        I moved a simplehuman Profile Step Trash Can, Stainless Steel, Plastic Lid, next to litter box Makes a sealed bag to keep smell away.

        Bought 34in Tall, long handle Standing Litter Scoop,
        This scoop makes clean up so much easier. You can easily pry clumps that stuck to sides. And you can stand it next to a wall.

        • That is fantastic news! I am so glad she is back going in her box. Keep this setup now for at least a month or so, you want her to get back into a good toilet routine.

          If you want to eventually move it to a new location, keep this one where it is and get another litter box and place it in the new location. Leave it there and over time she should start using it. Once she has used it successfully for a month or 2 then try removing this litter box for a day and see if she will switch to the new location. Do one day with both boxes one day with one for a week or two, if all goes well try removing the box for a week. If any issues arises return the box.

          Once she is happy with the new box and location then you can remove this one.

          Keep me updated with your progress.

          Kristian

  • Alzheimer’s Carers

    I was about to celebrate. Had placed the box in old location next to water and food where it had een for years in the kitchem. For one morning the cat returned to using box. I had closed the room off using kiddie door gates. Now Molly is not using the box and jumps over the gates to dump on the carpet.

    How do I confine the cat to the room if she can jump three feet over the gate? If she is in the room with the litter she uses it. I then open the gates

    • If she is happy using the box again just remove the fence altogether.

      • Alzheimer’s Carers

        I think cat has returned to using the litter

        Used the rug shampooer and did a heavy cleaning of all carpets/rugs used by cat.
        Day later repeated rug shampooing.

        bought a 1-Gallon jug Poly Lawn and Garden Sprayer
        Filled with hot water added heavy dose of Lysol Clean and Fresh Lemon All Purpose Cleaner
        Pumped up the pressure in the sprayer.
        Sprayed a mist of lemon spray all over the rugs and floor around the rugs. Got the rugs wet and let then dry over night. Sprayed again .

        Litter boxes are located one in kitchen and one at foot of cellar stairs (Cat door give cat access to cellar)

        Changed feeding rootine.
        Cat gets tablespoon-plus of Friskies Pate about 2 1//2 onces three cans over the corse of the day.
        Cat jumps into litter shortly after eating.

        Using a 30 inch long handled litter scoop depsits are removed and placed in tighly covered trash can.
        Five or six dumps per day. Removed with an hour or less. We are in and out of kitchen a lot.

        Vistors no longer comment that the house reeks of cat.

        Cat got another reprieve from execution.

        Now if she would return to mouse catching duty in cellar {grin}

        • That is great news. I love helping people solve their cat issues, more fun-time with your cat and less problems.

          Made my day
          Kristian

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