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