Most cats learn to use litter boxes from their mothers at a very young age, so newly adopted strays and feral cats may not know how. In some cases, even a well-trained cat may "forget" where he needs to go and start littering around the house. The reasons for this backward step in litter training can range from medical problems to a simple pet preference. Whether you want to train a recently adopted cat who has never used a litter box before, or you're trying to get your long-established kitty back to going where it needs to, following these simple tips will set your pet on the road. right.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Choosing the Right Litter Box
Step 1. Choose a large litter box
One of the most common causes of cats peeing where they don't have to is a litter box that's too small. This advice is especially important if your pet is still growing; just enough litter today, it may become too small in a few months. When choosing the size of your kitty's litter box, don't take any chances and get a large model: your cat will have more space available and will not think his toilet is filling up too quickly.
If you have a small or older cat, choose a low-sided litter box to help them get in and out of the litter tray without difficulty
Step 2. Decide whether to buy an indoor or outdoor litter box
Both models have advantages and disadvantages. Some cats have preferences, others don't. Try both and see which one your cat likes best.
- The main benefit of covered litter boxes is privacy, which some cats appreciate. Also, if you have a dog, a cover can prevent him from eating from the litter box.
- Bad smells have a tendency to get trapped inside covered litter boxes and this can make them even less appealing to a cat when they are dirty.
- If you have a very large cat, they may have a hard time turning around in the litter box or digging into the gravel.
Step 3. Get more than one litter box
If there is enough space in your home, it may be worth buying a second or even a third litter box. If you have more than one cat, this is a necessity, but it can also be useful if your kitty is young and still learning to use the litter box. Some experts recommend having at least one cat litter box in the house.
Step 4. Find the right position
Cats have a natural instinct to bury their own droppings, but if the litter box is placed in an inaccessible spot, your kitty may decide to free itself somewhere else. Finding the best spot for your cat may take a few tries, but in general there are some pointers to help you make your choice.
- Choose a place that is comfortable and easy to access. Your cat doesn't want to go the long way when she needs to go to the toilet, so place the litter box in a spot that's easy to reach from any room in the house.
- Do not place the litter box near the cat's water and food bowls. These animals regard the "dining area" as a home within the home and their natural instinct is to urinate and defecate away from that space. By placing the litter box close to your cat's bowls, you may make him anxious and increase the likelihood that he decides to go to the toilet somewhere else.
- Give your feline friend peace and quiet. Most cats want to go to a quiet, disturbance-free place. If you place the litter box in a noisy and busy area (such as the bathroom or living room), your pet will likely not be using it due to its location. Find a quiet, secluded space that's still easy to find and reach.
Part 2 of 5: Maintain the Litter Box
Step 1. Choose the right litter box
Cats usually prefer clumping sand, as it is easier to step on and move around to bury their droppings. This material also makes cleaning and dirt removal easier.
Some cats prefer odorless sand. The Humane Society does not recommend using scented or deodorant pebbles, which can irritate your pet or trigger an allergic reaction
Step 2. Use the right amount of sand
Using too many pebbles will create dirt, as some of them will inevitably end up out of the tray when your cat buries his needs. If you don't use enough, however, the animal may feel like it can't bury its needs and may decide to free itself somewhere else. In addition, a litter box with little sand can produce bad odors and be more difficult to clean.
- Some experts recommend filling the litter box with about 5cm of sand. Others recommend spreading 10 cm of material, to give your cat more freedom to dig and bury.
- Start with 2 '' of sand, and if your cat is not satisfied, increase the depth to 4 ''.
Step 3. Keep the litter box clean
If you are raising a puppy or cat that is still learning to use the litter box, you may decide to leave a very small amount of solid or liquid droppings in the litter tray for the first few weeks to remind the animal where it should do. needs. However, once your kitty has learned where to get rid of, you should always clean the litter box. In fact, dirty sand is one of the most common reasons cats decide to go to the toilet where they shouldn't.
- Remove solid and liquid droppings every day. Some experts recommend doing this twice a day to keep the litter box as clean as possible.
- Wash the tray thoroughly once a week. Use warm water and a mild soap; never use chemicals that are irritating or leave odors, as this could endanger your cat or cause him not to go to the litter box.
- After washing the litter box and allowing it to dry well, fill it again with clean sand, according to your cat's preferences (again, 5 to 10 cm).
Part 3 of 5: Teaching Your Cat to Use the Litter Box
Step 1. Get to know your cat's rhythms
In general, a cat needs to go to the toilet after a nap, after playing or running, and after eating. By learning about your pet's rhythms, you will understand when they feel like freeing themselves, so you can direct them to the litter box instead of the carpet.
Step 2. Play with your cat near the litter box
Since many of this species need to go to the bathroom after running and playing, you can make things easier by having fun with him near the litter box. The activity will prompt the cat to do its business and at that point you can direct it (or even put it yourself) in the tub.
If your cat's litter box is in a room with a door, close it and stay in the room with him. Bring toys with you and let him chase them or attack them until he needs to free himself
Step 3. Teach him what to do
If your cat has never learned how to use the litter box from his mother, there is a possibility that you need to teach him how to do it. Of course, that doesn't mean you'll have to get into the tub yourself; rather, you will have to bring the animal inside when it is about to go to the toilet and teach it to dig in the sand.
- Use one finger to move the sand until your cat learns to follow your lead. If your cat goes to the toilet in the tub but doesn't know how to cover it, use your finger to do it for you. It will take some time, but eventually he will understand what he needs to do.
- When showing your cat how to bury their droppings, it is important to use your fingers. If you grab his paw in an attempt to "show" him how to dig, you could frighten him and make him anxious, even causing him to avoid the litter box altogether. Be patient and trust that your cat will figure out for himself.
Part 4 of 5: What to Do If Your Cat Needs Where It Shouldn't
Step 1. Never scold your cat
You must always remember that he is not trying to cause problems. He may have health problems, or he may not feel comfortable using the litter box he has available. Screaming at the animal will only scare it and you will not come close to solving the problem.
Step 2. Put the droppings where they should be
If your cat evacuates out of the litter box, instead of throwing his feces in the trash, it may be helpful to scoop it up with a tissue and place it in the litter tray. This can serve as a reminder to the pet that he will smell the droppings and associate his need to evacuate with the litter box.
Step 3. Thoroughly clean the droppings out of the litter box
If your cat has urinated or defecated out of the tray, for example on the floor, on a carpet or on a piece of furniture, it is very important that you clean those spots well, so as to prevent other accidents in the future. When a cat smells its own excrement at some point, it will make it a habit to always get rid of it there.
- Use an enzyme-based cleaner to treat dirty carpets and furniture. Cleaners of this type help remove odors from stool and urine, reducing the likelihood of your cat shedding in the same spot in the future.
- If your cat continues to go to the toilet where it shouldn't, try closing the door to that room to prevent it from entering if possible. You can also try leaving objects with a texture that cats do not like in the affected area, such as aluminum foil or overturned mats.
Step 4. Move your cat's food and water to the toilet area
If your kitty keeps peeling out of the litter box and seems to particularly like a spot, try moving her bowls there. These animals have an innate urge to avoid producing excrement around food and water. This can cause even the most stubborn cat to stop urinating outside the litter box.
Step 5. Experience a temporary period of isolation
If your cat still doesn't use the litter box, you may be keeping him confined somewhere for some time. Only use this method as a last resort when all other solutions have failed.
- Choose a room in the house where you can safely lock up the cat. Make sure it has enough space and that the room is not exposed to extreme temperatures. In other words, make sure your chosen environment is cool enough in summer and warm enough in winter.
- Place the cat's litter box in one corner of the room and its kennel, food and water in another. Make sure the room is large enough so that there is enough distance between the food bowls and the litter box, otherwise your kitty may refuse to go to the toilet near his lunch.
- If your cat continues to urinate outside the litter box, try sprinkling sand on the floor of the room where you keep him. By force of circumstances, he will be forced to evacuate onto the gravel and over time he may learn to associate the activity with the material.
Part 5 of 5: Rule Out Medical Problems
Step 1. Check if your cat goes to the toilet somewhere else
If the animal is not using the litter box, it is important to check the whole house to make sure that it is still able to evacuate. If you don't find excrement anywhere, you may have partial or total urethral obstruction. If you feel that your cat is not doing his own needs, you must necessarily take him to a vet right away.
If your cat goes to the toilet but doesn't use the litter box, she may have a urinary tract problem. Some individuals with such infections or obstructions of the urinary canals have a tendency to break free on tile, concrete, or wooden floors because they look for surfaces that are cool to the touch and smooth
Step 2. Look for blood in the cat's urine
One of the first symptoms of feline lower urinary tract disease, as well as kidney and bladder stones, is the presence of blood in the urine and prolonged or very frequent urination. Other symptoms to watch out for include loud moaning from the animal when urinating and excessive cleaning of the genitals. If you notice any of these symptoms in your cat, it is important to take him to the vet as soon as possible. If these conditions are not treated, they can lead to total obstruction of the urethra, which can be fatal.
- In addition to a general exam, your cat's vet will perform a urinalysis and may even do a urine culture or X-ray to determine the cause and location of your cat's problem.
- For kidney stones, your vet will likely prescribe some drug treatments for your cat. If your doctor determines that your pet has stones, they may need to perform surgery to remove or break them inside the bladder to help expel them.
- If your cat has suffered from urinary tract problems or stones, she may not be getting enough water. Always make sure the pet has drinking water available (which you should change every day). Your vet may also advise you to feed your cat wet (canned) food, at least 50% of their diet.
Step 3. Watch out for vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss
Some cats suffer from inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, which causes feline irritable bowel disease. The most common symptoms of this disorder include vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and extreme laziness. Some specimens with this pathology also produce feces with traces of blood. Symptoms can vary depending on the affected part of the gastrointestinal tract. If your kitty shows any of these symptoms, you should take him to the vet right away.
- Your vet will give your cat a blood and stool test to determine if the symptoms are caused by chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In addition, the doctor may arrange for an x-ray or ultrasound examination to pinpoint the exact point of the animal's problem.
- To treat IBD, your vet may prescribe cortiscosteroids for your cat to reduce inflammation and the response of the pet's immune system. Depending on the severity of the pathology, he may even recommend the use of antibiotics.
- Your vet may suggest changes to your cat's diet. The most common dietary changes for cats with IBD include hypoallergenic cat food, as well as high-fiber, low-fat foods.
Advice
- Never punish your cat if she goes to the toilet outside the litter box.
- When you move, it's a good idea to confine your cat to a small area of the new home. This will allow the animal to feel safe and immediately recognize the position of its litter box, preventing it from dirtying where it shouldn't.
- Place the litter box in a place that is easy for the cat to access. It should also be located in an uncrowded area.
- Give your cat a food treat when she uses the litter box so she doesn't think she is being punished.
- If you have a dog, make sure he doesn't disturb the cat when the cat goes to the toilet.
