Pet InfoRx^®
Cat Litter Box Issues

Rule Out Medical Issues

Be sure to mention to your veterinarian any other changes in your cat’s “normal” behavior. It may seem unrelated to you. But something as simple as your cat being a little less affectionate, not jumping up to sleep in their favorite bed, or being a bit more reactive to other pets could be clues that they’re feeling pain or discomfort that may or may not be related to their urinary or digestive systems. And if your cat’s house soiling comes and goes, that can often be because of pain that sometimes flares up.

Revamp Your Litter Box Setup

Avoid:

• Covered litter boxes. They keep the smell in, which is great for us but terrible for your cat. They limit your ability to see what your cat is doing in the box, which can delay you catching things like straining, constipation, and possible urinary blockages. They’re often way too small, making it tough for your cat to go through their natural elimination ritual. And, especially if you have other pets or kids in the home, a covered box completely limits their ability to watch for “predators.” They can’t see if something is lying in wait, ready to pounce. It’s like a game of whack-a-mole for your cat.
  
  
• Litter that strays too far from what a cat would choose in the wild — sand or soil. Pellets, anything with sharp edges, and scented litter are all unnatural choices for cats and can aggravate or cause respiratory issues, even be painful, especially for senior and declawed cats. Some cats are put off by litter made from food products like tofu or corn. And litter that doesn’t clump is very hard to keep clean. Cats like clean litter boxes.
  
  
• Automatic litter boxes. Unfortunately, there has yet to be an automatic litter box on the market that meets a cat’s needs well. The area for the cat to eliminate in is usually very small. They’re often covered. They remove your hands-on involvement with your cat’s pee and poop, which is a huge indicator of your cat’s health and wellness. And they move. It only takes once when your cat is startled by the activation of the cleaning mechanism for your cat to create a negative association it.
  
  
• Putting all the boxes in one room, down one hallway, on one floor, etc. Multiple litter boxes side-by-side aren’t multiple litter boxes to your cat. It’s one box with annoying obstacles. And if all your boxes are in the same room, down the same hallway, or on the same floor of a multi-level home, access to every litter box can be easily blocked if something or someone is in that doorway, hallway, or stairs.
  
  
• Dark areas. Cats see well in low light. But they can’t see in no light. A litter box in a dark room or basement with no ambient light will be difficult for your cat to access at night.
  
  

What to do:

• Provide more litter boxes. Ideally, you want one more box than the number of cats. 1 cat = 2 litter boxes; 2 cats = 3 litter boxes.
  
  
• Create a tester box. If your cat is using one litter box more than the others, even if they’re also house soiling, consider leaving that box as-is while you test different things in other boxes. Once you see what your cat responds to you can make changes to their primary box.
  
  
• Choose an appropriate box type
  • Always go with uncovered boxes.
  • Most commercial litter boxes are too small. Shoot for something as long as your cat including most of their tail — 1 ½ times the length of your cat’s body without the tail. Try using an under-bed storage container if you like low-sided boxes. They’re nice and long if you get the right ones. For high sides, use a clear tote, so they still have an open sightline to watch for “predators.” Just make sure that if you make any cuts that the edges are smoothed down or wrapped with duct tape.
    
    
• Choose ideal locations – we’re all limited by our space so do your best to:
  • Spread litter boxes out across your home, so there’s always one accessible if another is blocked.
  • If possible, try placing a box where your cat is soiling. They may be soiling to deposit their scent in that area for a reason.
  • Avoid boxes in busy, loud, high-traffic areas like your children’s or dog’s favorite playroom.
  • Place boxes in open areas away from prime stalking and pouncing spots, if you have other pets. A perch above the box or a hiding spot next to the box can make using that box feel like an ambush.
  • Place boxes away from food, water, and favorite resting spots like cat trees.
  • Make sure there’s at least ambient light in the rooms.
  • Keep your cat’s mobility in mind. Make sure they can easily get to the boxes.
  • Don’t be afraid to test boxes in locations that aren’t ideal for you. If it solves the house soiling problem, you know location is important. You can slowly move the box to a better location for you and see if your cat continues using it.
• Choose an ideal litter
  • Most cats prefer a fine grain, clumping clay litter.
  • If you want to test other non-clay options, look for something fine grain and clumping that closely resembles sand.
  • Two to three inches of litter is preferred by most cats. Too little makes it hard for them to dig. Too much can make them feel unstable.

Consider your cat’s emotional needs

• Think about any changes that occurred around the time the soiling started — new schedule for you or your cats, change in food, feeding time, or feeding amount, houseguests, medical issue, etc. If a change may have triggered the soiling and you can reverse that change (or reverse it and then make the change more gradually), that may help with the soiling.
  
  
• Use play and other types of mental and physical enrichment to reduce stress. Try using the prey sequence when playing.
  
  
• If there are any relationships with other pets or people that are strained, work on those relationships.
  
  
• Give your cat a little extra love and attention where possible.
  
  
• Remove stressors where possible.
  
  
• Try plugging in a pheromone diffuser in each location of your cat's litter boxes. Pheromones are compounds that animals naturally secrete. They can sometimes help decrease stress and anxiety in cats when used appropriately. 
  
  
• Treating your cat with calming supplements may help. When looking for calming treats for cats, try to find ones that contain pheromones, tryptophan, rosemary, chamomile, L-theanine, colostrum, and/or alpha-casozepine (hydrolyzed milk protein).
  
  
• While research continues to be ongoing with regard to the benefits of probiotics, they are known to boost the immune system, which aids in the prevention of illness. They help maintain overall digestive health (especially in times of stress) and support healthy microflora of the mouth and skin. There are studies evaluating their benefits, how they help ease anxiety, and how gut flora affects behavior. They're worth a try.