This handout is not an alternative for medical advice. If you are currently having issues with inappropriate elimination, you should first have your cat examined to ensure it is not due to urinary tract disease. Urinary tract disease is very common in cats. A variety of conditions can lead to inappropriate elimination such as bladder inflammation, infection, stones, crystals, as well as kidney infections and stones. Environmental conditions like stress, intercat aggression, and possibly even separation anxiety can be contributing factors.
There are a few ‘rules’ you should follow to prevent any issues, or hopefully correct any current issues.
- You need one more litter box than the number of cats you have. So, for instance, if you have 3 cats you need four litter boxes. If you live in a multi-level home it is important to have at least one litter box on every level. If you live in a single-level home you will want to provide at least two different locations for litter boxes. The more cats you have the more locations you should provide as cats tend to be territorial. Even littermates can be territorial when it comes to their litter box habits.
- You should NEVER completely eliminate a litter box location abruptly. Once your cat has learned to go to that area to eliminate, they will continue to seek that location first. If you plan to change the location of a litter box you must do so slowly. The litter box/boxes should be moved NO MORE than one inch per day. Keep in mind that every cat is different and some cats may need a slower transition. It may seem tedious, but it’s always best to prevent any confusion for your cat in order to prevent an accident.
- It is also important to ensure that the locations you have chosen for the litter boxes are in low-stress areas. Areas where there are a lot of loud noises, windows or doors where unfamiliar outdoor cats may be seen, or high traffic areas should be avoided if possible. If it is not possible for all the litter box locations to be low-stress be sure that at least one litter box area is so your cat can retreat to this area when the stressor is occurring.
- All litter boxes should be scooped at least once a day, and the litter should be completely changed at least weekly. When you refill the litter only, fill about 2 inches deep worth of litter. Keeping the litter fresh will help with odors which can be uninviting to cats. You should also wash litter boxes monthly with soap and water. When you scoop/clean the boxes, be mindful if any litter is spilled onto the floor. Vacuum any litter on the floor right away. Cats do not differentiate between litter on the floor and litter in the box. To them litter is litter and they will use it no matter where it is located.
*** As noted above accidents can be caused by a medical issue. If your cat has an accident, having it examined right away is best. The sooner the problem is detected the easier it will be to treat. Keep in mind that the longer the cat(s) has been avoiding the litter box and eliminating in other locations of your house the longer it will take to retrain your cat to use the box exclusively once again. ***
