When kitty goes outside the box, think outside the box.
That’s what Margot Osborne did when Yahoo stopped using the litterbox, instead urinating on plastic bags and paper — including the mail.
“A few bill payments smelled like cat urine,” admits the Laurel resident, who fostered the young cat for an animal rescue group.
She first stopped at the veterinarian, since behavior changes often stem from medical conditions such as a urinary tract infection or parasites. When the vet deemed Yahoo’s plumbing in working order, Osborne looked for other clues.
She placed several litterboxes around the home, and cleaned them daily. Puppy pads drew Yahoo away from the paper piles, but not back into a litterbox.
Changes in the household looked like the cause. Osborne had recently adopted out Yahoo’s littermate and taken in a semi-feral kitty who “harassed Yahoo at the litterbox.” Compounding that was the abnormal odor Osborne’s diabetic cat released in litterboxes.
Osborne restored Yahoo’s sense of security by giving her a private space — in a powder room, toilet seat down, bed placed in the sink and litterbox on the floor. The tactic worked.
But since Yahoo’s semi-feral and diabetic housemates weren’t leaving, Osborne relocated Yahoo to another volunteer’s home, where she stays in a den with two litterboxes.
“She’s completely cured,” Osborne says. “We tell potential adopters she should be an only cat.”
A litterbox problem began Osborne’s volunteer work with Partnership for Animal Welfare. While in an animal hospital waiting room, someone asked the vet to euthanize a cat due to housebreaking issues.
“’I’ll take her,’” Osborne said.
Brandy immediately took to the litterbox in her new home. “The family had recently gotten another cat” and didn’t allow time for Brandy to acclimate.
Sometimes the solution involves cleaning areas that harbor past pet smells and removing targets such as a soiled throw rug.
“Many problems can be prevented by creating a cat-friendly litterbox,” assures certified applied animal behaviorist Suzanne Hetts.
Among her tips:
» Fit the litterbox to the cat. Large cats may need larger boxes. Kittens, elderly or ill animals may need lower sides for easier access.
» Covers can make it hard for kitty to adjust her position, and some cats won’t enter dark areas.
» Provide at least as many boxes as there are cats, picking private but accessible spots. Don’t block the cat’s view, which would allow a person or animal to startle or ambush her. Position the box to create more than one exit, so a cat can’t be trapped by another pet. And don’t place boxes next to one another.
» Avoid locations near noisy appliances.
» Use unscented litter — and try clumping litter that’s softer than clay. One to 2 inches deep is best.
» Scoop feces and clumps daily.
» Change litter frequently enough that it always looks dry and clean. Wash the box to remove odors with a mild, unscented cleaner. Liners make upkeep easier.
» Self-cleaning litterboxes activate 10 minutes after the cat leaves the box, raking waste into a container at one end of the box.
Resources
» www.animalbehaviorassociates.com
» www.perfectlitterbox.com
