It's instinctual for a cat to use a litter box. Why? Because in the
wild, they would need to "cover up" their scent to avoid prey. They also
of course have times where they spread their scent around to "mark"
their territory. Sometimes indeed these two things do collide, especially
when a cat is not fixed. But most often a cat has a strong, instinctual
desire to go inside a litter box and "cover up."
When they don't do this, chances are it is because of something that is bothering them. If your cat is straining in the litter box, or visiting the litter box repeatedly without producing anything or producing tiny drops, there is a good chance that he/she has a urinary tract infection and needs to be seen by a vet. Otherwise, try making the following adjustments:
TRY A DIFFERENT LITTER
Cats have very sensitive noses and often dislike litters with lots of perfumes and chemicals. When possible, find out what litter the kitty was using previously. At KittyKind the cats use a plain clay non-clumping brand of litter. When changing litters, always mix so that the change is gradual.
GET A BIGGER LITTER BOX, AND USE TWO OR THREE
Sometimes it's just too
small and they are trying to let you know that. Many times, there's
just not enough. Better to have too many boxes than pee on the floor. A
bigger box and more boxes should be the first thing you try. Very often it stops the problem right then!
POSITION THE BOX SOMEWHERE PRIVATE YET ACCESSIBLE
Often this is a case of cats not liking where the litter box is, or
there being territorial issues over it. Use one box for each cat. If,
say, the litter box is by a radiator, it might have clanged while they
were in there one day, and now they're unsure of it. If the box is in a
basement or upstairs room, many cats don't like to make the long trip
there. Believe it or not, they are proud of their pee and want you to
see it.
POSITION THE BOX WHERE THEY GO PEE
If they go on a certain rug or sofa, put the box right on the rug they
use or near the sofa. That is where they like to go for some reason,
and they should transfer that desire to the box. You can move the box
later on, once they've gotten the hang of using it again.
TAKE OUT PLASTIC LINERS, REMOVE BOX TOPS
Some cats don't like either.
SPRAY FELIWAY
This is a cat pheromone you can find in many pet stores,
and online. It calms cats and keeps them from marking. Spray where they
tend to go pee.
KEEP THE LITTER BOX SPICK AND SPAN
Many cats want a clean litterbox,
they don't like stepping in their own pee any more than you would. A
natural clumping litter like World's Best Cat Litter or Swheat Scoop is
good for this — you can scoop out the pee.
IF THERE ARE WINDOWS, STRAYS MIGHT BE COMING TO THEM SO YOUR CATS ARE
MARKING THEIR TERRITORY
Use stray repellent spray for the backyard and around windows.
DO NOT PUNISH WHEN THEY GO OUTSIDE THE BOX, ALWAYS PRAISE WHEN THEY GO
INSIDE
A cat is going outside the box for a reason — punishing them just
creates stress that can further exacerbate the situation.
IF ALL FAILS, "RETRAIN"
Put the cats in a small room like a bathroom or den, even a large cage.
Cats don't like to go to the bathroom near their food or where they
sleep. In a small space, they will have no choice but to use the box. Keep
doing this for at least a week.
IF THEY ARE DECLAWED, YOU MIGHT BE OUT OF LUCK
Many declawed cats stop using the litter box. After the procedure,
their paws hurt for up to 3 weeks. Because it hurts when they scratch
around inside the box, they begin to associate the litter box with pain, and
therefore start avoiding it. A different litter box and litter may help.
DIET
Many behavioral problems can be the cause of a bad diet. If a cat is
not getting the nutrients and moisture he needs from a high quality wet food, then anything can happen. Please use a brand like WELLNESS,
INNOVA, PETGUARD, NATURE'S VARIETY PRAIRIE, SPOT'S STEW or ABADY. All can be purchased online. Cats are carnivores. The first
few ingredients of your cat's food must be meat/meat organs — not corn or grains! Research raw food and homecooked diets too. They might be
right for your cat.
If you try everything above in good faith, you should stop having a problem. If not, the cause may be a physical or emotional problem. Consider whether there have been any dramatic changes at home that may be upsetting kitty and try to spend time reassuring him/her. You may want to talk to your vet about anti-depressants which can work wonders with cats who inappropriately eliminate. And definitely get the cat checked for urinary tract inferction, as peeing outside the box is the #1 symptom of this particular problem.
Good luck!
