Litter Box Laments

One of the most common problems people experience with their feline companions relates to use of the litter box. Or more specifically, non-use of the litter box! Many people automatically assume that urination or defecation outside the designated litter box indicates a spiteful behavior change in their cat. On the contrary, many toileting problems in cats stem from medical conditions. In fact, the only way to prove litter box avoidance is a behavioral problem is to rule out systemic disease.

Posture of a cat straining to urinate,
a medical condition requiring
urgent attention.

Today's blog is not about litter box avoidance due to urinary tract infections, bladder inflammation caused by crystals or stones, irritable bowel syndrome, or systemic disease (such as kidney failure or diabetes). These often treatable conditions are diagnosed by urine, stool or blood tests and imaging studies (e.g., "x-rays," ultrasound) and should always be considered if a previously well-trained feline starts "having accidents" around the house.

So what if your cat truly has a behavioral condition that causes him to abandon the litter box? Cats are fastidious creatures. If something about their litter box is not to their liking they may simply stop using it. My clients often protest that they "haven't changed a thing about the litter box yet suddenly their adult cat won't use it!" A veterinarian professor of mine put it like this: a toddler in toilet-training has no qualms about dropping her pants on the side of the road to use her potty chair when the urge hits, but a teenager wouldn't dream of it! Likewise many cats will tolerate less than ideal litter box setups for years before one day demonstrating that "enough is enough" by peeing or pooping in a preferred location.

Unfortunately what seems like a great litter box set up to the pet owner may be repugnant to the kitty. Consider the following:

Hiding a litter box in a planter seems like a good idea to a
person but breaks Cat Rule Number 1.

1. Your Personal "Porta-Potty." Would you really accept a "Porta-Potty" as a replacement for your home's spacious bathroom complete with ventilation fan? A covered litter box is the equivalent of a public portable toilet. Your meager human sense of smell recoils at the ammonia odor trapped inside. Just imagine how your feline's exceptional sniffer responds!

2. Grand Central Station. For some reason whenever I think about overflowing litter boxes I recall Weird Al Yankovic singing about cleaning "all the bathrooms in Grand Central Station with [his] tongue" in his anti-love song "One More Minute". I'll bet some of you have backed out of a filthy public restroom with a full bladder. I've even met people who won't use an otherwise clean but unflushed public toilet! Is it any wonder then that your cat would rather urinate on a rug than in a litter box that has old waste in it? Litter box waste should be scooped at least daily. The entire box may need to be emptied, cleaned and refilled every one to two weeks.

3. A Very Brady Bathroom. Imagine six kids sharing one bathroom. The inherent conflict is the stuff of which classic Hollywood sitcoms are made! Why then do we think six cats should be forced to share one litter box -- even uncovered and kept immaculately clean? The rule of thumb for litter boxes is "one litter box per cat plus one." Therefore, if you have two cats you should have three litter boxes. And if you're doing the math that means a single cat household should have two litter boxes! To reduce potential inter-cat drama these multiple litter boxes should not be lined up in a row like stalls in a high school lavatory. Also, try to place the boxes on different levels of the home. After all, how would you like to trek from your upstairs bedroom to the basement bathroom in the middle of the night?

Admit it. The basement can be a scary place.
Even for cats -- especially if their only bathroom
is right next to a hissing water heater.

4. Location, location, location. Toilets do not belong in the kitchen. Avoid placing your cat's litter box right next to where you feed him or where he sleeps. (A possible exception to this rule is for the cat who is being nursed through a weakening illness or post-surgical recovery.) A popular spot for the litter box is the basement or mechanical room.  All it takes is the sudden whoosh, whir, or clunk of a furnace, washing machine or other appliance to scare the bejeezus out of a cat settling down to business, and there you have it -- a future litter box avoider.

5. More on the Super Sniffer. Pysch's Burton Guster is not the only one with an exceptional sense of smell. Scent-sensitive people abound. I've had clients whose pet's file was flagged with the note "Remove air fresheners from room prior to appointment! Allergic!" The average cat's sense of smell is said to be about 14 times as strong as the average human's. The "extra fresh" odor controlling kitty litter that appeals to you may knock the socks off your cat. Research shows that most cats prefer soft, sandy litter with no added smells. In fact, any change in litter away from what your cat prefers can cause litter box avoidance. You can skip plastic pan liners (most cats hate them) but make sure you keep 1 to 1-1/2 inches of litter in the box (more is not better here).

6. It's a Cat Thing. When we put ourselves in our cat's "shoes" it is easy to see how the cleanliness and location of litter box can positively or negatively affect his willingness to use it. But some litter box problems stem from feline feelings with which it is hard to identify. For example, most of us do not urinate on objects to claim ownership of them. Nor do we tend to urinate in odd places just to get someone's attention. Territorial scent marking, especially by intact male and female cats, can flare up with the introduction of a new pet, with changes within an established feline family's social structure, or even with the visitation of an outdoor stray merely seen, heard or smelled outside the window! Some cats reportedly urinate or defecate outside the box while staring pointedly at their person as if to say, "Hey, there is something wrong here. Get me some help." It's hard not to get mad, but take a second and listen to your cat when this happens. Then call your veterinarian on his behalf.

An entertaining and enlightening resource for additional litter box management tips is The Fastidious Feline: How to Prevent and Treat Litter Box Problems by Patricia B. McConnell, Ph.D.

Happy Birthday, Kitty!

People always want to know how old their dog or cat is in human terms. The rule of thumb for dogs has been one dog year equals seven human years, but we know that it not exactly right. Little dogs like Bichons tend to live longer than big dogs like Newfoundlands. Also the first few years of a dog's life are accelerated. A one-year-old dog is capable of reproducing and so it is definitely not the equivalent of a seven-year-old human (unless you believe those crazy tabloids)!

Unlike dogs, after the first few formative years of life, the ratio of cat years to human is about 1:4. As you can see, a feline surpassing 20+ years is deserving of a Willard Scott-esque birthday celebration!

Cat's Age               Equivalent Human Years
 1 year                    15-18 years
 2 years                   21-24 years
 3 years                        28 years
 4 years                        32 years
 5 years                        36 years
 6 years                        40 years
 7 years                        44 years
 8 years                        48 years
 9 years                        52 years
10 years                       56 years
11 years                       60 years
12 years                       64 years
13 years                       68 years
14 years                       72 years
15 years                       76 years
16 years                       80 years
17 years                       84 years
18 years                       88 years
19 years                       92 years
20 years                       96 years
Adapted from Think Like a Cat: How to raise a well-adjusted cat -- not a sour puss by Pam Johnson-Bennett


Here are some tips for helping your kitty reach his or her "centennial" celebration.

1. Schedule annual wellness exams with your cat's veterinarian even though vaccines are not due. Most progressive veterinary clinics now booster feline vaccines only every three years. That's the equivalent of 12 years between doctor visits in human terms! Screening bloodwork should be performed periodically (and at least annually in senior cats) to catch certain diseases early. Early detection allows for easier management and a longer, happier life.
2. Spay or neuter your kitty to avoid medical and behavioral problems that may result in accidental death, illness or euthanasia.  
3. Feed your cat a high quality cat food but limit portions! Obesity is a huge problem in felines leading to diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, and skin problems from inability to groom. Most cats do not get enough moisture in their diets and suffer from GI and urinary problems as a result. Train your kitty early on to enjoy quality canned or moist foods. Dry food does not -- I repeat, does not -- prevent dental disease.
4. Dental disease is a common and painful condition in many cats, and it negatively affects their overall health. Ask your veterinarian for advice on how to prevent and manage dental disease in your cat. Just like people, most pets should have their teeth professionally cleaned (i.e., by their veterinarian) periodically.
5. Know what plants and household items are potentially toxic for your cat to avoid tragic illness or death. Also, PLEASE remember very few human medications are safe for cats. Some over-the-counter flea and tick treatments are OK for dogs but are deadly for cats!
6. Environmental enrichment can improve the quality and length of your cat's life. Many feline diseases are linked to stress. Learn as much as you can about feline behavior and play with your kitty every day. Especially in multi-cat households, make sure you have provided the proper resources for cats that may not get along all the time. A rule of thumb for litter boxes is "1 per cat plus 1." That means if you have three cats, you should have four litter boxes. Also properly placed scratching posts may eliminate the supposed need for declawing. By "properly placed" I mean in highly visible areas the cat has chosen, not the owner!  

Sadly, even with proper care and the best intentions some cats do not live to ripe old age. It is no different with us humans (I'm thinking of the fit and trim 30-somethings who die tragically from cancer or accidents). However, cats who receive proper exercise and nutrition, regular medical and dental care, and environmental enrichment will have an improved quality of life no matter how many candles are on their tuna cake.