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| Tips for solving your cat's little box blues If your cat has begun to use the carpet as his place to relieve himself instead of the litter box, one of several reasons may be causing the behavior. First, have a veterinarian check your cat to rule out a medical condition such as a urinary tract infection. If she finds your cat is healthy, then the problem may be that your cat is "spraying" or marking his territory. Whether your cat is male, female, spayed, neutered, or intact, any age cat can start spraying. You must determine what is causing him to spray, then alleviate the cause. For example, is it because he saw a neighbor cat through the window? You might try keeping your cat away from the window and discouraging the presence of neighbor cats. Did you change the location of his litter box or the type of litter you're using? Revert to the old location or type of litter for awhile to see if this is the cause. Next, make the sprayed area less appealing to your cat by applying unpleasant odors, like muscle rubs or room deodorizers to the area. Cat owners may find success with cleaners containing active chemical enzymes. Do not use ammonia-based cleaning agents to clean the area because urea, a component of urine, eventually will break down to form ammonia and the smell will attract the cat the opposite reaction you desire! You might also try keeping your cat away from sprayed areas by placing textures there that will irritate your cat, such as double-sided sticky tape, sandpaper or aluminum foil. The next step is to work on retraining your cat to use the litter box. Since pets, just like humans, have their own personalities and temperaments, one approach is not fit for all cats. Dr. Kathleen Ivie of Ailurophile Cat Clinic in Lansing has some suggestions for cat owners to help them modify their cat's behavior and make the litter box more attractive. Be sure to change the litter box more frequently. Use only warm water since cats hate soap odor, especially lemon-scented soap. Make sure the litter box fits your cat. If your cat is regularly going just outside the box, it could mean the box is too small. Evaluate the cat litter you use because cats are sensitive to its texture and smell. Most cats prefer the texture of sand-like scooping litter, but you may need to experiment with wood chips, sand, potting soil, or newspaper to find one that your cat likes. The location of the litter box may also be a factor in whether or not your cat will use the box. Be sure to steer clear of your cat's feeding area or busy areas in the house, since noise may startle the cat, making him fearful and unwilling to use the box. If you have more than one cat, have at least one box per cat. If you have more than one floor in your home, consider placing a box on each level. If you keep the litter box in the basement and your cat feels nature calling on the second floor, he may not be able to make it to the basement in time. It is important to remember that cats do not act out of spite or revenge, so do not yell at your cat, hit him or rub his nose in the area. These actions have no effect other than to destroy your relationship with your cat. Instead you should be particularly nice to your cat while you work on solving the problem. If behavior modification does not help to change your cat's actions, a veterinarian may be able to recommend another alternative. Drug therapy, while not a cure-all, can be extremely helpful for anxiety-related urination. By stopping the behavior with the help of medication, it gives you time to work on the behavioral aspects of treatment with your cat. Ask your veterinarian for more information. Remember that changes in your cat's behavior will take time, but with patience, persistence, understanding, and a lot of love, the problem may be resolved. * Information provided by Ailurophile Cat Clinic |
 PET CARE- What do you do when your pet is ill or injured - What to do if you lose your pet - Advantages of spaying or neutering - CAHS participating veterinarians - Lansing area dog obedience trainers |
| CARE FOR DOGS - House training your dog - License information - Indoor paper training - Basic veterinary care your dog needs - Introducing a new dog to your current pet |
| CARE FOR CATS - Basic veterinary care your cat needs - Introducing a new cat to your current pet - Cat scratch fever? Declawing isn't the only answer. - Keeping cats indoors: humane practice or prison sentence? - Allergic to your cat? You may not have to give him up! - Tips for solving your cat's little box blues |