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It’s a sad fact that many cats are surrendered to animal shelters due to their unwanted toileting habits.
From owners who don’t want to deal with stinky litter to cats that refuse to use their trays, kitty litter boxes are a harsh reality of cat ownership, but one that doesn’t need to be so disgusting.
Vet and TV presenter Katrina Warren has some tips on making your kitty fall in love with their litter box again.
If your cat is going to the toilet outside their litter box, Katrina said you should make sure you ruled out underlying medical conditions first.
“A bladder infection, for example, could be the cause of their toileting away from their box,” she said.
If the vet gives the all-clear, it is likely an issue with their happiness around the litter, Katrina said.
So, what could be making them so miserable? And how can you turn it all around?
Take a look at Katrina’s checklist for what might be bothering your four-legged buddy.
• Cleanliness: Many elimination problems result from a litter tray not being sufficiently pristine for your cat's highly refined sense of smell. Try using less litter in the tray and discard it daily, washing out the tray every time and replacing the litter.
• Type of litter: Some cats have a favourite type of litter, so if you are changing to something new, do it gradually. You need to offer both and slowly phase out the previous litter to make sure it doesn’t cause upsets. You may also need to experiment with different types of litter until you find the one your cat likes best. It is often easier to train a kitten to use a certain type from the start.
• Type of litter box: Some cats don't like the enclosed hooded trays. Some like big trays while others like small trays — cats are all individual. Offer your cat a couple of different options to see what they feel most comfortable with.
• Privacy: Would you want someone watching you on the toilet? Not likely — and your feline friend is no different. Cats like privacy when they do their business, so I recommend you place the tray in a nice quiet spot away from the cat’s eating area.
• Multi-cat homes: Cats don’t like to share their toilet, so if you have more than one furry friend, provide one tray per cat (plus a spare).
• Stress: Toileting problems are often a sign of stress. Moving house, the arrival of a new baby or additional pet — anything that causes upheaval in the daily routine can stress your cat out. Try to give them a calm and consistent environment, and perhaps even a dedicated quiet room to chill out in.
• Smell: If the smell of kitty litter is a worry to humans, Dr Katrina suggested it could be worth looking at something like PetSafe’s scoop-free second generation self-cleaning litter box, which she said was great for eliminating odours and removed the need to clean the tray as often.
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