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Written by Wendy Christensen
Q: My kitty won't use the litterbox anymore. She urinates in the kitchen sink and poops on the counter. I don't understand… she's eating and drinking fine, and plays a lot, too. One idea I had is that the scent of the new litter I bought might be too strong for her. (It's a "fresh scent" litter.)
A: You're absolutely right: many cats really don't like scented litter. Their noses are MUCH more sensitive than ours are. Those perfumy smells that seem pleasant to us can be overpowering and even repulsive to cats. I really don't know why litter manufacturers still add scents to litter!
But what cats hate even worse than too much overpowering scent is any kind of change - ESPECIALLY in their litter box setups. The litter box is a very important place to a cat. She becomes very accustomed to the particular smell, texture and "paw-feel" of her usual litter, as well as to the familiar location of the litter box(es). Disturbing any of these elements is very likely to cause the very kind of problem you're seeing.
Can you still get the litter you were using before, the litter your cat was used to? If so, go get some of that, throw out all of the new litter, clean the litter box(es) with plenty of hot water, and refill with her old favorite. Be sure to leave the litter box where it was, where she knows how to find it. I suspect doing this MAY solve your problem, as long as it hasn't gone on too long.
I think your cat is actually being very polite and considerate. Instead of choosing a corner of your carpet, or in a closet, when she decided she didn't like the new litter, she chose a spot that was 1) very visible to you; and 2) easy to clean.
Though you say she seems fine otherwise, it IS possible that she may have been having some pain or distress in the litter box because of a bout of cystitis (inflammation of the bladder), a bladder infection or other related illness. A cat who has pain while using the litter box may associate the box with the pain, so she decides to go elsewhere - often where the owner can't miss it. It's a cat's way of asking for help (pain relief).
Take your kitty to the veterinarian for a check-up, just to make sure she's OK. Be sure to tell the veterinarian about the sink-and-counter use, and how long it's been going on.
Q: I have 6 cats.. My 6-year-old spayed female DSH calico has a terrible habit of urinating on the carpet.. I know she's urinating since it is always huge puddles/ stains, not sprayed on the wall. After cleaning the carpet, I've placed puppy training pads on the floor where she urinates. Sometimes, she'll use them, then wad them into a ball. She started this behavior about 2 1/2 yrs ago and it doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes we will go months with her properly using the litter box and sometimes she will use it or the rug. I have 7 littler boxes spread around my apartment. I've tried everything: she's had about a thousand dollars worth of tests- urinalysis, urine cultures, x-rays, blood tests and all have been normal or negative. She's been on various medications which only seem to help for a short while. We even tried acupuncture. I'd never give her up, but I'm at my wit's end.
A: No one could say you haven't tried just about everything! I suspect this cat might be manipulating you, and trying to see how much she can get by with. For her, it's become a sort of game -- a battle of wits and wills -- between her and you. I suspect she's enjoying it at some level. It certainly gets your attention! (Also, she's a calico. That explains a lot…)
It's possible that after all this time, your carpets are hopelessly marked with urine odors, and this cat is going to return to them every time she's feeling out of sorts, cranky, or upset for any reason whatsoever, or for no reason at all (she's calico, remember). That smell will provoke her.
Say she's feeling neglected or cranky. She happens to be walking across the carpet. She smells the urine and decides to just go, right there. Remember, cats don't really think and plan ahead, they just react. So, in her mind it's, 1) I'm feeling out of sorts. 2) I have to go. 3) Wait - I smell urine. This must be an OK place. 4) pee.
My long-term advice is: Get rid of your carpets.
Yes, it's an expensive solution. But many years living with groups of cats has taught me that wall-to-wall carpeting is the worst possible thing to have on your floors if you live with animals. There's just no way to keep it clean, monitor regularly for urine and marks, and clean it up thoroughly, no matter what the manufacturers of cleaning products say.
In my house, we have hard floors - linoleum-like material. It's super easy to clean. You can see immediately if anyone has peed on it or marked a corner. The lowered stress level alone (for humans and cats), and the ease of monitoring and cleanup, has been more than worth the price of the flooring. I also had the contractor seal the edges with clear caulk -- so when a cat pees in the corner or edge (very common spots) it doesn't wick down beneath the floor. Best of all, once I clean up any messes, they're really gone.
In the short term. I'd suggest a course of cage confinement for the offending feline. This is the best way I've found to win a battle of wills with a cat. If you're consistent, and maintain an upbeat, positive attitude, cage confinement can work almost like magic. See my book, "Outwitting Cats," for complete directions.
Herding Cats At Home - July 2005 2
Herding Cats At Home - July 2005 3
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