Bad Kitty!
By Roxanne Willems Snopek
Inappropriate elimination is a common complaint of cat owners. Dr. Gary Landsberg, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviourists, estimates that at least 10% of cats will house-soil occasionally, but owners shouldn’t assume it's a behavioural problem. “The first step is always a veterinary examination to rule out medical problems,” reminds Dr. Landsberg.
Feline House-soiling
Any change in elimination behaviour can indicate digestive or urinary tract problems. Once health problems are ruled out, it’s time to determine the motivation behind the behaviour. “There are two main types of inappropriate elimination,” Dr. Landsberg explains. “Marking - a territorial "calling card" - and litter avoidance or surface preference.” To correct the behaviour it’s vital to determine which is occurring.
Typical marking behaviour involves urination against a vertical object. It may be a response to anxiety, change, or competition from other cats. Sometimes it’s a smell, or an absence of smell that triggers a cat to mark. Any novel odor - a new item of clothing, even fresh laundry - can stimulate cats to mark.
Surface preference or litter avoidance, on the other hand, usually means your cat’s ideas about the ideal feline commode aren’t the same as yours. “Proper litter knowledge is important,” says Dr. Landsberg. “The litter must appeal to the cat, the box must be in the proper place, it must be cleaned frequently.” Strongly scented litters, or overuse of deodorizers can be repellent to cats.
Fortunately, inappropriate elimination is preventable. First, have your cat spayed or neutered, as intact cats are much more likely to develop house-soiling behaviour. Then, reduce stress in your cat’s environment. Keep the litter boxes clean: pick out solid waste at least daily, change the entire box at least weekly. Try switching to a fine-grain clumping litter, increase the amount of litter used, and add another box if there are several cats in the home. “The feline necessities of life,” says Dr. Landsberg, “are food and water, a comfortable bed, exercise and attention, places to scratch and climb and nice, clean cat litter.”