The Secret to Improving Your Cat’s Bathroom Tendencies
When it comes to their litter box business, cats are fastidiously clean and private creatures. They are also very smart and very good at giving their pet parents blatant clues when there’s something wrong that results in them refusing to use the litter box. By playing detective and keenly observing their actions around the home, you’ll be able to pick up on these clues and remedy the situation.
Why does my cat pee outside of the litter box?
There is a long list of reasons why a cat will refuse to use the litter box.Firstly, the condition of the box. Because cats a very clean, they will refuse to do their business in a dirty box. People don’t like dirty toilets either! Be sure to scoop daily. And in a multi-cat household, you will need multiple boxes set up in different locations in the home.Secondly, the location. If the box is in a high traffic zone such as near the front door, at a staircase, or in the kitchen where everyone gathers, they may be nervous to do their business with an audience and constant foot traffic.The size and type of box matters too. Many cats don’t like closed boxes. This is especially true in a multi-cat household where one feline may feel it may be ambushed by another cat on exiting the box. An open box gives the advantage of a 360-degree view of the surroundings.Sometimes, if a cat has had surgery, suffered a urinary traction infection, or has been constipated, they develop a negative association with the litter box. Buy a new one and set it up in a different location. It may even be a good idea to try a different litter.Skoonhas a selection to choose from.It’s also important to rule out the possibility of an existing medical issue. Book a vet appointment to discuss and request a urinalysis test and bloodwork.
My cat pees on my sister’s belongings and wherever she sits. Why does she do this?
Again, play detective and note exactly where the cat is peeing and pooping instead of the box.For example, if it’s choosing an elevated place such as a bed, couch, or kitchen counter, the cat may be stressed and anxious that it’s going to be disturbed and this position is a good look-out. In this case, you will have to determinewhat exactly is causingthe stress and anxiety.If they are peeing blatantly in the middle of the room, it could be a medical problem in that kitty couldn’t get to the litter box in time! If a cat feels bullied, it may resort to peeing in a hiding place.If a cat is peeing on someone else’s belongings and wherever that person sits, for some reason, it may consider this person a threat. Perhaps that person doesn’t like cats and may have hurt the cat? Again, it’s important to play detective to undercover the reason for the cat’s distress.
My cat pees a lot in quantity and many times. What does this mean?
Frequent urination can be a sign of a painful urinary tract infection, another related urinary issue, and even a sign of other serious medical issues such as chronic kidney disease and diabetes. A vet’s diagnosis is essential to prescribe the necessary treatment to manage.Again, by playing detective, and keeping an eye on the water bowls in the home it’s easy to see if a cat is drinking more than usual. Technology can be best your assistant if you think there is a potential problem. The newFelaquawater bowl allows you to track how much liquid your cat is drinking daily. It works by reading your cat’s microchip (or a special RFID tag) and via the app can be programmed to track several cats in a household. Never ignore if a cat is drinking too much and peeing too frequently – there is definitely a problem!
Why do cats lick themselves after going to the bathroom?
It’s quite normal for a cat to lick its tail area after going to the bathroom, particularly if they have just peed or have a loose stool and have long hair. It’s the feline equivalent of using toilet paper or a personal wipe. Elderly cats may have trouble with proper clean-up because stiff joints may prevent them from reaching their nether regions. As a pet parent, you may have to assist and there are special feline Ph-regulated wipes to help.To learn more about your cat’s health, feeding habits, and fun facts about cat poop, read more in the Skoon blogs.
Sandy Robins |
