Cats make great pets:
Indeed, cats are naturally programmed to keep their surroundings clean. If you have heard a cat being recommended for an invalid person or as a companion for very small children, this is one of the foremost factors. That is precisely why when a cat begins house-soiling, you must pull yourself up and try to figure out whether it is a health problem or a behavioral issue.
Understand that they are not doing this out of spite or revenge:
Statistics categorically prove that more than 60 percent of cats with house soiling issues have a history of urinary tract infection. This is not all. A cat not using her litter box like it is used to can point to other underlying health issues. It can mean discomfort arising out of the overly sensitive thyroid gland, beginning of diabetes, or near-fatal liver disease.
The first thing that you must consider is to take her to a vet for a complete examination to rule out a possible health issue, mainly of the urinary tract. Once you are assured that it is not about any physical ailments, begin by figuring out your cat’s relationship with other feline inmates in your house.
Cats can avoid using the litter box if other cats or pets are bullying it. If the relationship with other felines is good, then you may want to change the litter box or the type of litter that you use. Cats are excessively sensitive about their litter, and their heightened sense of smell can mean that they do not take kindly to all types of litter.
The cat’s behavior unchanged even after changing litter?
There could be some other changes in the environment that is upsetting it. Have you got a new baby at home? Newly adopted pets can also upset the cat and unnerve it. Cats are territorial by nature. Just like their wilder cousins in the jungle, domesticated cats also mark their territory by spraying urine or pooping so that the new cat will not cross into their territory.
Separate litter boxes for each one of your cat baby:
If you are a parent to many felines, you must take care that there is a litter box for each feline you own. This will mean that the dominant cat does not bully the weaker ones or the younger ones. You must always aim at one litter box for every cat and one extra. If a cat is aging, you may want to put the litter box conveniently for its access.
Here is how to make your cat’s litter box attractive to it:
- Ensure that you scoop out the upper layer of litter at least once a day so that it does not stink. Make it attractive for them. Make sure to empty the entire litter box once or twice a month and wash it with warm water. Use only unscented soap because cats are very sensitive to strong smells. If they do not like the smell of the strong soap you are using, they will refrain from using the litter box as long as it emanates that smell. Never re-use old litter. Once you wash the litter box, fill it up with fresh litter from the packet.
- Every cat has a distinctive taste for litter. If you want to determine its favorite type of litter, line up some litter boxes with different alternatives for litter. You will see for yourself what kind of litter is its favorite.
- The litter box must have at least 2 inches of litter at all given times. You can fill up to 4 inches if you feel your cat is fond of depth. With 4 inches of litter also, you will be expected to scoop out the first layer without compromise.
- Do not place the litter box where there is a lot of footfall or traffic. Cats need privacy to finish their business. Make sure that you think of an appropriate place where there will be zero to very few disturbances.
- You could experiment with different types of litter boxes even. There are a lot of varieties of litter boxes on the market today. If you are using an uncovered one, then try a hooded one. Many cats prefer open litter boxes because they can see if someone is approaching them. It is also easier to clean.
- The best way to discourage your cat from house soiling places outside its litter box is to use an enzyme cleaner to remove all traces of its urine odor.
- There are some other ways to discourage it from using the floor to place its food and water where it uses to answer nature’s call frequently. You could even cover the area with double-sided tape so that it does not go there.
Health problems why the cat is pooping on the floor:
- Constipation or loose stools: the urge to go can be so overwhelming that it may not have the time to make it to the litter box. This is a temporary issue. If it continues to poop on the floor, please seek an appointment with the vet.
- If the vet confirms that all is well with the cat, you may want to explore if it has any behavioral issues. Feline stress is real. One of the first signs of stress and exhaustion in animals is a change in their bathroom behavior. Like a new baby or a newer pet, another addition in the family can put them under a lot of emotional stress.
- Litter boxes that have not been tended to for weeks can be putting up for the cats.
- Placing the litter box in the wrong place, like in the passageway or near the door, can make them lose their private moments,
- Keep the litter box in one place always. Regularly changing its position and location can put a lot of pressure on the cats, especially those experiencing dementia.
There are no shortcuts to cleaning the box:
- Scoop away all old litter and discard
- Scrub the box with no-scent soap and warm running water.
- Air-dry the box and pour fresh litter only.
Tip: to make sure that you do not catch an unsuspecting bug, make sure you are wearing your gloves and protecting your respiratory system by covering your face.
- If you are pregnant or are nursing a small baby, please assign litter box maintenance to someone else to avert a possible toxoplasmosis infection.
- Block all its favorite pooping places on the floor. You can do this by placing a bath mat or set up a knock-down gate; you could even restrict its access to a particular room by closing the doors of the room.
- Recreate the floor in its litter box. Leave the bottom of the box completely bare so that it prefers to relieve itself on its favorite surface.
It may take a little more effort, but it is all very doable. Cats that have gotten used to pooping on the floor generally take a long time to be re-trained to start using the litter box. You will need to be behind it religiously to break this unhealthy habit. Ensure that you spend a lot of time with it and not allow it to get stressed or bored.
Take a refresher course on how to make your cat’s environment fulfilling. You could consider adding a vertical climbing space like a rack or a tree. Interactive toys can also leave them refreshed and more in a mood for litter training all again.
Conclusion:
It is no doubt frustrating to see your kitty poop on the floor and having to clean it after you have painstakingly litterbox trained it. The key to solving the problem is to empathize and understand the underlying issues before becoming judgmental and deciding to re-home your cat. Change is not bound to happen overnight.
Be patient and be kind with your cat baby. Getting angry and throwing angry fits at it in case of an accident can only stress them more. We trust you with little bit of patience from your side you and your pet can do this together. Mew!
