This post is sponsored by Precious Cat on behalf of the BlogPaws Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about Precious Cat’s Cat Attract formula, but Cheap Is The New Classy only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. Precious Cat is not responsible for the content of this article.
As many of you know, I am a dog person. And my husband is a cat person. Thus, we have lots of animals. We have 2 dogs and 6 cats, to be precise. Don’t get me wrong, though, I love the cats, too, just like he loves the dogs. But, no matter how much you love your pets, there can definitely be those “trying” moments, too.
Before I met my husband, I had a gorgeous cat named Garfield. He was a big orange fluff of finicky. Though I like to label myself a “dog” person, Garfield was the coolest cat ever. 😉 I often joke that perhaps my husband married me, in part, because of my awesome cat.
When we moved in with my husband, Garfield acted out for a little bit, didn’t use the cat litter box and had the occasional “accident.” Garfield eventually got over the move and used the restroom like a gentleman. But, years later, the behavior started again.
Why Do Cats Use The Restroom In Inappropriate Places?
Cats spraying or using the restroom in inappropriate places is one of the main reasons people get rid of their cats, drop them off at pounds and abandon them at shelters. According to Dr. Elsey, the vet behind the Precious Cat brand, says that many times cats do not use the cat litter box due to stress. So, you might have to work with them more. Also, you need to follow some basic steps to encourage the cats to use the cat litter box. “You have to start with hygiene. People need to scoop the box every day. Next, the box needs to be large enough; it should be one and one half times the length of the cat so he can easily turn around in it,” says Dr. Elsey. “If you have multiple cats, you need multiple litter boxes; one box more than the number of cats in your home.” Dr Elsey also goes on to say that plastic little boxes can pick up smells which will cause the cats to not want to use it anymore and that cats can be picky about the location and style of the cat litter box.
What Causes Cats To Mark Their Territory?
Cats are also very territorial. The more cats you have, the more likely they are to start marking their territory. The number of cats in a household increases the incidence of marking; more than 10 cats is the “tipping point” with fewer than eight cats it may diminish. Bottom line, the more cats you the higher the chances of marking there will be,” says Dr. Elsey. So, if you do not want cats marking, then you should have fewer. Six is our absolute limit and they are divided up. We have 2 that stay in the basement, one stays upstairs {primarily in my daughter’s room} and we have 3 outdoors. This tends to keep the marking behavior to a minimum and the cats have their own cat litter boxes.
What Can You Do To Help Your Cat Use The Cat Litter Box?
The main point to takeaway is that if your cat is having accidents, it is probably frustrating for the cat, too. Just like we love cats, they love us, so we all have to work together. You can help your cat learn that he needs to go in the cat litter box by using products like Cat Attract Litter which is specially formulated with a natural herb attractant that cats love. It’s a great teaching tool for kittens and is great for bringing problem cats back to the cat litter box.
Dr. Elsey has 30 years as a feline only veterinarian and has helped over 8,000 cats live longer, happier and healthier lives.
View Comments (43)
Thanks for this post. I have an elderly cat who sometimes chooses not to use the litter box. I don't know if any of the tips here fit her situation, but you've inspired me to try to work with her a little more to be sure she's not unhappy with the box for some reason.
I didn't realize that you should have one more litter box than you have cats. I know the boxes take on smells, but I wouldn't have thought it discourages cats from going there. It's good that they have products to help combat these problems so both you and your cats can live harmoniously.
Cats can be very strange. I am a cat person and love them. But, they truly have a mind of their own.
We have 5 cats only 2 of them mark. The alpha male and the alpha female. Our issue is not having enough litter boxes. We have 2. There is not enough room for more boxes were we currently live. We are moving later this year to a bigger place ane will have many more boxes. I hope this will solve the problem.
Thanks for the informative post. I guess working with your cat (just as you would with a toddler) over time will lead to a better situation for everyone involved. I'll have to remember the multiple litter boxes requirement for cats; it does make sense as you said, they are very territorial animals.
I don't have cats, but this is good to know :) Thanks for the tips.
I didn't know that the box itself could pick up odors! I try to replace mine (not really mine, per se!) annually, but I think it's been more than a year. Time for a new one, I guess.
I got lucky that my cat was always pretty good about using his box. Now that he lives with my parents, he's an outdoor kitty so there's no need to buy litter anymore!
I don't own pets. But my sister in law has a cat named Percy. he is black in color and so adorable. Garfield here is very striking by the way :) I will certainly send this post over to my sis in law
Good stuff! When our cat was a kitten she suddenly decided that behind the front door was a great place to pee. Out of nowhere - I still have no idea why she did that. So we put tin foil down in the spot and she hated the sound it made, so she never did it again! LOL Trial and error sometimes :)