Before you conclude that your cat is behaving badly by avoiding litter box, do health check. The first thing to consider is her medical condition. Feline experts recommend doing health check to find out whether some underlying illness affects her behavior. Cats who suffer from arthritis or a urinary problem will avoid the litter box in order to avoid pain. If the screening confirms that your cat is healthy, veterinarians from Eastshore Vet, the cat wellness center in Madison, suggest considering the following 5 litter box mistakes you need to avoid.
Location of the Litter Box
Litter box in a noisy place with frequent movements and chaos causing by your children or other pets may force your pet to avoid it. Feline experts believe that careful examination of litter box location is needed before you decide where to put it. They recommend placing it away from food and water dishes in a quiet place to minimize distractions.
Dirty Litter Box
Your cat may avoid litter box visits if she smells dirt. Cats have strongly developed sense of smell and will avoid unsavory scents. Scoop it out once a day, at least, and change the litter weekly. Whenever you change litter, wash the litter box thoroughly by using lukewarm water and detergent to get rid of bacteria and other pests.
Inadequate Type of a Litter Box
Sometimes, cats may experience a litter box problem because the size and type of the box do not match her needs. The general rule regarding the size is that the litter box should be one and the half times the length of your cat. Furthermore, kittens and older cats may avoid it because of the high sides. You may also want to opt to litter box without cover, because your cat does not want to feel trapped, especially if you live in a multi-cat household.
Problem with Litter
Cat parents frequently complain about the litter box problem after they change litter. For that reason, stick to favorite litter of your cat. In case that you think changing litter is a good idea, do it gradually. Feline experts recommend mixing about 75 per cent of the old litter with 25 per cent of the new one in order to introduce the change in the most spontaneous way to your cat.
Stress
A stressed cat can express her frustration by avoiding litter box. If you’ve recently moved in into new home, or you’ve got a new family member it might be that your cat need more attention and care to cope with this change.
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