|
 Litter
box problems can occur in any household, regardless
of the number of cats, but the chances certainly increase
as you add more cats into the mix. I think it’s
pretty safe to say that if you have several cats, you’ve
probably dealt with a litter box problem or will at
some time in the future. Many
owners assume the litter box is just the place cats
use for elimination – the feline version of a
bathroom – and as long as they keep it clean,
everyone will be happy. Oh, if only it could be that
simple. In reality a cat’s relationship with the
litter box is complex and emotional. When more than
one cat has to share the box, that relationship can
get even more delicate.
SPRAYING
Cats don’t just spray without a reason, so you
must examine the social environment within your cat
community. It’s time to play detective.
Where is your cat (or cats) spraying? Under what circumstances?
It is in one area? Perhaps a lower-ranking cat is trying
to establish a little piece of his own territory. Did
you bring a new cat into the home? Every time you add
or subtract a cat it shakes up the hierarchy. One of
your resident cats may be trying to see how dominant
this new cat is. Observe the overall behavior of your
cats. Do you notice any changes recently? If you know
which cat is doing the spraying, try to remember what
happened just minutes before. Perhaps one cat always
seems to spray after a confrontation with another particular
cat. Is there a pattern?
Look
at the targeted locations for clues as well. There are
claimed territories and neutral pathways within your
home. If you really know your cats (and they’re
creatures of habit, so it gets easier as time goes on),
you might be able to tell if perhaps the spraying occurs
along a pathway – perhaps warning other cats not
to enter a claimed territory. Maybe a neutral pathway
is being sprayed because there just isn’t enough
territory, and a lower-ranking cat is trying to establish
some turf.
If the target areas are under windows or on a wall opposite
a window that looks out onto an active yard, the problem
could simply be that a cat has noticed an unfamiliar
cat on the property. That happens in single-cat households
very often, but in a multi-cat home it can occur because
the sprayer knows there just isn’t any more territory
to divide up. If you allow some or all of your cats
outdoors, one may spray after returning indoors if he
comes across a cat outside. A kitty’s adventures
outdoors can create insecurity because a cat may pick
up the scent of another cat while outside or maybe even
engage in an actual confrontation. Once back indoors,
he may reinforce his territory and reassure himself
by spraying within the safety of his own home.
CATWISE
CAUTION
Any change in litter box habits can be an indication
of an underlying medical problem. There are several
conditions that can cause a cat to eliminate away
from the box, and one is lower urinary tract disease.
It’s not uncommon for a cat to associate the
box itself with the pain he feels while urinating,
and that’s why he chooses other locations.
Cats with feline lower urinar y tract disease (FLUTD)
also have irritated bladders and feel a sense of
urgency even when there’s just a drop of urine
in the bladder. You may also notice a cat who goes
in and out of the box frequently, who has a bit
of blood mixed in with his urine, who cries while
eliminating, or who is able to eliminate only small
amounts. Other conditions can cause cats to eliminate
outside of the box as well, including diabetes and
renal failure. Don’t assume that a litter
box problem is behavioral until you’ve had
your cats checked out by the veterinarian. Urinary
problems can be fatal if the urethra becomes totally
blocked, especially for male cats, who have long
narrow urethras. Any change in a cat’s litter
box habits or water/food intake should be brought
to the veterinarian’s attention immediately. |
| The
complete article appears on pages 46
to 48 in
Volume 6 Issue 5 of Animal Wellness
Magazine.
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