Most cats learn from their mothers to use a litter box when they are young, but a newly domesticated feral cat may not know how to use a litter box. Sometimes, even trained cats still "forget" and defecate around the house. The reasons range from medical issues to preference issues. Whether you're training a new cat that has never used a litter box, or retraining your pet cat to use one, following the tips below can get your cat back on track.
Step
Part 1 of 5: Choosing the Right Sandbox
Step 1. Choose a large sandbox
The cause of cat littering is usually because the litter box is too small. This is especially important if your cat is still growing; the cramped sandbox may already be too small for his body in the next few months. When choosing the size of a cat's litter box, it's best to be careful and buy a large litter box. Your cat will feel free and won't feel like the box is filling up too quickly.
If your cat is young or old, choose a box with low sides so he can get in and out of the box easily
Step 2. Choose a sandbox with a lid or without a lid
Both of these sandboxes have their advantages and disadvantages. Some cats have their own preferences, while others don't. It's a good idea to try both types of litter boxes and see what kind of litter box your cat likes.
- The biggest advantage of a covered litter box is the privacy that some cats really value. A lidded box can also prevent your dog from eating the litter box, if this is a risk in your home.
- Lid litter boxes tend to trap unpleasant odors in the box, so a dirty litter box makes the cat even more uncomfortable.
- If your cat is very large, he may have a hard time twirling around or digging for sand in the box.
Step 3. Buy more than one box
If your house is large enough to accommodate more than one litter box, it may be more profitable to buy a second and even a third box. This can be a must if you have more than one cat, or if your cat is small and still learning to use the litter box. However, some experts recommend having at least one litter box for every cat in your home.
Step 4. Find a good location
Cats have a natural instinct to bury their waste, but if the litter box is not easily accessible, the cat will look for another place to pee. Choosing a good place for your cat takes a lot of trial and error and there will be some mistakes, but there are a few things to consider when choosing a location.
- Make sure the location is easy to reach and convenient. Cats won't have to go far to find a place to pee, so make sure your cat can get to the litter box easily from various places in your home.
- Do not store the litter box near the cat's food and drink. Cats see their eating area as a special place in their home, and cats' natural instinct is to defecate in a place away from that eating area. Keeping the litter box near the cat's food and drink bowl can make the cat anxious and increase the cat's tendency to open defecation.
- Let the cat be in a quiet and peaceful place. Most cats prefer a quiet, undisturbed place to defecate. If you keep your litter box in a room that is noisy and people frequent (such as the kitchen or living room), chances are your cat won't go to the litter box because of its location. Choose a quiet and undisturbed place that is still accessible and easy to find.
Part 2 of 5: Keeping the Sandbox Clean
Step 1. Choose the right sand
Cats generally prefer clumpy sand because it is easier to walk on and makes it easier for the cat to bury the waste. It also makes it easier for you to shovel and clean cat litter from the litter box.
Some cats prefer unscented litter. The Humane Society prohibits the use of scented or deodorized litter as it can irritate cats and trigger allergic reactions
Step 2. Use the right amount of sand
Using too much sand will make your home messy because the sand will kick or spill out of the box after the cat has buried the litter. However, too little sand makes the cat feel like it can't bury its feces so it will pee outside the box. A small amount of sand can also trigger an unpleasant odor and make you have to exert extra effort to clean it.
- Some experts recommend filling the box with 5 cm of sand. Meanwhile, other experts recommend using 10 cm of sand so that the cat can more freely dig and bury its feces.
- Start with 5 cm of sand. If the cat looks dissatisfied, you can increase it to 10 cm.
Step 3. Keep the litter box clean
If you have a kitten or an adult cat who is still learning to use the litter box, it's a good idea to leave some cat litter for a few weeks as a marker for the cat to use. However, once your cat knows where it can defecate, you should always keep the litter box clean. In fact, a dirty litter box is one of the most common causes of cat littering.
- Scoop up the dirt and grit that have combined with the urine every day. Some experts recommend shoveling twice a day to keep the litter box clean.
- Clean the litter box once a week. Use warm water and mild soap; Never use strong chemicals as they will leave chemicals or odors that are harmful to the cat or may discourage them from using the box.
- After washing the litter box and drying it, backfill it with clean sand until it's as thick as your cat likes (again, usually about 5 to 10 cm).
Part 3 of 5: Teaching Cats to Use the Sandbox
Step 1. Study the cat's bowel schedule
Generally, cats should urinate after sleeping, playing or running, and after eating. Learning about your cat's bowel schedule will help you determine when he's going to poop so you can direct him to the litter box instead of the couch.
Step 2. Play with your cat near the box
Since many cats have to pee after playing and running around, you can facilitate this by playing near the litter box. This activity will require the cat to have a bowel movement, and when it does, you can lead the cat (or even place it) into the litter box.
If the cat's litter box is in a room with a door, close the door and stay in the room with him. Bring some cat toys and let the cat chase or push the toys until he has to pee
Step 3. Teach the cat
If your cat never learned how to use a litter box from its mother, you may need to show it. This doesn't mean you actually use the sandbox; however, you have to take him to the litter box when he's about to pee and teach him to dig in the sand.
- Use your fingers to dig a little sand until the cat imitates it. If your cat is pooping in the box but hasn't learned to bury it yet, use your fingers to shovel a small amount of sand onto the litter. This step will take some time, but over time he will understand that you want him to learn the behavior.
- When showing your cat how to dig and bury feces, it's very important to use your own fingers. If you hold the paws and try to "show" how to dig and bury the dirt, it will only make the cat feel anxious and make it reluctant to use the litter box in the future. Be patient and trust that over time your cat will learn how.
Part 4 of 5: Responding to Indiscriminate Urination
Step 1. Never yell at a cat
It's important to remember that cats are not trying to create problems. He may have a health problem, or you may buy a litter box or litter that is uncomfortable to wear. Yelling or yelling at your cat will only make him fear you, and it won't solve his open defecation problem.
Step 2. Dispose of cat litter in its place
If your cat is littering, it's a good idea to remove the litter using paper and store it in the litter box. This can be used as a reminder to the cat as he will smell it and associate urinating with entering the litter box.
Step 3. Clean the dirt out of the box
If your cat pees or defecates outside the box, whether on the floor, carpet, or furniture, you should thoroughly clean the area to prevent these "accidents" from happening again. Once a cat smells its feces in one place, it will associate that place with a bowel movement.
- Use an enzyme-based cleaner to deal with cat littered carpets and furniture. A cleaner like this will help break down the smell of cat urine and feces, thereby reducing your cat's tendency to litter in the future.
- If your cat continues to defecate in the problem area, try closing the door so he can't get out of the room, if possible. You can also try to leave unwanted texture on the floor around the problem area, such as aluminum foil or the back of a carpet.
Step 4. Transfer food and water to the problem area
If your cat is constantly littering and seems to have one place she likes, try moving her food and water to a place where she often defecates. Cats have an impulse not to defecate around food and water, and this can encourage stubborn cats to stop littering.
Step 5. Try a temporary confinement period
If your cat is constantly having trouble urinating, you might consider trying a period of confinement. This should only be chosen as a last resort, i.e. when all other methods fail.
- Choose a room in your home that is safe to use for confining cats. Make sure he has enough space in the area and make sure that the room is not prone to extreme weather. In other words, make sure the room you choose is cool enough in the summer and warm enough in the winter (depending on where you choose to spend your confinement).
- Place the cat's litter box on one side of the room and the bed, food, and water on the other. Make sure the room is large enough to facilitate this as the cat will not defecate near its food and water.
- If your cat continues to litter, try spreading cat litter around the floor where he is being confined. He will probably urinate on the sand and will gradually associate cat litter with urinating.
Part 5 of 5: Knowing Health Problems in Cats
Step 1. Check if the cat is defecating elsewhere
If your cat doesn't use the litter box, it's important to check around the house to make sure it's still peeing. If he doesn't seem to be urinating anywhere, he may have a urinary tract disorder. If you believe your cat is not urinating at all, you should take him to a veterinary hospital as soon as possible.
If your cat is pooping but not in the litter box, it could be a sign of a problem with the cat's urinary tract. Some cats with urinary tract infections or blockages tend to urinate on tile, cement, or wood floors because they are cool, soft surfaces against the skin
Step 2. Check for blood in the cat's urine
One of the early symptoms of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) or lower urinary tract disease in cats, urinary stones, or kidney stones is the appearance of blood in the cat's urine and he will urinate frequently. Other symptoms to watch out for are crying while urinating and excessive licking/cleansing of the genitals. If your cat experiences any of these symptoms, it's very important to take him to the vet immediately. Leaving this condition will cause a blocked urinary tract so that the impact will be fatal.
- In addition to the general examination, the vet will also perform an analysis and possibly perform a urine culture and x-ray to determine the cause and location of the problem in your cat.
- Your vet will most likely prescribe some medication for kidney stones. If your vet determines that your cat has a kidney stone, your cat will most likely need surgery to remove the stone or break it up in the bladder to facilitate the passage of urine.
- If your cat is suffering from urinary problems or kidney stones, he is not drinking enough. Always make sure that the cat can drink clean water (which is changed daily). Your vet will also recommend giving your cat at least 50% wet (canned) food.
Step 3. Check if the cat is vomiting, has diarrhea, or is losing weight
Some cats suffer from swelling of their digestive tract, which causes inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in cats. The most common symptoms of IBD are vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, and weakness. Some cats with IBD also experience bleeding during bowel movements. These symptoms can vary, depending on the part of the digestive tract that is problematic. If your cat is suffering from any of the above symptoms, you should take him to the vet as soon as possible.
- Your vet may run blood and stool tests to determine if the symptoms are due to IBD. In addition, he may also use radiographs and/or ultrasound to determine problems in the cat's body.
- To treat IBD, veterinarians can prescribe corticosteroids to reduce swelling and the immune system response in IBD. Depending on the severity of IBD in your cat, your vet may also recommend antibiotics.
- Your vet may recommend dietary changes to better manage your cat's IBD. Food needs for cats suffering from IBD include hypoallergenic cat food and foods that are high in fiber and low in fat.
Tips
- Never punish a cat for littering.
- When moving house, it's a good idea to keep the cat in a small area of your new home at first. This will ensure that the cat feels safe and knows where the litter box is, and reduces littering in the house.
- Choose a place for the litter box that the cat can reach. You should also consider a place in the house that will not disturb him often.
- Give treats while your cat is using the litter box so he won't take it as a punishment.
- If you have a dog, make sure he doesn't disturb the cat while he's urinating.
