Cats
In this week’s behaviour focus post, Cats Protection Behaviour Manager Nicky Trevorrow discusses why cats may not use their litter tray.
Why does my cat poo/wee on the furnishings in my house rather than in their litter tray? It’s clean!
This is the most common behaviour problem that causes owners seek help. Understandably, it’s frustrating for the owners as it is not nice to clean up. Interestingly though, many owners put up with this behaviour for months or even years sometimes. The most important thing to know is that professional help is available and the sooner you seek advice from a qualified professional, the better!
The first port of call is always to take the cat to the vets for a full health check. It’s important to mention all behaviour changes in the cat, even if you think it is not relevant to the toileting issue. For example, has your cat been slow to get up after a period of lying down, or not been jumping onto the windowsill recently? For all behavioural issues, it is vital to rule out medical problems that could be the underlying cause.
Once the vet has ruled out medical reasons, then there are a number of litter tray factors to look at. Check out the following check list:
This video explains more about house soiling behaviour:
If you have all these measures in place and the problem persists, it is worth getting a referral to a qualified behaviourist such as a member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors to help identify the causes.
For more information, check out our CP leaflet called Managing your cat’s behaviour.
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Cats
Behaviour focus: litter trays
In this week’s behaviour focus post, Cats Protection Behaviour Manager Nicky Trevorrow discusses why cats may not use their litter tray.
Why does my cat poo/wee on the furnishings in my house rather than in their litter tray? It’s clean!
This is the most common behaviour problem that causes owners seek help. Understandably, it’s frustrating for the owners as it is not nice to clean up. Interestingly though, many owners put up with this behaviour for months or even years sometimes. The most important thing to know is that professional help is available and the sooner you seek advice from a qualified professional, the better!
The first port of call is always to take the cat to the vets for a full health check. It’s important to mention all behaviour changes in the cat, even if you think it is not relevant to the toileting issue. For example, has your cat been slow to get up after a period of lying down, or not been jumping onto the windowsill recently? For all behavioural issues, it is vital to rule out medical problems that could be the underlying cause.
Once the vet has ruled out medical reasons, then there are a number of litter tray factors to look at. Check out the following check list:
- Litter type – the cat is likely to favour the litter type they used when they were a very young kitten. In the absence of knowing what litter type they used when growing up, most cats prefer a soft, sand-sized litter. This is the type of material that cats have evolved to use out in the wild, which explains why our pet cats are so keen to use children’s sand pits! For cats that are defecating next to a litter tray, but urinating in the litter tray, it could be due to the litter type being too hard on their paws. Without being too graphic, cats place more pressure on their back legs and paws when defecating compared to urinating so a soft litter is preferable
- Litter depth – the average cat likes the litter to be about 3cm deep
- Litter cleanliness – cats have a reputation for being fastidiously clean. Some owners even refer to their cat’s ‘princess-like’ behaviour as the cat would like the litter tray emptied after it’s been used once. However cats are not being ‘precious’ as they expect the same level of cleanliness as you would with your toilet. It varies between litter type and cat, but as a general rule, try to remove waste twice a day and clean the tray out fully once a week
- Litter tray type – does the cat have enough space to turn around and dig? Some problems can be caused by providing adult cats with small kitten trays. There are a number of different types of tray on the market or you may wish to provide a homemade tray to meet specific needs. Every cat is different, and it’s a case of finding the right tray for the cat. Many cats are happy with the standard, open, rectangular litter tray. Others prefer the privacy of a covered litter tray. If using a covered litter tray, remove the cat flap door as it can put cats off using it due to keeping the smell contained or tapping the cat when it tries to enter or exit the tray
- Privacy – try placing an open litter tray in a cardboard box (open at the top) with two holes cut in the sides for entry and exit holes. This will make the cat feel more secure, doesn't trap the smell inside and is easy to see when it needs cleaning out
- Location, location, location – place the litter tray in a private, but accessible location. As clean, sensible animals, they prefer their litter tray to be away from all their other resources especially food and water. It is common for owners to place their litter trays close to the cat flap or a glass back door, however this can be quite a vulnerable position from the cat’s perspective. It could be easily overlooked by a cat from outside and is quite a high traffic area. Instead look for a quiet corner of the house. Older cats will benefit from having litter trays placed both upstairs and downstairs for easy access
- Number of trays – as a general rule, provide cats with one litter tray per cat plus one extra for choice to reduce any competition
This video explains more about house soiling behaviour:
If you have all these measures in place and the problem persists, it is worth getting a referral to a qualified behaviourist such as a member of the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors to help identify the causes.
For more information, check out our CP leaflet called Managing your cat’s behaviour.
- ‘why Is My Cat Scared Of My Partner?’ And Other Behaviour Faqs
Do you have a question about your cat’s health or behaviour? Join our regular Facebook Q&As with feline experts, taking your live questions. Last week Behaviour Manager Nicky Trevorrow answered queries, some of which are highlighted below. Question:...
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Does your cat suffer with urinary problems? Our recent veterinary Q&A on Facebook focused on urinary problems such as cystitis and kidney disease. CP vet, Vanessa Howie answered supporters’ questions on this topic, which are summarised below: Question:...
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In the first of our new weekly behaviour focus posts, Cats Protection Behaviour Manager Nicky Trevorrow explains what to do if your cat isn't drinking from their water bowl. Why do my cats drink out of the toilet/pond/other inappropriate place rather...
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In our most recent live Facebook Q&A session, Cats Protection Behaviour Manager Nicky Trevorrow answered a range of questions about cat behaviour. It’s important that if you notice any change in your cat’s behaviour, you get them checked by a...
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