Comments on: Is your cat avoiding the litterbox? http://texasvetbehavior.com/is-your-cat-avoiding-the-litterbox/ Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:03:09 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dr. Lore Haug http://texasvetbehavior.com/is-your-cat-avoiding-the-litterbox/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Dr. Lore Haug Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:03:09 +0000 http://texasvetbehavior.com/?p=363#comment-67 Kathy, separate the animals for now. I would recommend that you seek professional assistance for this problem if it is still present and/or getting worse. Kathy, separate the animals for now. I would recommend that you seek professional assistance for this problem if it is still present and/or getting worse.

]]> By: Dr. Lore Haug http://texasvetbehavior.com/is-your-cat-avoiding-the-litterbox/comment-page-1/#comment-66 Dr. Lore Haug Tue, 13 Dec 2011 20:02:10 +0000 http://texasvetbehavior.com/?p=363#comment-66 Tiffany, she may return to the rug. First, try to use an ezymatic odor neutralizer made specifically for pet odors -- such as Urine Off, Outright, or K.O.E. Be sure that you have spoken to your vet about the problem to be sure that your cat does not have a urinary tract problem. Tiffany, she may return to the rug. First, try to use an ezymatic odor neutralizer made specifically for pet odors — such as Urine Off, Outright, or K.O.E. Be sure that you have spoken to your vet about the problem to be sure that your cat does not have a urinary tract problem.

]]> By: Tiffanie http://texasvetbehavior.com/is-your-cat-avoiding-the-litterbox/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Tiffanie Tue, 29 Nov 2011 17:45:21 +0000 http://texasvetbehavior.com/?p=363#comment-65 my cat started to urinate on our bathroom rug, I am planning on getting her a new cat box with softer grain litter, but now wondering what I should do about the rug? should I throw it away? she keeps going back to it now, even after I washed it, so I put it up for now. I believe she still smells her scent even after I cleaned it. but then, if I buy a new rug, is it possible she'll just urinate on that one too? my cat started to urinate on our bathroom rug, I am planning on getting her a new cat box with softer grain litter, but now wondering what I should do about the rug? should I throw it away? she keeps going back to it now, even after I washed it, so I put it up for now. I believe she still smells her scent even after I cleaned it. but then, if I buy a new rug, is it possible she’ll just urinate on that one too?

]]> By: kathy http://texasvetbehavior.com/is-your-cat-avoiding-the-litterbox/comment-page-1/#comment-64 kathy Mon, 07 Nov 2011 19:40:38 +0000 http://texasvetbehavior.com/?p=363#comment-64 I have a three year old male rescue cat, that has been with me for about six months. We have two small dogs and another male cat. The newest cast does not like the other animals and is very unsocial. He also does not like to be held or picked up. With in the first month he started unrinating in the bath tub and outside of the box. I clean the litter everyday and now have water in the bathtub. I just don't know what to do with him, any suggestions. I have a three year old male rescue cat, that has been with me for about six months. We have two small dogs and another male cat. The newest cast does not like the other animals and is very unsocial. He also does not like to be held or picked up. With in the first month he started unrinating in the bath tub and outside of the box. I clean the litter everyday and now have water in the bathtub.
I just don’t know what to do with him, any suggestions.

]]> By: Dr. Lore Haug http://texasvetbehavior.com/is-your-cat-avoiding-the-litterbox/comment-page-1/#comment-49 Dr. Lore Haug Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:36:41 +0000 http://texasvetbehavior.com/?p=363#comment-49 Cats go outside the litterbox for a variety of reasons. If you think your cat is avoiding the box because of the substrate, then your first approach is to give the cat a "litter preference test". This involves putting 2-3 boxes out in a row. One box should be identical to the cat's current box arrangemet (e.g. size, covered or not, litter, etc). You change one thing about each of the other two boxes (e.g. no cover, different litter, no litter, bigger box, etc). Keep a diary of which boxes your cat uses over the next week. If there is a preference, keep that box arrangement and then change one thing about the other two boxes again (e.g. cycle through several different litters). You might try leaving one box empty or with just a pan liner if you cat likes smooth surfaces. Some cats like to urinate on smooth surfaces when they have bladder inflammation so its possible that your cat's medical issues not completely cleared up. If giving the cat litter choices does not produce the desired response, then something more complex is going on and I would recommend that you make an appointment with a behavior professional. Cats go outside the litterbox for a variety of reasons. If you think your cat is avoiding the box because of the substrate, then your first approach is to give the cat a “litter preference test”. This involves putting 2-3 boxes out in a row. One box should be identical to the cat’s current box arrangemet (e.g. size, covered or not, litter, etc). You change one thing about each of the other two boxes (e.g. no cover, different litter, no litter, bigger box, etc). Keep a diary of which boxes your cat uses over the next week. If there is a preference, keep that box arrangement and then change one thing about the other two boxes again (e.g. cycle through several different litters). You might try leaving one box empty or with just a pan liner if you cat likes smooth surfaces. Some cats like to urinate on smooth surfaces when they have bladder inflammation so its possible that your cat’s medical issues not completely cleared up.

If giving the cat litter choices does not produce the desired response, then something more complex is going on and I would recommend that you make an appointment with a behavior professional.

]]> By: Nicole http://texasvetbehavior.com/is-your-cat-avoiding-the-litterbox/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Nicole Thu, 10 Mar 2011 14:33:36 +0000 http://texasvetbehavior.com/?p=363#comment-48 I have two problems: 1) my cat hates to use the litterbox to poop. She seems to prefer a smooth surface, such as tile. I've tried putting a tile in a litterbox, to no avail. 2) She developed a urinary tract infection and quit using the box. Now, we've treated the infection, but she still won't use the box. What do I do now? I have two problems: 1) my cat hates to use the litterbox to poop. She seems to prefer a smooth surface, such as tile. I’ve tried putting a tile in a litterbox, to no avail. 2) She developed a urinary tract infection and quit using the box. Now, we’ve treated the infection, but she still won’t use the box. What do I do now?

]]> By: Dr. Lore Haug http://texasvetbehavior.com/is-your-cat-avoiding-the-litterbox/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Dr. Lore Haug Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:07:41 +0000 http://texasvetbehavior.com/?p=363#comment-24 Jennifer, there are many issues that contribute to urination in the house. Each case is different and should be evalatuated as so. My first recommendation is to be sure that your cat has been evaluated by your veterinarian, especially if this is a relatively new problem, to be sure that he does not have any type of urinary tract disease or other disease process that may be causing or contributing to the problem. If he gets a clean bill of health (and a clean urinalysis), then you should consider having your kitty evaluated by a cat behavior professional. Are you local to Houston or do you live in some other area? Jennifer, there are many issues that contribute to urination in the house. Each case is different and should be evalatuated as so. My first recommendation is to be sure that your cat has been evaluated by your veterinarian, especially if this is a relatively new problem, to be sure that he does not have any type of urinary tract disease or other disease process that may be causing or contributing to the problem. If he gets a clean bill of health (and a clean urinalysis), then you should consider having your kitty evaluated by a cat behavior professional. Are you local to Houston or do you live in some other area?

]]> By: Jennifer http://texasvetbehavior.com/is-your-cat-avoiding-the-litterbox/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Jennifer Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:53:00 +0000 http://texasvetbehavior.com/?p=363#comment-17 Do you have any advice on a neutered male cat urinating in all areas of the house? Do you have any advice on a neutered male cat urinating in all areas of the house?

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