| For cat owners, feline inappropriate elimination | | | | appropriate. The litter should be scooped every |
| (urinating or defecating outside of the litter box) is | | | | day and changed completely one to two times |
| the most common behavior complaint, according | | | | per week. The box should also be cleaned with |
| to leading vet authorities. This behavior can be | | | | warm, soapy water. |
| extremely frustrating; however, it is one that can | | | | A cat may associate the litter box or the type of |
| be solved with time and effort. It is important to | | | | litter with pain. The cat may have just recently |
| remember that vets may assist in remedying this | | | | had a urinary tract infection. In this event, the cat |
| problem but this type of behavior may not be | | | | will be hesitant to use the litter box because it is a |
| fixable overnight--especially if it has been occurring | | | | reminder of the pain. Perhaps changing the cat |
| for several weeks or months. | | | | litter to an unscented, fine grain, clumping litter |
| According to vets, the first thing to do in a case | | | | could be effective. Also, if the cat seems to |
| of feline inappropriate elimination (FIE) is to rule | | | | prefer one type of litter, such as carpet, you can |
| out underlying medical causes--such as a urinary | | | | try putting a carpet scrap in the litter pan. Once |
| tract infection or other disease. If this is definitely | | | | your cat is consistently using the pan, gradually |
| a behavior problem, there may be many reasons | | | | replace the carpet in the pan with litter. |
| why this occurred. | | | | Vets state that if a cat is spray marking or |
| In cases of FIE, it is important to evaluate the | | | | non-spray marking, this could be in response to |
| cleanliness and placement of the litter box. | | | | some form of stress. However, this is not truly a |
| Perhaps the location is unacceptable to your cat. | | | | form of FIE because it is a marking behavior, |
| Vets tell us that cats often like the litter box | | | | which can be just as troublesome. A cat that |
| location to be a private and quiet place if at all | | | | performs marking behaviors is showing a different |
| possible, where cats will not feel stressed out. If | | | | posture than a cat that is eliminating. A marking |
| the location of the litter box is not likeable to the | | | | cat stands and has a vertically positioned twitching |
| cat, example, perhaps it is in the laundry room | | | | tail. Spraying marking occurs on vertical surfaces |
| and the washer went off balance one day, the | | | | such as the walls, couches, etc. Non-spraying |
| cat will probably not use the litter box. Sometimes | | | | marking occurs on horizontal surfaces such as the |
| access to the box is a problem. An older, arthritic | | | | floor. Both male and female cats perform these |
| cat may not like to climb up and down stairs of | | | | behaviors, and almost all of these behaviors can |
| the basement. | | | | be controlled by spaying or neutering the cat. If |
| Also, if there are other cats in the household, | | | | the behavior continues, however, the underlying |
| perhaps the litter box may have become a | | | | stressors will need to be identified and eliminated |
| dominance issue and the lower-ranking cat does | | | | by consulting with your vet. This behavior can |
| not feel safe using that litter box. In this case, | | | | often involve another cat. There may be a |
| move the box to a more secure location. A | | | | neighborhood cat who "visits" at the window or |
| corner in the room may make the difference--so | | | | there might be a dominance issue between |
| the cat doesn't feel exposed. If the cat still | | | | multiple household cats. |
| eliminates in the same area outside of the litter | | | | With cases of FIE, the most appropriate method |
| box, move the box to that location and that may | | | | to treating the problem is to make the litter box |
| solve the problem. If the location is not | | | | accessible and attractive, and to make soiled |
| convenient for you, place the box in that location | | | | locations unattractive and inaccessible when |
| and try to move it a few inches a day until the | | | | possible. If cat owners do not know where to |
| location is okay with you and the cat. | | | | begin with treating FIE, try changing one to two |
| If the cat refuses to use the litter box | | | | things about the litter box and wait a few days to |
| completely, or will only use it when the litter has | | | | see what happens. Repeat this process if the |
| been recently changed--this can occur for many | | | | behavior continues by changing two other factors. |
| reasons. One reason is that the litter box may | | | | FIE is a treatable condition but it can be |
| need to be cleaned more often. Vet professionals | | | | frustrating. Vets can help us with FIE; cat owners |
| state that a good rule of thumb for litter boxes is | | | | should be patient while trying to decrease or |
| to have one more box than number of cats-if | | | | eliminate FIE behaviors. |
| you have one cat, than two boxes may be | | | | |