Trouble with Your Feline Friends? Going Outside of “The Box” Lucky for cat owners the problem of housetraining is, in most cases, not a problem at all. Cats have a natural instinct to eliminate in substances resembling soil, sand and leaf litter. However, even older litter trained cats may occasionally have an accident. If this occurs there is generally an underlying cause to your cats “mistake”. Cats are creatures of habit and the slightest changes in routine may upset them to the point of house soiling or other destructive behaviors. Seemingly small changes, such as using a different brand of litter or a new scent may cause your cat to eliminate outside of their litter box. In order to avoid this problem when changing litter, begin by mixing both your old and new litter for a few weeks so that your cat becomes accustomed to the new scent and feel. FRAH recommends Feline Pine or Yesterday’s News litter due to their environmentally friendly manufacture and hypo-allergy formulas. You may also want to try using the additive, Cat Attract, to entice your cat into eliminating in the proper place. Many cats will also refuse to use an unclean litter box for elimination. It is important to make sure to clean your cat’s litter box at least once per week, possibly more depending on your cat’s elimination habits. Once you have chosen a location in your home for you cat’s litter box do not make sudden changes in its location. If your cat’s litter box needs to be relocated move the litter box gradually to its new location, perhaps only a few feet per day, in order to avoid upsetting your cat’s routine. When choosing a location try to place the litter box in a place that is away from loud noises and distractions. Some cats may refuse to eliminate near their food and water, so you may want to place the litter box in a separate room or area of your home. You may also try increasing the size of the litter box. Cat’s mark their territory by scratching; the larger the scratch, the bigger the cat. Territorial cats may not use a litter box if it does not provide adequate space to demonstrate how big they are because they are embarrassed of being perceived as “small”. If your cat continues to eliminate outside of their litter box, your cat may have a medical condition needing your veterinarian’s attention. Scratching Scratching is a natural cat behavior, which allows your cat to stretch, mark its territory and sharpen its nails. Unfortunately, this natural behavior can wreak havoc on the owner’s furniture and carpet! To prevent destructive scratching, try to keep your cat away from tempting areas. Many people choose to purchase or create a “scratching post” for their cats in an attempt to lure their attention away from scratching in unacceptable places. Although this sounds like a good idea in theory, you will only encourage your cat to scratch. Some suggestions to curb destructive scratching are: regular nail trims, Soft Paws, or declawing. Regularly trimming your cat’s nails will eliminate the problem of sharp pointed tips which easily catch and snag furniture, carpet or skin. Your veterinarian can assist you in nail trims if you are unable to cut them yourself. Soft Paws are an alternative to declawing and consist of soft plastic caps that go over the cat’s nails. They are applied with the use of an adhesive and generally last for three to four weeks. If your cats destructive scratching continues, despite your best efforts to discourage the behavior, you may want to consider declawing. While some believe that declawing is an unnecessary and painful procedure, this is a common misconception and should not deter you from opting to declaw your cat. In fact, a declaw procedure is less invasive than spaying your cat, and in most instances the cat is alert and behaving normally within hours of recovering from anesthesia. Play behavior Cats are extremely intelligent animals and require an environment that is fun and stimulating. Play attack is a normal behavior that prepares cats to become hunters and develops social skills. In single cat homes, the cat may direct its attacks on the owner or other family members. While it may seem cute to watch your kitten stalk and pounce your foot or hand, these actions can quickly turn into a nuisance and painful experience as the cat gets older and bites or scratches harder. Never use your fingers or toes to play or encourage attacks from your cat; this only reinforces the idea that you are a target for play attacks. You can avoid this behavior by providing your cat with appropriate outlets for play and actively engaging with your cat during playtime. There is an array of suitable toys available to satisfy your cat’s playful nature. Small craft or ping pong balls provide solo entertainment for when your cat is left alone. You can also use “cat wands” or laser toys to stimulate play with your cat. Be careful not to shine the laser directly in your cat’s eyes while playing. Paper bags or balled-up paper also make cheap, fun toys for your cat. Increase your cat’s enjoyment of toy balls by throwing or batting the toys along with your cat. Cats are pack animals and enjoy the socialization playtime with their owner provides. Proper Punishment Physical punishment of your cat, such as swatting or thumping, should be avoided as they may cause your cat to fear you or encourage rough play. A suitable alternative to physical punishment is the use of a water gun or bottle to squirt your cat in order to deter them from unacceptable behavior. Loud or startling noises, such as clapping your hands, may also help deter your cat from inappropriate behaviors. <
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