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What is that Smell!?
Cat urine...not many things smell worse that this substance, especially from an un-neutered male cat. If you have never had the pleasure of smelling this substance, consider yourself lucky. For those that have, you understand.
Today there are many products out in the market to counter this smell. Everything from odor trapping litter to sprays to cleaners. Most work pretty well and the smell is tolerable to completely taken care of. And all cats use the litter box so problem solved, right? Unfortunately there are many cats that won't use their litter box and are sent away because of it. If your cat is one of these offenders, don't lose hope just yet!
There are many reasons why a cat won't use a litter box. Most are for the same reason humans shy away from that nasty little roadside restroom that hasn't seen a cleaning in ages! Cats are finicky, we all know this so keep these things in mind when dealing with a cat that won't use its box.
1. The more cats you have, the more litter boxes you will need - many times cats don't like to go into a litter box that its housemate is using. Try using a litter box or two per cat and place them in different parts of the home away from each other.
2. Cats want their litter box clean - sometimes a weekly cleaning is all that is necessary but many cats want their box cleaned out daily. You may need to experiment to see how often your cat prefers a litter cleaning.
3. Size does matter for some cats - the size of the litter box, the amount of litter in that litter box, does it have a top, is it open for the world to see, does it have a funny little sounding automatic cleaning system, etc. All of these can have an effect on whether your cat will use its litter box. My cat is only 14lbs and yet I needed to custom make a litter box from a large outdoor container box. Remember to think of your cat's needs not what you like to see.
4. The type of litter - this can be a huge decision maker for the cat. There are several hundred types of litter on the market. Pine, recycled newspaper, crystals, clumping, non-clumping, perfumed, non-perfumed, and many more. Cats are particular here, experiment and see what your cat likes best. Some have allergies to certain litters as well so keep this in mind.
5. Placement of the litter box - you wouldn't want your toilet next to your dinning table would you? Then why place your cat's litter box next to it's food bowl? Why place the litter box on the second floor when your cat doesn't like walking upstairs? If your cat isn't using the litter box where it currently is...MOVE IT! (but be sure you let your cat know where you put it!)
6. Arthritis - what does this have to do with using the litter box? A lot. If your cat can't get into or out of the litter box, they won't use it. Be aware of any special needs your cat may have.
7. Un-altered cats - spaying and neutering your cat can make a huge difference. There is no more need to "mark" territory and there is less smell. This is true for dogs too!!!
8. Medical concerns - there are many health conditions that could account for your cat not using its litter box. If there is an extremely strong smell to the urine, a bright yellow color or brownish/red color, this can be a sign of serious health problems. If your cat starts to urinate in the wrong areas of the home, check with your vet that there isn't an underlying health concern before trying any of the suggestions above.
Don't give up on your cat. They want to go where you want them to go, sometimes they just need a little guidance, a little understanding and a bit of compromise on our parts.
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