Correctly placed and clean litter trays ensure a happy cat. To prevent your cat from going to the toilet anywhere else you should make the litter tray as attractive as possible.
Does your cat prefer to use the carpet or even the parquet floor as a toilet? Often this is not intentionally. There is a reason for inappropriate soiling. Finding it often requires the skills of Sherlock Holmes. Cats react very sensitively to any changes in their environment. Anything from a new family member to a moved chair, many things can upset a cat. This can result in “protest peeing”. But before worrying about behavioural reasons for inappropriate soiling, first ensure there are no physical causes such as diseases; a cat suffering from diarrhoea or cystitis often just hasn’t made it to the litter tray. If your cat is defecating or urinating outside the litter tray, your first port of call should be the vet to rule out any illnesses such as kidney failure, diabetes or inflammations of the gastrointestinal tract.
Choosing cat litter
The correct choice of cat litter is very important too. Cats can be very particular about the type of litter they like. If you have just run out of your usual cat litter and are using a different type for the time being, don’t be surprised if your cat boycotts the litter tray. Some like only clay based litter, others wood pellets while another goes for beet chip or silicone litter. Your cat cannot tell you what it dislikes about the current litter, be it a new type of litter or the way it feels under their sensitive paws. But the cat can ignore the litter tray and poop or pee somewhere else to make a statement.
Strong smells can cause protest reaction
Your cat would prefer to do every business in a freshly cleaned tray. The litter tray should be cleaned at least once a day.
Get a new one once in a while
A litter tray is not an investment for life, urine residue deposits on the tray and cats dislike the smell. Experts advise to replace the litter tray every so often. Incidentally, there are cats refusing to use the same litter tray for number one and number two. If you observe such delicacies, it is better to provide a second tray right away. Experienced cat owners ensure that the litter tray is of the right size and height. A litter tray should allow the cat to squat comfortably and have high sides for the cat to scratch. Otherwise half of the litter will be deposited outside the tray or the cat will go and look for a more comfy spot to do its business. Kittens on the other hand will appreciate a low side allowing easy access. If you have several cats, you should also have several litter trays. Our whiskered friends can be very particular when it comes to the exclusive use of their very own toilet.
Sharing is not an option unless you are prepared to keep the tray obsessively clean which just may persuade the cats to share the litter tray. The location of the litter tray is very important too, cats need a bit of privacy to attend to nature’s call. Noisy washing machines disturb the concentration just as much loud Indian howls from the children’s bedroom, loud TVs or constant pedestrian traffic. Experts also advise against locating the litter tray near windows. The cat may spot other unfamiliar cats and see them as a threat. The litter tray is then no longer a “secure” location. Corners make good spots for litter trays as the cat only needs to watch in two directions. The litter tray should not be moved around but stay where it is to ensure the cat will find it when needed. If the cat first needs to look for the litter tray he may lose interest.
Call into your local store today to discuss your cat’s personal needs with our Maxi Zoo Pet Experts