Content
- Cleaning the litter box
- Where to put the cat litter box
- Is my cat sick?
- cat urinates to mark territory
- Advice for a good use of the sandbox
- Do you want to offer your cat the best?
The feline behavior makes the cats pets independent and with a genuine personality, which in some cases can make the guardians not understand certain attitudes easily or that they misinterpret them.
One of the most common feline behavior problems is not using the litter box to clean up, which in many cases is interpreted by owners as vindictive behavior on the part of the cat (when spending too much time alone, for example), but this it is wrong, as this attitude is not typical of a feline. Furthermore, they don't have an unpleasant concept of their physiological residues.
when we ask why the cat doesn't use the litter box, we must analyze the different possible causes ranging from a health problem to a behavioral disorder.
Cleaning the litter box
Something characterizes cats is yours continuous need for hygiene, as they can spend several hours a day cleaning themselves. Therefore, you must understand that a hygienic environment is one of the needs that your cat requires as a priority.
If your cat urinates outside the sand, you should check the hygiene of the sand that needs to be cleaned twice a day and changed once a week, as well as the washing the box with soap and water.
You should not confuse these basic hygiene measures with the use of scented sand as, in this case, this may be the reason why your cat is not using the box: he may feel uncomfortable with certain types of smells caused by chemical additives . Also, some types of sand have a shape that is uncomfortable for cats, as they prefer finer, softer sand. Read our article that explains what is the best cat litter.
Where to put the cat litter box
if the cat doesn't use the litter box, another possible cause is its location. Admittedly, as a guardian, you don't want to put your cat's needs box in the center of the house, something your pet doesn't need at all either. However, you should also not move the box too far, as this is unattractive for the animal.
must find one intimate and quiet place so that your cat can feel safe when it comes to his needs.
When placing the litter box, you should also avoid those spaces where there might be cold drafts, as this way the cat will not feel comfortable and will not use your space. Another important point is that you should not place the box near the drinker and the feeder.
Is my cat sick?
If you're wondering why your cat doesn't use the litter box, one of the reasons you should discard as a priority is the disease. Some pathological disorders can cause kidney malfunction or kidney inflammation, which causes pain to the cat and causes it to associate the litter box with physical discomfort, preventing its use.
Other health problems that cause your cat pain and/or discomfort may also be the reason your cat is stressed and urinating outside the litter box.
cat urinates to mark territory
mainly cats uncastrated males, can mark the territory with urine. This situation is more common in changes in the environment, such as a new member of the family or even a simple change in decoration can cause some stress. The presence of a new pet in the house is also a common reason that triggers this behavior. See our article with tips for my cat not to mark territory.
Advice for a good use of the sandbox
Below, we show some tips that allow your cat to use the litter box properly. If you follow these simple guidelines, you can get your cat to use the litter box no difficulty:
- If your cat has this behavior problem, you should consult your veterinarian to rule out any physical problems. Once possible physical problems have been ruled out, ensure that you meet the following conditions.
- Your cat should have access to a litter box approximately 1.5 times its size. See our article on the best cat litter box.
- The sand should be approximately 4 centimeters high in the box.
- The cat can fulfill its needs outside the litter box by expressing territorial behavior. If you have more than one cat, we recommend that each cat has its own litter box and an extra litter box. See our article where we talk about how many litter boxes per cat.
- If the physical problems have already been ruled out and the origin is behavioral, consult a veterinarian who specializes in animal behavior, that is, an ethologist.
Do you want to offer your cat the best?
To avoid any problem with your pet's behavior, you must also provide an environment that provides entertainment and that satisfies your restlessness. Therefore, we recommend that you take a look at the different cat toys. You don't need to spend a lot of money, there are several toys you can make out of cardboard or even recycled material.
