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"Malachy," a gorgeous, three-year-old neutered Persian cat, was brought in to see me soon once our new Center for Behavioral Therapy opened. Quite a confident kitty, Malachy created himself snug on our consultation room couch shortly once Tish, his owner, let him out of the carrier. Tish had adopted Malachy "by happenstance" when she was at her groomer's search along with her cat Cormick. The groomer had acquired Malachy from his previous owner, who could not keep him as a result of he was fighting with the owner's different cat.
Fortunately, Malachy and Cormick did not fight. In fact, the two cats became quick friends who loved to play with and chase each other. In his new household, however, Malachy's bathroom habits were far from perfect. Tish had her veterinarian check for medical problems which may explain Malachy's frequent "mistakes," however none were found.
Tish had put up with Malachy's housesoiling for a year before she came in to see me. Recently, the matter had become thus bad that Malachy was either urinating or defecating outside the litterbox once daily, and Tish determined she required help.
Tish and her cats divided their time between an apartment in the town and a country home. Over the year, Tish had provided a range of litterboxes: some with hoods, some while not, some in bogs, others in bedrooms. initially Tish used plain clay litter, however most recently she had begun to use a clumpable form. Tish scooped the boxes several times daily and adjusted the boxes utterly once a month, therefore the cleanliness of the boxes wasn't in question. Malachy used the boxes, however he also used Tish's furniture as a bathroom. Her chairs and guestroom bed were his favorites.
The Grass is always Greener?
After learning Malachy's history, I felt the cat was just not pleased with the current state of his litterboxes and was looking for alternatives. Like several Persians, he spent longer pawing the edges of the litterbox than scratching in the litter. (Longhaired cats generally have the next incidence of litterbox problems. it may be that they don't want to soil their long, flowing coats!)
With Tish's help, I set up an experiment to find litterboxes that Malachy would like to his owner's furniture. I asked Tish to produce three massive, unhooded litterboxes in both the city and also the country. I asked her to still use the clumpable litter in one, a part of newspaper in the second and old style coarse clay litter in the third. Tish was to praise Malachy and give him a treat on every occasion she saw him use a box. Simultaneously, to break the furniture habit, I asked Tish to cover the chairs and bed with pieces of thick vinyl carpet runner, prickly side up.
After the primary few weeks it became apparent that Malachy preferred the plain clay litter to the clumpable kind (most cats choose the clumpable litter). The newspaper he did not use in any respect. Cormick wasn't picky and reliably used any litter that was offered. Then we tend to gave Malachy three boxes of his chosen litter in every home. we tend to did this as a result of some cats opt to urinate and defecate in different places; the third box would ensure there was no overcrowding at the boxes.
For three months there have been no accidents. Tish is ready to remove the protective covers from her chairs and bed. now that Malachy is in the habit of using the new boxes, he shouldn't go back to his previous habits.
Excellent Prognosis
Urination and defecation outside the litterbox is that the commonest feline behavior drawback. several cats are given up attributable to house-soiling problems. Most of the time this is unnecessary. The prognosis for cats with problems like Malachy's is superb. Between 70 % and 75 % of litterbox problems are cured by straightforward treatments like the one Tish employed with Malachy. If your cat begins to urinate or defecate outside the box, see your veterinarian first. He or she's going to rule out medical causes. If the matter is considered to be a behavioral one, ask for a referral to a cat behavior specialist.
Fortunately, Malachy and Cormick did not fight. In fact, the two cats became quick friends who loved to play with and chase each other. In his new household, however, Malachy's bathroom habits were far from perfect. Tish had her veterinarian check for medical problems which may explain Malachy's frequent "mistakes," however none were found.
Tish had put up with Malachy's housesoiling for a year before she came in to see me. Recently, the matter had become thus bad that Malachy was either urinating or defecating outside the litterbox once daily, and Tish determined she required help.
Tish and her cats divided their time between an apartment in the town and a country home. Over the year, Tish had provided a range of litterboxes: some with hoods, some while not, some in bogs, others in bedrooms. initially Tish used plain clay litter, however most recently she had begun to use a clumpable form. Tish scooped the boxes several times daily and adjusted the boxes utterly once a month, therefore the cleanliness of the boxes wasn't in question. Malachy used the boxes, however he also used Tish's furniture as a bathroom. Her chairs and guestroom bed were his favorites.
The Grass is always Greener?
After learning Malachy's history, I felt the cat was just not pleased with the current state of his litterboxes and was looking for alternatives. Like several Persians, he spent longer pawing the edges of the litterbox than scratching in the litter. (Longhaired cats generally have the next incidence of litterbox problems. it may be that they don't want to soil their long, flowing coats!)
With Tish's help, I set up an experiment to find litterboxes that Malachy would like to his owner's furniture. I asked Tish to produce three massive, unhooded litterboxes in both the city and also the country. I asked her to still use the clumpable litter in one, a part of newspaper in the second and old style coarse clay litter in the third. Tish was to praise Malachy and give him a treat on every occasion she saw him use a box. Simultaneously, to break the furniture habit, I asked Tish to cover the chairs and bed with pieces of thick vinyl carpet runner, prickly side up.
After the primary few weeks it became apparent that Malachy preferred the plain clay litter to the clumpable kind (most cats choose the clumpable litter). The newspaper he did not use in any respect. Cormick wasn't picky and reliably used any litter that was offered. Then we tend to gave Malachy three boxes of his chosen litter in every home. we tend to did this as a result of some cats opt to urinate and defecate in different places; the third box would ensure there was no overcrowding at the boxes.
For three months there have been no accidents. Tish is ready to remove the protective covers from her chairs and bed. now that Malachy is in the habit of using the new boxes, he shouldn't go back to his previous habits.
Excellent Prognosis
Urination and defecation outside the litterbox is that the commonest feline behavior drawback. several cats are given up attributable to house-soiling problems. Most of the time this is unnecessary. The prognosis for cats with problems like Malachy's is superb. Between 70 % and 75 % of litterbox problems are cured by straightforward treatments like the one Tish employed with Malachy. If your cat begins to urinate or defecate outside the box, see your veterinarian first. He or she's going to rule out medical causes. If the matter is considered to be a behavioral one, ask for a referral to a cat behavior specialist.
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