SO inappropriate!!!

     Urinating and/or defecating outside of the litter box is a common complaint amongst cat owners.  In fact, it is one of the most common behavioral issues that cat owners face.  A cat exhibiting this type of behavior may find itself banished to the outdoors where litter boxes are not a concern.  Not only do such cats then face the dangers of being outdoors, threats which are not posed to indoor cats, but, having been indoor cats, they are much less adept at defending themselves against those dangers.  Inappropriate elimination or “litter box avoidance,” as it is often referred to, is one of the most common reasons for people actually giving up their cats.  Relinquished cats often end up homeless or, worse, destroyed.

     Medical reasons for litter box avoidance include urinary tract infections, inflammatory bladder conditions, urine crystal or stone formation and urinary tract cancer.  Unspayed female or unneutered male cats may also have urogenital problems.  Conditions such as kidney failure or diabetes, which result in excessive urine production, may also be manifest by urination outside of the box.  Pain may be an inciting factor in cats if it makes it difficult or uncomfortable for them to get into or out of the litter box.  Traumatic injury or arthritis are examples of such conditions. 

     Behavioral reasons for inappropriate elimination include territorial marking, anger, jealousy, separation anxiety  or, most likely, a combination of “emotions” that may provoke a cat to “act out” or “make a statement.”  Fear may also play a role, such as fear of being attacked (by other household cat(s)) either entering or leaving the litter box area. 

     Often a simple change or changes in litter box management may cause a cat enough “upset” to attempt to avoid the box.  Some of these changes include litter box location, type of litter (consistency), scent (or lack thereof) and hygiene/cleanliness.  Frequent cleaning of the litter box and making as few changes as possible to a cat’s litter box situation is always prudent.

     When faced with an inappropriate elimination problem the first step is a visit to the veterinarian’s office to rule out a physical or medical problem.  This generally involves a thorough physical examination and a comprehensive battery of diagnostic tests.  If a problem is discovered then it is addressed.  If the behavior continues despite the treatment then a tentative diagnosis of a psychological problem is made.

     Management of behaviorally-based inappropriate elimination may involve behavioral counseling, environmental modification or, as a last resort, medications (such as Prozac).  Identification of “stress factors” is also important but may not always be possible.

     Many of these challenging cases are successfully managed.  However, many are not.  Management may be long-term, time-consuming and labor-intensive.  Prompt recognition of the problem and early intervention are keys to potential successful management.  Hopefully this is something you will never have to encounter.  If you or someone you know experiences an inappropriate elimination issue with a cat then please seek help, or encourage them to do the same, as soon as possible.

At Village Animal Hospital, we can help to address these issues and assist your kitty to getting back to proper elimination in the litter box!

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