The world, or rather, your home will definitely be a better place if your pet cat or your whole litter of cats would only stay in their designated litter boxes. It is not uncommon for cat owners to encounter the difficulty of drawing the borderline between where their cats are allowed to dwell and where they are not.
They say that this dilemma could either be caused by physical or behavioral problems. Consider the following behavioral reasons as to why your feline pets refuse to stay put. Pinpoint which one/s has the heaviest bearing on your problem and once you have done that, take the necessary steps to eliminate the problem:
Cleanliness. There are cats that are quite finicky and enjoy spotless clean litter boxes. Others do not mind a little mess in their domain. Regardless of your pet’s preference, it is a must that you do some clean up at least once daily. Litter boxes should be thoroughly washed every day and replaced every few weeks. Include the lid in your cleaning.
Smell. Feline pets have extra sensitive sense of smell. Even if your olfactory nerves do not detect any unusual smell, your cat will not rest if something does not “smell right.” Rinse litter boxes very well to eliminate the smell of detergent or disinfectant, which may be sending “Do not enter” signs to your pets. Dry the litter box well. It could also be that your pet associates a certain smell with the brand of its litter box so you may also consider switching to another brand.
Design. Our feline pets are also particular with the size and shape of their litter boxes. Some cats prefer boxes with lids while others want theirs open. Still some of them might like higher walls or a bigger space.
Quantity. For household with a large number of pets, it would be a good idea to host at least one more box than the actual number of cats. Doing so would also make it easier for you to do the cleaning.
Location. Cats usually prefer peaceful and undisturbed areas to take their naps. Steer clear of very busy places like the kitchen.
Territory. Like our canine pets, cats can be territorial, too. Problems may arise if you have a whole pack of cats at home. Aggressive cats tend to attack or pounce their more passive counterparts in their litter boxes, giving the latter some sort of phobia of litter boxes. The plus one rule could also be applied to solve this.
Stress. Your pet might also be uncomfortable if, for instance, you rearranged your furniture or bought a different set of upholsteries. They could also be affected by distress or frustration among human beings around them. Make an effort to recognize any changes and focus on relieving the stress your cat might be feeling.
Of course, the problem could also be physical, in which case, the help of a veterinarian is needed. But if it is behavioral, it is pretty much a breeze to make your pet cats do your bidding once you have determined the main cause of the problem.
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