With all this working for us, we don’t actually have to train the cat. It actually makes more sense to say, “litter train the person.”
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We must be alert for, or eliminate, the two big reasons for litter box problems:
The cat is not altered.
What people call “litter box problems” can often be territorial spraying. Boys have the notorious reputation, but girls do it too. The latest research indicates the traditional “waiting period” before altering was never adequately tested, and the recommendations are now that if the kitten is in good health, and over two pounds, go ahead.
The cat is sick.
Once we have a routine going, and the cat suddenly doesn’t use their litter box, get them to the vet right away. This is a distress signal. We can’t fault the cat’s logic; this is a big red flare sent up into the night sky, impossible for humans to ignore.
Don’t put it off, thinking the cat is not acting sick. They don’t do that. In the wild, a cat’s survival depends on them not acting sick. So they don’t. Litter box accidents are a way of the cat sending a signal that fits with their instincts. So get them vet-checked, and head off worse problems.
Another pitfall is unknowingly having what I call a Marginal Litter Box. It’s not ideal, it’s only adequate. If we place the box in the wrong place, or don’t clean it enough, we are lowering the cat’s litter comfort. We can get away with a marginal situation as long as the cat puts up with it. If anything adds to the cat’s stress, then they can’t handle a dicey litter box arrangement, and they start having litter box problems.
If we are alert to not only have the cat use the litter box, but enjoy using the litter box, we have bullet proofed our housebreaking situation. It will then be a reliable warning sign; the cat is very upset to not use their box.
The number one thing we can do to make our cats happy with their arrangement is clean litter. By a wide margin.
Clean litter can trump all kinds of other preferences. Mr. Bond did not take to the enclosed Litter Robot
Cats, being naturally clean, will avoid dirty litter. They need something clean to dig in, for instance. And since we have a lot of close contact with the cats, this is to our advantage, too.
The second thing they like is a calm, easy access, location. Just as some restaurants never prosper at a particular address, a poorly sited litter box will make this essential cat accessory something the cat feels torn about using. Even with the litter kept clean, a loud or unpredictable noise will make the cat feel tense. This should never be a time or place for the cat to feel tense.
More tips:
If we listen to the cat, we don’t have to figure out how the cat wants their box.
They will tell us what they want from their box.
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Find out how to create an Optimal Litter Situation with The Way of Cats. See my article The Invisible Litter Box.
We have Maine Coon cats; the girl is about 16 pounds, and the boy around 20. We got the “extra giant” size of litterbox, and while they used it, they never actually buried anything; they just pawed at the edge of the box. We figured that even “extra giant” was too small for these cats, and I got a cement mixing trench, lined it with a garbage bag, poured in an entire sack of Litter Pearls, and set that in the bathroom for them. They were very pleased and were finally able to bury their waste.
An excellent point! If we find litter slopping over the sides of the box, or they miss their target, a bigger box is well worth considering.
I prefer a big neat thing to a small messy thing. So do cats.
Thanks for the great info! really nice!
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Finding the right sized litter box and the appropriate type of cat litter will give your cat the confidence to “use the toilet” correctly. A cat litter box that is too deep may not be best for a little kitten, however, may be perfect for a larger cat. Also, the “pellet” type of litter is not as messy as the “sandy” type…so this may be a better type of litter to use.
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Great post, I too use synthetic grass underneath our cats litter boxes to catch any litter that gets flicked out, it keeps the general area much tidyer.
I have two questions:
1) we have two cats, and we use the World’s Best litter, in a large, covered litter box. I clean out solids from the litter about 2-3 times daily, yet our entire house still smells! Unfortunately, we don’t have any out of the way areas to put the box, besides the bathroom. At first I didn’t put the little door on the covered box, because the cats hated going though it, but now I’ve tried putting the door back on, and while it helped maybe a tiny bit, the smell is still very apparent almost everywhere in the house. With family coming out for the holidays, I’m trying to find a solution so that no one is grossed out by stench. Are my cats just super smelly or am I doing something wrong?
2) My cats like to use the same litter box…at the same time. Even though I’ve provided them with two boxes. Recently I’ve noticed one won’t cover up his feces because the other is still in there scratching around. I think this may be part of the smell problem.
What do I do about litter buddies?