© 2024 WGLT
A public service of Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Animal House: When Your No. 1 Problem Is No. 2

Tom Thai
/
Flickr via Creative Commons
Litter box issues can be a physical problem, or perhaps a social one with your furry friend.

Sometimes cats can display behavior that can be best described as downright kooky. And when that involves litter box habits, pet parents can get frustrated and confused.

Dr. Matt Fraker from the Prairie Oak Veterinary Centerhas some advice.

  • Stress can be a major cause for a cat choosing to not use the litter box. There's a hierarchy to your cat household, and if the dominant cat is a litter box bully, the cat lower down in the pecking order may chose to eliminate elsewhere.
  • In a multiple cat household, you can help your cat by giving her a room of her own and a litter box of her own. No other cat should be allowed in so your submissive kitty can feel comfortable using the box.
  • An easy in, easy out box in a safe place will reduce litter box anxiety.
  • Another problem to look for is any health issue related to defecation. For example, cats eat a lot of hair. And sometimes that can form a hard mass that's hard to pass. The discomfort of passing can make the cat associate pain with the litter box, so she'll try and go elsewhere—like the bathroom rug or a pile of laundry. A cat laxative will help soften the stool.
  • Check your cat's anal glands to see if they're causing trouble and pain. Expressing the glands could be the answer. And yes, this is a job for your vet.

WGLT depends on financial support from users to bring you stories and interviews like this one. As someone who values experienced, knowledgeable, and award-winning journalists covering meaningful stories in central Illinois, please consider making a contribution.

Reporter, content producer and former All Things Considered host, Laura Kennedy is a native of the Midwest who occasionally affects an English accent just for the heck of it. Related to two U.S. presidents, Kennedy appalled her family by going into show business.