What You Need to Know to Get Your Cat Using the Litter Box Again

INAPPROPRITE ELIMINATION

Picture credit from; http://www.petsworld.in/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/cat-in-litter.gif

               

                This is a question we get monthly from cat owners and is one of the main causes for euthanasia or rehoming of cats. There are simple changes that can be made at home to help eliminate the problem. This blog will help you better understand why a cat would chose to go outside of the box and hopefully some tips you haven’t already tried to get your cat to use the litterbox appropriately.

Why your cat stops using the litter box:

• Medical problems – this should always be considered. If a cat is uncomfortable for any reason (urinary tract infections, stones, constipation, etc.) they may choose to go elsewhere.

• Dirty litter box

• Poor location/not enough locations

• Too few boxes

• Not liking the litter

• Too small of a box

• Hard time getting in and out of box (old age/arthritis)

• Blocked or uncomfortable location (is a dominant cat blocking them from using the box, is the cat able to relax?)

What can you do to help your cat use the box?

• Bring your cat in to be evaluated and rule out a medical issue for change. The veterinarian will likely start with blood work and a urine and may recommend x-rays pending what they find/response to treatment.

• Scoop the litter box at least twice a day

• You also want a minimum of one box on every floor of your house (this includes basement if your cat can go there).

• Make sure you have the appropriate amount of litter boxes. You want one box more than you have cats (1 cat = 2 boxes, 2 cats = 3 boxes, etc.).  They should also be in different areas of the house if possible.

• Use unscented litter and clumping litter (except for kittens younger than 7 weeks). Make sure the litter is deep enough for their liking.  The clumping litter allows for easy removal of both urine and feces.

• Try a larger litter box to see if this helps.

• You can use a large Rubbermaid and cut off the sides for easy access in and out. This can eliminate the stepping into and out of the box in case this is painful for the cat.

• Use pheromones (feliway) in the house. Make sure the litter box is in a quiet area with comfortable mats around the box.

• Try Dr. Elsey’s Cat Attract

What should I stop doing to help my cat use the litter box?

• Use non-clumping, pelleted, or crystal/white pearl litter

• Use scented litter

• If you currently use an enclosed box, try it without the lid to decrease the bathroom smell.

• Use plastic mats

• Use negative reinforcement for not using the box

• Use gimmicks such as a venting system

Hopefully this information can help you determine if there is anything you can do to help your cat eliminate appropriately. There are causes of inappropriate elimination that cannot be treated, but most can be sorted out and can end with a great outcome.

BREED OF THE MONTH - ORIENTAL SHORTHAIR

Picture from: https://www.thehappycatsite.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/oriental-shorthair-kitten.jpg

The Oriental Shorthair's ancestors are from Thailand. These cats are very closely related to the Siamese, but have different colorings rather than the classic Siamese colorpoints. These cats can be short or long haired with green eyes. The most common words to describe these cats are vocal, intelligent, affectionate and curious. These cats easily become attached to their family members, so make sure you are willing to make a long-time commitment before adding one of these to your clan.

Star Ratings:

Adaptability *****

Affection Level *****

     These cats become attached very easily to their family members. Make sure you are willing to accept a cat into your life for a long time before committing yourself to this breed of cat.

Child Friendly ****

Dog Friendly *****

Energy Level *****

     Due to a high energy level, you may find this cat jumping on top of the counters, getting into drawers or finding other ways to entertain themselves. Make sure you find ways to keep this cat entertained. 

Grooming *

     Due to the smooth and generally short coat, these cats require little to no grooming other than the periodic hair brushing and nail trims.

Health Issues ***

     This breed is overall healthy, but all cats can have genetic problems. Some genetic diseases we see in this breed are hereditary liver amyloidosis, dilated cardiomyopathy and neurologic deficits causing crossed eyes.  You can also see bladder stones an mast cell cancer in this breed of cat.

Intelligence *****

     These cats are highly intelligent. Therefore, it is important to keep them entertained or they can start causing destruction trying to find something to do. 

Shedding level ***

Social needs *****

     These cats become very attached to their owners and love being around them. Do not get one of these if you are away more than normal. 

Stranger Friendly ***

Dr. Alicia's Monthly Newsletter

September 2018

By: Dr. Alicia Marquart

Next month is Halloween (spooky!), so I hope you all get to celebrate some scare in your life. I continue to hope to provide information regarding pet healthcare to my readers through these monthly (or every couple of month) newsletters. My intention is to educate pet owners and enhance their relationship with me. Please inform me of changes you would like to see as I am always striving to improve. 

FACT or FICTION:

• There is at least one dog breed and one cat breed that is hairless. 
• This is true kiddos!! There are several breeds to choose from that have little to no hair. Our most common breeds we see are the Chinese Crested dog and the Sphynx cat. 

Chinese Crested (left). Picture from: http://www.dogwallpapers.net/wallpapers/chinese-crested-dog-onthegrass-photo.jpg

Sphynx (left). Picture from: https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/11/08/article-1083983-025A12E4000005DC-701_468x311_popup.jpg

DID YOU KNOW?

Did you know that grain-free diets have recently been linked to heart disease in our canine (dog) patients?

        A few months ago, it was brought to our attention by the FDA that Grain Free boutique diets have been linked to a disease called Dilated Cardiomyopathy in our dog patients. This disease is where the muscles of the heart decrease in strength and the heart enlarges due to dilation of the chambers. They have seen dogs improve with diet change and others have progressed to the point where it is permanent damage. So, if you are feeding a grain free diet that has not been studied for a long period of time in our pets I recommend a slow transition to a well-studied diet we know is safe. Such food I recommend are Royal Canin, Purina Pro-Plan, and Hills Science Diet.

Here is a link to a news article going over the new finding:
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/dog-heart-disease-linked-food-fda-says-n891011

IMPORTANT MONTHLY INFORMATION (RECALLS)

     Next month is Halloween! Make sure to keep you pet away from all that chocolate, as this can be extremely toxic. If your pet gets into some chocolate, call your veterinarian right away to know next steps.

Picture from; https://arkvets.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Pets-dog-cat-halloween-pumpkin.jpg

Recalls:

1. Performance Dog frozen raw pet food due to potential contamination with Salmonella

2. Steve’s Real Food, Quest pet food due to an unspecified reasoning.

3. Dr. King’s homeopathic products for human and animal use for microbial contamination

4. Rad cat Rad Cat Raw Diet for potential Listeria Monocytogenes contamination

5. G & C Raw ground lamb dog food and ground turkey cat food for potential  contamination with Listeria Monocytogenes.

BEHAVIOR: HOW DO I PREVENT MY DOG FROM CHEWING

Picture from: http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/2.20.15-Dogs-Who-Are-Proud-They-Trashed-Your-House2.jpg

       It is a common occurrence for a dog to start chewing once they are teething (~4-6 months of age) and some dogs continue with this annoying behavior even longer. Cases of boredom, anxiety, too much energy, and curiosity can all be causes of increased chewing. So, what should you do if this is your dog?

1. Try to encourage your dog to chew on appropriate items - such as a Kong, Bust Buddy, Bento Ball, etc. Make sure these toys are throughout the house and are easily accessible. Reward your dog when you catch them playing with these toys - play with them, give them treats or just love them. 
2. Correct your dog quickly if you catch them chewing on inappropriate items. You can do this with a noise or quick touch (no aggressive behavior). Then give them a toy to chew on instead. 

It can take some time to treat you dog out of their chewing habit, keep at it and don't give up!

QUESTION OF THE MONHT: WHAT ARE SOME ALTERNATIVE DOG/CAT TREATS?

• Carrots
• Sweet Potatoes (cooked and peeled)
• Cucumbers
• Broccoli
• Green Beans
• Peas
• Blueberries
• Bananas
• Strawberries
• Watermelon
• Pineapple
• Salmon/Salmon flakes
• Tuna
• Eggs
• Fish Oil
• Cantaloupe
• Chicken
• Pumpkin
• Cheese
• Lunch meat

All good things must come in moderation. You want to make sure that your dog and/or cat's main diet consists of their well balanced kibble or canned food. Also make sure you are watching your pet's weight closely to make sure you are not over indulging them in our tasty treats. 

PET(S) OF THE MONTH

There were no submissions for pet of the month. Please send me a picture or two with a small description of why your pet is so special. We would LOVE to show them off. 

Please send the picture and paragraph with the subject PET OF THE MONTH to drmarquart@brentwoodanimalhospital.com